Village of Kewaskum, Wi – Five people applied for an open trustee seat on the Kewaskum Village Board and Monday night Keith Backhaus was voted in as the new trustee to serve until April 19, 2027.
Kewaskum Village Trustee Candidate Testimonies
Keith Bacchus
My name is Keith Bacchus, and I want to thank all of you for considering me for this vacant position. My connection to the village goes back much further than the 16 years that I’ve lived here. My father and his side of the family were strongly rooted in the Kewaskum community. My mother’s family also lived here for 40 years. Those family roots are important to me.
Kewaskum isn’t simply the place where I live. It’s a community that has been part of my family story for generations. I’ve now lived in the village myself for 16 years. I helped raise two children here. I continue to have a lot of family in the community, and I’ve had the opportunity to see Kewaskum grow and change while still maintaining the qualities that make it a special place to live.
Professionally, I work as a Level 3 facilities technician at Sysco Foods. I’ve been there just short of 26 years. While that may not be the traditional background you expect for an applicant for this position, I believe the experience has given me skills that translate very well to public service.
Every day, my job requires me to solve problems, evaluate what’s happening, determine why it’s happening, understand the options available, consider safety and cost, and then find the solution that works, not just for today but for the long term. I also understand that resources are not unlimited. You must determine what is necessary and what can wait, where money is best spent, and how today’s decisions may affect things years down the road. That practical, common-sense approach is what I would bring to this village board.
I am not applying because I believe I already have the answers. I’m applying because I’m willing to listen to residents, learn, ask questions, do my homework, work respectfully with other board members, and make decisions based on what I believe is best for Kewaskum as a whole.
I want Kewaskum to continue being a community where families want to put down roots, where businesses have opportunities to succeed, and where residents feel their voices are heard and their tax dollars are being used responsibly.
My family has been connected to the Kewaskum area for generations. I have chosen to make my own life here, and I would like the opportunity to give something back to the community that has meant so much to me and my family.
I would be honored to serve as village trustee and help make thoughtful decisions about Kewaskum’s future while respecting the community and history that brought us to where we are today.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Jack Felton
Good evening, and thank you for considering me for this position. A month ago, I did not expect I’d be standing here asking to serve on this board. But my involvement with TID 6 has put me in conversations and places I never expected.
Through all of it, I believe God has placed the path in front of me that I’m supposed to at least have the courage to walk. I know my involvement hasn’t always meant agreement. I questioned decisions, I’ve challenged things, but I’ve also learned to listen and change my mind when I’ve been given better information.
I’m a civil engineer and construction inspector. My career puts me between contractors, government, engineers, and the public, working on projects involving millions of public dollars where accountability, documentation, and difficult decisions matter.
To me, accountability means being able to explain why you made a decision, stand behind it when it’s right, and have the humility to correct it when it isn’t. That’s what I would bring here.
I don’t want to be another voice automatically for or against something. I want to understand it. I’m willing to ask the questions, hear both sides, and be proven wrong before making the best decision I can with the information in front of me.
I want more transparency and accountability, but more than that, I want residents to feel like they’re part of their government again. It shouldn’t be the board versus the people. It should be neighbors serving neighbors.
Above all, I want to help restore some faith in Kewaskum. Faith that we don’t always have to act because we’re afraid another opportunity won’t come. Sometimes leadership means having the courage to move forward. Sometimes it means having the courage to wait. I think wisdom is knowing the difference.
Kewaskum is going through significant change in its leadership and its future. I don’t believe I’m standing here because I have all the answers. I’m standing here because I’m willing to ask the questions, listen to the answers, and serve the people, even when we don’t see eye to eye.
My faith is the foundation of my life. If given the opportunity, I want my time here to be about service and not a position. Whether you choose me or someone else running tonight, I trust that God’s will is bigger than my own, and I’m grateful for this path that brought me here.
Thank you for your consideration. God bless you, and God bless Kewaskum.
Gina Rayther
Hi. Good evening, board. My name is Gina Rayther. I’ve been a village resident for almost 30 years. I’m married with five kids. My husband is a lifer, so he’s been here forever. We’ve raised our five kids in the village and in the school district, and half of them are still here.
Why do I want to be on the board? To be active. A lot of people say, “Well, you know, you can’t always be on social media and spouting off. Do something about it.” So that is why I’m here.
I want to be active in the decisions and also represent the people of the village who feel the same way I do. There are a lot of voices to be heard, and all decisions, I believe, need to be considered from different perspectives. You need all those ideas.
Like the previous gentleman said, we’re all here to learn and make the best decisions possible for Kewaskum. We want to see growth, but we also want to keep that small hometown village, too. So how do we work together to keep that?
I’ve been involved with a lot of things in the village while I’ve been here. I spent more than 10 years on the Plan Commission. I was involved in elections as a chief election inspector. I was a crossing guard for a while, and I’m currently involved in other volunteer opportunities in the village, including with the pantry.
I know I have some good competition. Like it was said, we’re all here because we want to be a part of it and help. I think any one of us would be a good contender, and if not, we’ll see you in the spring.
Thank you.
Harry Recker
Hello. Good evening, everybody. My name’s Harry Recker. I’ve lived in Kewaskum for 60 years.
As far as qualifications, I was village trustee for 19 years. I’ve served on every committee and chaired the majority of them at one time or another during those 19 years.
I’m kind of retired now, so I have more time than I did 14 years ago when I retired from the village board. All I’m looking forward to is coming back and helping the village of Kewaskum.
I want to help make good decisions. We make bad decisions sometimes, too, but hopefully I can participate again.
Thanks.
Vicki Towell
was born and raised here in Kewaskum, and I’ve spent well over 50 years living in this community. I remember what the village looked like and felt like when I was growing up. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to watch Kewaskum grow and prosper.
Our community has more than doubled in size. New neighborhoods have been added, and businesses have developed. We have seen many improvements in our schools and village services.
Throughout my career and community involvement, I have had experience working with and serving on nonprofit boards, as well as our parish council. Combined with my accounting background, that experience has given me an understanding of budgets, financial responsibility, and the importance of long-term planning.
Stewardship of resources is an important responsibility in parish leadership, and I believe that same principle is essential when serving our village and its residents.
The Village Board voted in open session. Backhaus will fill the seat left vacant following the resignation of Jim Hovland. There is still one vacant seat on the Kewaskum Village Board. The seat will be filled during the April 2027 election.
