Keith Bosman Answers…

1. What are you going to do to foster the arts, artistic and cultural endeavors in our community?

I believe the arts, artistic and cultural endeavors available to the citizens of any community say a lot about the health of that community. As a community it is vital that we devote resources to our creative energies. If roads and infrastructure are the lifeblood of the city, the arts represent our self-esteem. A strong commitment to the arts gives citizens ways to express their emotions in creative and productive ways.

2. The City utilizes CIP, TIF, CDBG funds and hotel/ motel tax fees to fund City projects. How would you be willing to use these resources to enhance the artistic community and support the creative class?

Devoting these resources, and others, to proposals brought forth by the artistic community should be something that any mayor is open to. Kenosha is becoming a city large enough to devote some of these resources to the arts.

3. How would you work with the private sector to fund public arts endeavors, i.e. sculptures in City Parks?

As mayor I envision myself playing a role in bringing the players to the table, assisting the arts community in marketing their vision to potential funders. I envision involving Kenosha’s service clubs in projects like this. I was formerly in Western Kiwanis and am currently in Rotary-West. Members of these clubs are typically people with a mindset to be open to positive things like sculptures in our parks or other projects that enhance Kenosha’s quality of life.

4. How would you welcome the creative class in our community?

The creative class will have a seat at the table. I anticipate forming a community Arts Commission and giving it enough teeth to make a difference.

5. How do you keep young professionals living, working and spending money in our community?

Young people, probably more than anyone else, want a community that is well-rounded, that will give their children a wide range of artistic, architectural and entertainment experiences. We have come a long way towards making Kenosha a place where our college graduates are proud to return to and call their home. I will not turn my back on those efforts.

6. Tourism is one of the top three industries in the state of Wisconsin. What are you going to do to encourage and support the economic class in Kenosha?

I think Kenosha has done very well with tourism and if I am elected mayor we will continue to put a lot of emphasis on bringing people to our city. A growing downtown area will be a magnet as a cultural center for our city, as is often the case in our bigger cities. I will continue to emphasize lakefront activities as key to giving people who visit Kenosha a sense of who we are.