Vote: April 2nd

Bobby Lindsey’s Answers to the Oneida Nation

Why are you running for office?

I’m running for City Council because my wife, Patty, and I love Green Bay and the quality of life within our neighborhood and community. We want to help preserve the historic, traditional values and characteristics of all facets of our community. Green Bay is our retirement home, and my unique background in public service, my educational background, moral character, and a genuine sense of duty to serve all Green Bay residents motivates me to want to help it remain as “the best place to live.”

What unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office?

I am a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a retired law enforcement officer (Milwaukee, WI), where I was responsible for successfully developing and applying innovative, nontraditional (and traditional), problem-oriented and intelligence-led policing strategies and community development initiatives within diverse communities. I worked collaboratively with all community stakeholders (e.g., citizens, schools, businesses, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, ethnic communities, etc.) to improve the quality of life throughout the city. After retirement, I was appointed as a Law Enforcement Specialist with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and served as a certified instructor with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, working regularly with (and training) personnel from the U.S. Indian Police Academy, U.S. Border Patrol, United States Secret Service, Federal Air Marshals, U.S.

Capitol Police, TSA personnel, U.S. Department of Defense, and myriad law enforcement personnel from federal, state, local, and tribal jurisdictions across the U.S. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services (criminal justice concentration), a Master of Science degree in Human Services Management and Organizational Leadership, and I’ve completed all core curricula content toward a PhD (ABD) in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service. I currently serve as a full-time criminal justice instructor in the Wisconsin Technical College System. Through my experiences working with the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S. Indian Police Academy), I was introduced to issues pertaining to tribal courts and tribal law, as well as how crime impacts Native American communities. Moreover, I gained keen insight and experiences surrounding issues relevant to tribal law enforcement officers and their unique roles and challenges in serving their respective communities.

What is the most important issue in the city, and how would you address it?

I believe that the most important issue facing the city is the dangerous influence of partisanship in local government. Partisanship is the foundation of weakened government service toward meeting the needs of all residents within our community. Partisanship leads to prioritizing agendas established by entities from outside of our city; agendas that override the compelling needs of local residents. Several cities around the country now serve as clear examples and evidence of how partisan influences can destroy once-thriving communities, as local concerns become secondary (or ignored) in order to achieve economic, social, or political objectives of outside or nonlocal interests.

My professional life of public service has always been rooted in ground-level engagement, communication, and collaborative action in partnership with all community stakeholders; that will not change if given the privilege to serve our community as a member of the Green Bay Common Council. From the perspective of ground-level engagement with stakeholders, I have experienced how partisanship has often impeded serving individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and unique concerns of varying parts of communities. If the City of Green Bay succumbs to the influences of political partnership, it will certainly and rapidly experience many of the problems that are evident within American cities in decline.

As a public servant, my moral leadership and decision-making will always be a reflection of the expressed concerns and needs of all local stakeholders, with a particular focus on prioritizing community safety; being accessible and accountable to all stakeholders; prioritizing fiscal responsibility that supports family budgets, economic growth and strong fundamental education; and genuine respect for all stakeholders

What challenges do you see coming down the road for local governments in the next decade?

I believe that local governments will be greatly affected by threats and circumstances stemming from global and national issues over the next decade (e.g., political, economic, social, domestic, immigration, military, and terrorism-related concerns). I support serious, proactive emergency management and human services agendas and activities that can help identify and mitigate how those issues will negatively impact local governments.

If elected, how can you, as an elected official of the City of Green Bay and the Oneida Nation, work together to better all residents of the region?

As an elected official of the City of Green Bay, I can and will exercise and help facilitate the application and enhancement of ongoing leadership, learning, service and research competencies that can meet the compelling needs of all residents and communities throughout our region.