Biegel to call it quits after three terms

Economics professor seeks District 3 seat to help keep graduates in Eau Claire area

Ryan Dostalek

Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Campus News

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City Councilman Toby Biegel speaks during Tuesday's Eau Claire City Council meeting. Biegel has represented District 3, which encompasses UW-Eau Claire, for the past six years and announced he would not seek a fourth term on the council.

Of the six Eau Claire City Council seats up for re-election in April, two will have new representation, including District 3, which encompasses UW-Eau Claire.

Councilman Toby Biegel, who currently serves District 3, said he will not seek re-election, leaving a university professor the only candidate for the position.

"My wife and I are moving out of the district, so it didn't make sense to run again." Biegel said, citing it as the only reason for not seeking re-election.

Biegel, who has been the District 3 representative for the past six years, authored a minimum wage ordinance that would have increased the minimum wage throughout the City of Eau Claire, similar to a state law that went into effect in June.

"He was someone who was very passionate about what he believed in," said fellow councilman Brandon Buchanan. "He did what he thought was right."

He also stirred controversy when he was arrested for his third DUI in October, 2005, which led area newspapers and the Eau Claire Student Senate to call for his resignation.

Running for Biegel's seat on the council is Eau Claire economics professor Thomas Kemp.

Kemp will be running unopposed in the April election and said he is looking forward to helping the students and community members of Eau Claire.

"We produce a wealth of intelligent students at the university," Kemp said. "If we could keep those students in the area it would be beneficial for both the students and the community."

Kemp said he hopes to achieve this by making students aware of entrepreneurial opportunities in the area and by getting the city to promote these opportunities by offering loans to students who what to start a business in the area.

He also said he plans to encourage higher value businesses to re-locate to the area.

"We have hospitals and universities along with some low-level retail jobs," he said. "It would be nice to get some more middle-ground jobs in the area."

Buchanan, a former student of Kemp's, is looking forward to having Kemp on the council.

"I am very excited with Tom Kemp being on the city council," Buchanan said. "I feel he will be a very strong advocate for the students and the neighborhood."

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