Oshkosh mayoral candidates outline views on housing, TIFs, DEI and city manager role at League forum

Two Oshkosh City Council members competing for mayor answered a range of policy questions at a League of Women Voters forum, focusing on the mayor’s limited formal powers, strategies for affordable housing and the role of tax-increment financing in redevelopment.

Matt McGrawer, deputy mayor and a current Oshkosh City Council member, said the mayor should “preside over the meetings” and act as one of seven elected council members. “You are one of seven, and it takes seven, you know, seven council members ... to come together to get things done in this community,” McGrawer said, arguing against expanding the mayor’s authority.

Aaron Mojakowski, also a member of the Oshkosh City Council, echoed support for the city manager form of government and described the mayor’s role as providing steady leadership and facilitating meetings. “I’m a big fan of that,” Mojakowski said of the city manager model, adding that it allows a professional administrator to run city operations while elected officials provide oversight.

Why it matters: Voters will choose a mayor who presides over the council and represents the city publicly, but both candidates emphasized the city manager’s central operational role. Their positions matter for how Oshkosh balances elected leadership, administrative continuity and policy priorities such as housing, development incentives and equity efforts.

Affordable housing and TIFs

Both candidates acknowledged a shortage of affordable housing in Oshkosh and described different emphases for addressing it. The forum moderator cited the city’s 2022 housing needs assessment, noting roughly 42% of renters pay more than 30% of their income for rent.

McGrawer said the city’s role is to create a welcoming environment for development and redevelopment and to adjust codes and ordinances that allow smaller units and current trends: “Our job is to create an environment that’s welcoming to development and redevelopment,” he said. He also framed attracting higher-paying jobs as part of the solution to housing affordability.

Mojakowski said the city must “get creative” and pointed to recent local steps, including using ARPA funds for a tiny-housing project and first-time homebuyer assistance programs. He emphasized collaboration with other public bodies and community organizations.

On tax-increment financing, both candidates supported TIF as an economic-development tool but warned about conditions. McGrawer called TIF “the sole best tool that council and city government has, to attract and retain ... development,” while noting set-asides for low-income units could reduce increment and tax revenue. Mojakowski said he supports TIFs and favors explaining the tool better to the public, encouraging developers toward shared community values such as green technology.

Sustainability, DEI and staffing

Both candidates expressed interest in creating or supporting city staff positions focused on sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) but stressed the need for clear roles and measurable outcomes. Mojakowski, the council liaison to the DEI committee, said the committee has submitted a strategic plan and that a staff position “would help address some of those issues.” McGrawer said he wants specifics on how proposed positions would be measured and justified before approving new budgeted roles.

Zoning, downtown audit and special assessments

When asked about a downtown zone audit recommended by Levine Analysts, both candidates supported cleaning up zoning and code redundancies to make the city more development-friendly. On special assessments, both acknowledged the current system is “antiquated” and burdensome to some property owners; McGrawer said the city manager has been given a goal to return with proposals to improve fairness.

Civic engagement and library funding

Both candidates said they prioritize accessibility and responsiveness to residents. McGrawer urged citizens to attend public meetings to get council attention, saying in-person appearances are effective. Mojakowski stressed meeting residents “where they are” and expanding outreach beyond traditional meeting times and locations.

The candidates differed in tone but not in principle on library funding. Both expressed support for the library but noted recent budget pressures required difficult decisions; the moderator said the library must cut more than $80,000 after the council did not approve an increase in the most recent budget.

No formal actions

This forum was a candidate event; no council motions or votes were taken. Candidates gave closing remarks and encouraged voters to cast ballots on April 4; the moderator reminded voters that photo ID and other requirements apply and directed them to myvote.wi.gov for details.

Ending: The forum was sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Winnebago County and moderated by Margie Davie. Candidates emphasized continuity of municipal administration under a city manager, pledged to pursue ways to increase affordable housing supply, and said they would seek clearer metrics before adding new city staff positions.