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District 2 Alderman candidates introduce themselves; Downtown West Bend Association and The Bend outline 2025 event calendar
Summary
Two candidates for District 2 introduced themselves to the Bid Board. Downtown West Bend Association and The Bend theater outlined a slate of spring and summer events including Spring Bling, Wine Walk, Art Walk, Farmers Market, Music on Main and GlobalFest.
Two candidates for West Bend’s District 2 Alderman seat introduced themselves to the Bid Board on March 4, and representatives from the Downtown West Bend Association and The Bend theater outlined a busy spring and summer events schedule for downtown.
“Hello. My name is Rhett Engelking,” Rhett Engelking said in brief remarks. Engelking told the board he is “running for District 2 Alderman” and described himself as “primarily, running as a father of 2” who wants West Bend to be “safe” and attractive to young families. He noted prior volunteer experience and work in restaurant and retail businesses.
“Good morning. I’m Mike Hartwell,” Mike Hartwell told the board. Hartwell said he worked for the city of West Bend as a police officer for 28 years and retired in 2015 as a lieutenant; he added he is a 20-year military veteran and serves on several local nonprofit boards. Hartwell said his experience with the city gives him institutional knowledge he would bring to the council.
Downtown events: Noel and Leona, representing the Downtown West Bend Association, reviewed this spring’s schedule: Spring Bling (April 5), a Wine Walk (April 12), an Art Walk / banner premiere at the Museum of Wisconsin Art (May 3), and a Farmers Market opening May 17 and continuing Saturdays through October. The association is partnering with The Bend and Parks and Rec on Music on Main (12 Thursdays between late May and early September) and block parties on May 29 and Sept. 4. The association said it expects to hang roughly 42–43 artist banners between May and October and that businesses can sponsor banners for $100 each.
The Bend theater representative outlined the theater’s March–April lineup and confirmed its partnership on the block parties and other nonprofit partnerships through the season; the Bend said it has been working with sponsors and hopes to repeat the high community turnout from last year’s block parties.
Why it matters: candidate introductions and the event calendar provide public notice of upcoming civic activity and community planning that affect downtown traffic, vendor placement and city services.
No formal action was required on either the candidate introductions or the events calendar; board members thanked the presenters.
