GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Former Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt says he is considering running for his old position next spring.
Schmitt, 64, is Green Bay’s longest serving mayor, having served from 2003 until 2019. During the middle of his final term, Schmitt announced he would not seek a fifth four-year term.
“I don’t know that I was thinking I want my old job back,” said Schmitt in an exclusive interview with FOX 11. “I missed it more than I thought, I’ll be honest with you. After I decided I wasn’t going to run, it was fine, but the last six, eight months people have been calling me and asking me would you be interested in doing this again.”
Schmitt says he has had business people, friends, and strangers call him about the possibility of running again.
“I think people have their reasons,” said Schmitt. “I think some people think the city could be doing better. Some people talk about election integrity, and I don’t know, that wouldn’t be my biggest focus. It is something that has to be cleaned up, but I still think there’s some concerns about infrastructure, development, the downtown, even events. I don’t think that sat well with a lot of people when Artstreet left. I don’t think the fact that we didn’t utilize the City Deck like we did when I was mayor, I think that bothers some people.”
During Schmitt’s tenure, the city’s downtown saw a development transformation, Bay Beach built the Zippin Pippin roller coaster, and the city established more than 35 neighborhood associations.
“This isn’t Jim Schmitt having to do an encore,” said Schmitt. “People have asked me. They helped me for 20 years. To call them friends is a true statement. I may not know them all like friends, but I tell them I’m thinking about it. I just don’t flat out say no. That tells me it needs to be evaluated. I’m doing that with some people I really trust, obviously with my wife. I’ll make that decision soon and no matter what happens, I’m going to be involved with the next mayor’s race.”
Schmitt was convicted in 2016 of three misdemeanor campaign finance violations. The city council was one vote shy of removing Schmitt from office for the violations.
“I’ve owned up to mistakes and I know people opposed to me will bring that up every time and I’m fine talking about it, but I’m going to put that to rest,” said Schmitt. “If that is the issue someone has, I can’t help that.”
Eric Genrich is nearing the end of his first term as Green Bay’s mayor, the only person to hold the position since Schmitt. He has previously told FOX 11 he has not made an official decision on whether he will run again next year.
“I want to say I think it is a tough job,” said Schmitt. “I said that when he (Genrich) ran. I voted for the guy. I had talked to him and I thought more would happen. We have so much money invested in Webster Avenue and Military Avenue and Velp Avenue and we just haven’t seen that economic development around those corridors. That is why we invested. I mean we want good roads, but we want good development along the good roads.”
Schmitt says he met with Genrich about three weeks ago about the possibility of running again.
FOX 11 reached out to Genrich for comment, but we have not heard back.
Before leaving office, Schmitt supported a move to bring term limits to Green Bay for the mayoral and city council positions. Voters confirmed the move, with 86.5% support, in a binding referendum. Council members and the mayor are now limited to 12 consecutive years in the same position.
“I did say term limits were after so much time you stepped off, but you were always welcome to come back,” said Schmitt. “I think sometimes what happens a little bit locally, but more so in the state and federal level, is these become lifetime careers. 40 years, 32 years. That is crazy. If you take a break at 12 and clean the slate and someone goes in and does great, the incumbent always has the inside track. If he or she wants to go back and try the job again, I’d be open to that.”
Schmitt says he will make an official decision in the next few weeks.
December is when campaign papers can begin to circulate for candidates to obtain the necessary number of signatures to get their name on the ballot.
A primary for the mayor’s race would be held on February 21, 2023. The spring election is scheduled for April 4, 2023.
