By Amanda N. Wegner | Photo by Holly Leitner
Todd Krause says he hasn’t gone very far, but in reality, he has. “I was born [in Lake Geneva] in 1965 and our address was 1211,” he says. “I’m now one block away at 1112 — I didn’t get too far, so I guess Lake Geneva has always been part of my DNA.”
Having the city in his DNA makes Krause the perfect person to serve as Lake Geneva’s newest mayor. And as a man of many talents, interests and “colorful careers,” he’s brought them all together in his latest role. “Both Barb and I have dedicated ourselves to serving people,” says Krause, referring to his wife, Barb Krause, publisher/CEO of Nei-Turner Media Group, which publishes At The Lake. “When you find your gift in life or whatever your talent in life is, you have to make sure you’re using it.”
A MAN OF MANY INTERESTS
One of five children, Krause spent his first few years of life in Lake Geneva, before his family moved “next door” to Genoa City. He left briefly to attend Iowa’s Cornell College, but returned to Lake Geneva after graduation to teach at a local grade school. He’s lived in Lake Geneva ever since.
By starting his career in education, Krause was following in the footsteps of his father, who served as the high school band director at Lake Geneva’s Badger High School for 40 years. Eventually, Krause would take on that same role at nearby Big Foot High School. “I loved it,” he says.
While teaching, Krause also started a hardwood flooring company — Timeless Flooring — initially taking jobs only on the weekends. But the business evolved so that eventually he was making more money on the weekends than he made teaching full-time. “The school didn’t want me to leave, so around 2002, they gave me a sabbatical to see if I really wanted to do flooring full-time,” recalls Krause. “As it turns out, I did.”
But how does one shift from a career in education to the trades? “I’ve had such a colorful career,” says Krause. “But the truth is, I love doing everything. When I was teaching at Big Foot, I would spend a fair amount of time in the industrial arts department to practice welding or build a cabinet.”
During this same time, Krause also worked as an emergency medical technician. “It is weird to have a medical background, a teaching background, a construction background and now a political background, but that’s me,” he says. “When I get bored, it’s time for me to move on to something new that I haven’t done.”
CITY HALL, ACT ONE
Krause’s first foray into local politics began in 2007, when the mayor at the time approached him about serving on the city’s planning commission. Then, when the city’s first district alder took a job with the county and had to step down, Krause was appointed to fill that city council seat, a position he held for five years.
When Krause finished his term, he also decided he was finished with City Hall — or so he thought. “I wanted [more] time with Barb to raise our three kids,” he says.
About nine years passed before Krause was “awakened again” to local politics, sensing local unrest with the current administration at the time. “Residents, business owners and even former mayors were encouraging me to run,” he says.
In his initial run for the mayoral spot in 2022, Krause lost by just 49 votes, but with continued encouragement, he ran again this past April, winning by more than 1,000 votes.
CITY HALL, ACT TWO
In Lake Geneva, the position of mayor doesn’t have assigned hours and it doesn’t pay much — just $7,500 a year. But to do it right, says Krause, the job requires at least 40 hours per week — and often more. “When you go to bed every night, you have 8,500 people you’re in charge of, making sure they are safe,” Krause says.
Krause says one of the most challenging aspects of being a mayor is keeping up with constituent concerns and questions. “Every time I call back, it’s a 10- to 15-minute conversation,” he explains. “The next thing you know, the day’s over, and you haven’t accomplished anything at City Hall. Or you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything. That’s a challenge.”
As mayor, one of Krause’s top priorities — and an issue he ran his campaign on — is working to keep taxes affordable. He’s also focused on better accountability and increased efficiency, which allows the city to be a better steward of taxpayer dollars. “Last year in the city, some people’s tax bills went up 74 percent,” he explains. “Most people could care less who the mayor is and about the city’s politics, but when taxes go up like they have been, that wakes people up and makes them want to see change.”
Krause also looks forward to developing a plan for the 200-acre Hillmoor property, a former golf course that the city acquired following its closure. He is already setting up a commission to determine the best path forward.
While acknowledging the challenges, Krause says he appreciates the recognition he has already received for doing the work. “When you’re in politics, people generally don’t like you,” he says. “But I’ve had a great turnout of people coming to City Hall and just saying, ‘Hey, you’re doing a great job.’ It’s a terrific amount of work and hard to put into words, but it’s rewarding to know you’re making a difference.”
BEYOND BEING MAYOR
A significant personal challenge to being mayor is striking a balance between public service and personal pursuits. “It can and will completely consume you,” he says. “I have to figure out the balance point … it’s a work in progress.”
One way Krause manages this stress is by setting aside blocks of time to handle specific things. In addition to serving as Mayor of Lake Geneva, Krause continues to run Timeless Flooring. But he credits his staff with keeping the business running smoothly. “If it wasn’t for my full-time employees, there’s no way I could have run for mayor,” he explains. “They do a fantastic job.”
And then there’s also the Krauses’ latest pursuit, The Todd Venue. Located in Elkhorn, The Todd Venue stands on a 50-acre parcel and was once home to the former Moose Creek restaurant.
Over the last two years, Krause has completely remodeled the building, along with a classic barn on the property, transforming them into brand-new spaces perfect for weddings and other events. “So far we’ve hosted weddings, parties and business clients, and people love it!” he says.
AN EYE TO THE FUTURE
While Krause is still hitting his stride as mayor and working diligently to strike the best work-life balance for his family, he also has an eye to the future. With little hesitation, Krause admits he will probably run again. However, he quickly notes that there will be many projects in play, and a two-year term is not long enough to see some of his interests and goals come to fruition.
He also puts forward a hope that more people will enter local politics. “It’s important for good people to get into politics,” he says. “I know a lot of people are scared, but I would tell readers, if you have a passion and want to serve your community, step up to the plate. It requires good people to create a good city.”
