From April 2006 to April 2016, Hariah Hutkowski assumed the role of Alderman of the Sun Prairie community.
As such, he represented 5,500 citizens of the area. A leader in the community, he was responsible for responding to the concerns of residents regarding:
- Zoning
- Public safety
- Infrastructure development
- City policy
Hutkowski also reviewed and prioritized a $20 million budget. This required him to truly understand the resources and needs of Sun Prairie. This, of course, came almost naturally to him, as he is a Sun Prairie citizen himself.
In layman’s terms, an alderman is an all-around member of his/her community. Aldermen represent communities across the United States. Each representative maintains a residential connection to the area which they serve. More than just officials, aldermen are anything but detached from the community. They are direct residents of the area, living as neighbors to the individuals whom they represent. This lends the community a neighborly chain of command. The concerns of the citizens are amplified, given that their aldermen experience the same issues firsthand, as direct members of the community. The local alderman is the person who a resident would go to with concerns about noise ordinance, issues with the roads (such as potholes) and even suggestions on policy changes.
Hariah Hutkowski stood as Sun Prairie Alderman along with seven other community leaders. The members of the board assembled to meet on a regular schedule. At these meetings, they would discuss matters brought to their attention by residents in the areas which they represented. As a group, the aldermen would structure solutions and implement proactive planning.
A dually round-the-clock and part-time position, Hariah Hutkowski often saw himself representing Sun Prairie on a 24/7 basis. Of course, there is no way to predict when an issue will arise in the community. Residents would come to him with their concerns, thoughts and requests as matters would surface. This required Hutkowski to appropriately balance his grasp on leadership with his own personal life and other professional work. Acting as a sounding board for his neighbors, he greatly valued his opportunity to represent his fellow residents of Sun Prairie.
To learn more about his career and role as Sun Prairie Alderman, check out his profile on Social Career Builder: http://socialcareerbuilder.com/hariah-hutkowski/.
