Norfolk Daily News

Tuesday – October 22, 2008

Tom Schommer looks to make up some ground in the Norfolk mayoral election in two weeks.

His opponent, Sue Fuchtman, wants to preserve her primary election margin.

Since then, both nominees have had their likenesses up on billboards around town. They’ve also addressed various community groups.

In responding to a Daily News election questionnaire, Schommer, owner of TeleBeep Wireless, said this about his reason for running:

“We stand at a defining moment where our community can decide to work together and look beyond the rearview mirror of the past and out the front window into a future that can be as promising as we choose to make it.

“I love living in Norfolk, and I want to make Norfolk an even better place to live and raise a family.’’

Schommer has been spokesman for the Shared Facility Work Group, which explored combined office space for the City of Norfolk and other groups. In addition to his business interests, he holds an associate degree in electronics engineering.

He has been an ambassador for the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce.

He also has been part of Norfolk Area Recruiters, NorthFork Development Foundation, Small Business Council, Norfolk Noon Optimists, Legislative Action Council, Norfolk Public Schools Advisory Council and the Congressional Leadership Team.

He and his wife, Linn, have four children.

Norfolk, he said, needs to be competitive in the marketplace.

“Operating a business in Norfolk for the last 25 years has provided me with the type of experience that Norfolk’s next mayor needs the most. The ability to make tough decisions and surround myself with great people has been the key to being able to be successful in such a competitive industry as wireless telecom,’’ he said.

“As a small businessman, I’ve needed to develop methods of empowering people that encourage different interests to work together toward a common goal.”

Schommer said he’s also willing to sit down and work on open-minded solutions with all members of the community and has a proven plan and the experience necessary to address changing needs.

Fuchtman, president of The Day Companies, said she can help Norfolk in the same way her business has been successful.
“As mayor, I will help guide the city in using the assets that we have to help us to be more successful in competition with the other towns and doing it as one community,’’ she said in her Daily News election questionnaire. “I have done this for The Day Companies, and I am committed to bring that success to the mayor’s office.’’
Fuchtman has been chairwoman of the Norfolk Planning Commission since 2001. She also is on the NorthFork River Development board and part of the Shared Facility Work Group.
The Norfolk Catholic grad served two terms on the school board and helped develop the school’s annual auction fundraiser.
She was president of the Women’s Division of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce from 1986 to 1988. In 1990, she received the chairman’s outstanding service award from the chamber and was on the chamber board from 2002 to 2005.
She also served on the Norfolk Area United Way board from 1993 to 1995.
She is a graduate of the Leadership America program for women, vice president of the NeighborWorks Northeast Nebraska board and is a member of Norfolk Noon Kiwanis. She was an adult sponsor for the Norfolk Youth Leadership Council during its formation.
In her job experience, she worked for Northwestern Bell until the office closed in 1981. In 1982, she began working for The Day Companies in its 2001 Computer Store.
She moved to a position in the company’s audit group as an auditor. She eventually became president and partner in the company that she said serves 600 companies across the United States, employs 50 and handles over $1 billion in invoicing a year.
Fuchtman has been married to her husband, Glen, for more than 37 years, and he also works at The Day Companies. They have raised four children.