Alec Lefeber for Oshkosh Common Council
I’m running for Oshkosh Common Council because I love this city and I believe better is possible here. I’m 27, I’m a renter on the South Side, and like a lot of people my age, I’m trying to build a stable future in a city that feels increasingly out of reach. When I talk to neighbors, families, and small business owners, I hear the same thing: people feel squeezed.
Housing costs are rising, wages aren’t keeping up, downtown has empty storefronts, and state-level restrictions have limited what our city can do to respond. I don’t think we get anywhere by pretending everything is fine. We need honest leadership that names the challenges and works with the community to tackle them.
I’m running because I want Oshkosh to be a place where people can afford to stay, where young people can see a future, where small businesses feel supported, and where community life feels strong and connected. Local government can’t fix everything the state has handed down, but it can communicate clearly, strengthen housing and development, invest in public spaces, and bring more people into the process. I want to help build a city that believes in itself again — one that knows we deserve more than “just getting by.”
Better is possible for Oshkosh, and I’m ready to work for it.
A Better Future for Oshkosh!
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Oshkosh should be a place where people can afford to build a life, whether you’re renting your first apartment, raising a family, or a long-time resident who wants stability.
I want to make it easier for people to stay here by supporting more housing options and speeding up responsible development. That means clearer and faster permitting, partnerships that help create new affordable and quality units, and a code enforcement approach that protects renters without punishing small landlords who are trying to do right by their tenants.
Everyone in Oshkosh deserves a home they can count on, without feeling like they’re one rent hike, one job change, or one unexpected repair away from falling behind.
Affordability also means making sure people can work here. I want to increase opportunities for good jobs and local employment by supporting small businesses, encouraging downtown growth, and making Oshkosh the kind of community where people want to live, invest, and hire.
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Our city has been squeezed by years of state-level cuts and restrictions. It’s time to level with people about what local government can do — and what we could do if Madison funded cities fairly.
I want a council that shows the truth, not one that pretends crumbs are enough. And let me be clear: crumbs are not enough.
When people understand how the system works and how they can shape it, they gain power. My commitment is to transparent communication, honest budgeting, and building a coalition of residents who know their voice matters.
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Young people deserve to feel like Oshkosh is a place for them, not a place they need to leave to build a life. That means investing in third spaces, youth programs, and mentorship partnerships. It also means inviting young people into the civic process, giving them ways to participate in shaping the city’s future, and building a community where the next generation feels rooted and supported.
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A strong city is one where people feel connected. Where culture, creativity, and shared spaces bring us together. I want to support our local arts organizations, community theaters, festivals, public art, and historic places that help Oshkosh feel like home.
From murals to music to neighborhood storytelling, the arts help us grow pride in our community and attract people who want to live, work, and start businesses here.
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Our downtown should be the heartbeat of our city. Vibrant, welcoming, and full of life.
That means supporting small businesses, improving walkability, expanding mixed-use housing, and creating destinations that bring residents together. A strong downtown strengthens neighborhoods and helps our whole economy grow. Oshkosh thrives when its core thrives.