Cudahy is getting a new mayor, and it will either be current District 4 Alderperson Ken Jankowski or Jill Recely, herself a former member of the Cudahy Common Council.

Incumbent Mayor Tom Pavlic chose not to run for reelection.

Both candidates have said they believe Cudahy is making solid strides forward to attract development. Jankowski highlighted Cudahy’s location off Lake Michigan as one of its selling points. Recely focused on the city’s heritage, thinking new projects should blend historic and modern elements.

The Journal Sentinel spoke to each candidate separately and posed the same three questions. One focused on priorities.

Jankowski, 53, said his main priorities are to “advertise the city that it’s ready for revitalization” as well as working to develop two city-owned lots in the 4800 block of South Packard Avenue into a gathering place for residents similar to South Milwaukee’s Bucyrus Commons.

Recely, 73, focused on traffic and how it needs to be slowed down, especially on Packard Avenue, and how traffic studies should be done to see if and where bump-outs, speed bumps and different parking patterns could be beneficial.

“There are many longtime residents that remember ‘the good old days’ and I will work tirelessly to preserve and promote these cherished traditions,” Recely said. “Futures don’t exist without their past.”

One area where the candidates differed was on reports of contamination at Cudahy Park.

While signs have been posted, Jankowski said he's not satisfied with “the county’s lack of really addressing the issue (and) a lack of response or plan to clean it up from Ladish.” He wants to assemble a task force to keep pressure up for a cleanup plan.

Recely said she didn’t think any further steps needed to be taken “since both the DNR and EPA agree that through normal park use, exposure to the contaminants is negligible.” She said the DNR is requiring additional sampling and, since this is an ongoing investigation, she couldn’t comment further.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cudahy mayoral election results: Jill Recely vs Ken Jankowski