Kelly Crombie ’05 addresses issues in local government

In his first bid for public office, Kelly Crombie ’05 became the mayor of Columbus, Wis., in the spring of 2013.

“I saw a lack of cooperation between the city and school district to the point where the two entities
were arguing over $32 dollars,” Crombie says. “I had to do something to encourage a better working relationship.”

He says the role of politicians is to help people solve problems. “Local government has an immense impact on people’s quality of life,” he says. He already has overseen the groundbreaking for the new Gateway Business Park in Columbus.

Crombie is a 2012 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School and is an attorney in private practice. He also has owned Mullin’s Short Stop since 2007. Previously, he taught social studies at Columbus High School for a year.

He says the skills of thinking critically, solving problems and communicating that he learned at Ripon College are helping his career progress.