Looking back, Tim Kabat’s best apprenticeship for his future mayoral run was spending four years in Champaign-Urbana.
"First, the U of I helped to establish the foundation for how I view the larger world, including how cities function and how government provides services to the people who live in them," says the mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
"Cities are ever-changing and evolving and the department of Urban and Regional Planning helped me to better understand our relationships with each other and how we interact with our built environment.
"My studies, internship and work experience while attending the U of I provided me with unbelievable opportunities to learn about cities and neighborhood development. I use this knowledge every day as a mayor, working to improve our neighborhoods here in La Crosse and to raise the quality of life for all of our residents and visitors.
"Second, there are so many great places in Champaign-Urbana. I remember shooting pool and the fish sandwiches at the DeLuxe, as well as being a proud member of the Mug Club at the Illini Inn.
"I didn’t have a car while going to school and I can remember tearing around campus and the city on my bike — which was so easy and convenient."
