For people who are close to retirement age, the decision on when to leave a long-standing job position is likely well thought out and coincides with a future that is well planned.
This is true for most professions from senior executives to seasoned tradesmen, but not for careers in politics. Retirement timelines for politicians are often unexpectedly made at the ballot box as was the case for Jeff Hyslop, a popular 24-year mayor for the City of Eagle River.
While he was unsuccessful at winning a 13th consecutive term last year, Hyslop holds his head high as he reflects on a near quarter-century of leadership that has kept Eagle River a sought-after destination for seasonal tourists, and a peaceful place to live for full-time residents.
His long-standing service to the city was officially recognized last year by his successor, Debbie Brown, and by the city council, through the adoption of Resolution 1057 honoring his achievements.
In part, the resolution acknowledged Hyslop’s contribution to the growth and prosperity of the city and its residents, including his roles in advancing infrastructure improvements and community programs. It also noted high integrity levels and a deep love for the city he served. Hyslop was at the council meeting during the resolution vote and received a plaque of appreciation for his body of work.
Since the election last spring, Hyslop has enjoyed perks of retirement such as unlimited time with his family and friends, but he has also taken time to reflect on his many years of public service.
“My responsibility as mayor was to keep the city growing,” he said. “It was always important for me to keep the city moving forward. If something isn’t growing, it usually means that it is dying, and I wanted to make sure that everyone connected to the city had opportunities for growth.”
At the same time, he says that he respected the rich history of the local culture and always factored that in his decision making.
Hyslop had political aspirations going back to the early 1990s and his first official role was chairperson of the Republican Party in Vilas County before being elected as an Eagle River city alderman in 1995.
Prior to his 12 terms as mayor, Hyslop considered statewide office roles and at one point made a bid for the governor’s mansion in Madison. He lost in the primary election, but was able to generate more than 45,000 votes as a relatively unknown business owner from a rural district.
During this period, he also had opportunities to meet high profile figures ranging from Wisconsin governors Scott Walker and Tommy Thomson, to national politicians such as Bob Dole, Jack Kemp, and Alan Keyes.
“It was an exciting time in my life,” he said, “when I was very young, energetic, and willing to put it all on the line to make a difference.”
He carried this youthful energy into his first term as mayor of Eagle River in 2001, replacing incumbent Daniel Meyer, who moved on to become a state representative.
Hyslop then ran unopposed in the spring election and ended up as the second longest-serving mayor in the history of the city.
Of his many accomplishments, he cites tax rates and government culture as two areas where he has made an impact.
“One of my earliest goals was to drive opportunities to lower the tax level for Eagle River property owners,” he said. “We had the highest tax rate in Wisconsin at the time, and I was happy that we found ways to receive grants for many infrastructure improvements, and eventually ended up with one of the lowest tax rates.
“I am also proud of the fact that we changed the character of city government for the better through higher levels of transparency with easy and fair access to city leaders.”
He says that his proudest moments, however, began long before he entered the political arena where his personal faith, and his wife, Donna, have always been top priorities.
He became a Christian as a young adult through the support of a good friend who encouraged him to read the Bible. This eventually led him to his wife as the two met in a Bible study group and were ultimately married in 1983.
“My life completely changed at this time,” he said. “Personal dedication to faith and family has been the anchor to everything I have done since then.”
Hyslop and his wife complemented their personal relationship with a business partnership when, together, they owned Donna’s Cafe on Wall Street in Eagle River. The restaurant was popular and the couple ran the business for 20 years before selling it in 2016.
They also owned a Christian book store in the same area and Hyslop says that they were able to turn many customers of both businesses into community friends.
Shortly before selling the restaurant, Hyslop was a successful businessman, politician, and husband, with a house located just a short walk to the city hall building. He was also a long-time public servant for his community and was well liked by his many friends and acquaintances.
Behind the scenes, however, his health quietly began to deteriorate through a diagnosis of a rare form of meningitis making everyday tasks and mobility increasingly difficult.
According to Hyslop, the health issues would have been worse without the support from his wife. Coincidentally, she spent more than 10 years as a certified nursing assistant, and had the experience and knowledge to provide supplemental care for her husband. She is an accomplished woman who also has a teaching degree and was once a preschool special education instructor.
Hyslop’s first bout with medical-related issues actually started more than 60 years ago when a head-on car crash left him with partial paralysis on his right side. At that point he was only 11 months old and was crushed between his mother and the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle. His entire family was in the car and everyone else recovered from their injuries over time.
He learned at a young age to adjust for his physical limitations and grew up in a traditional family with four siblings. He was able to make adjustments such as throwing and catching a baseball with the same hand, but otherwise had a normal childhood and graduated from Northland Pines High School in 1979. He says that his early childhood health challenges served him later in politics because he was used to coming up with creative solutions when trying to solve everyday problems.
Retirement for Hyslop has been peaceful as he spends a lot of time at home in Eagle River where he has lived for more than 30 years. He has made some modifications to accommodate his physical challenges, but his house is cozy and filled with family photos and mementos.
He has no children but has a dog and a cat to keep things interesting, and he and his wife have spent considerable time in the past couple of years mentoring foreign student workers in Eagle River.
These international students come to the United States through a special J-1 non-immigrant visa program for scholars, professors, and others with usable skills, who are allowed to work and travel in the country for short periods of time.
“My wife and I have really enjoyed meeting these workers,” Hyslop said. “It has been great for us to learn about different cultures and to share our Christian values.”
Two of the students, Seval Albayrak from Türkiye, and Yelu Peng of China, each had a chance to visit with Hyslop and his wife at their house in recent years, and Albayrak even joined them for a day trip to Bond Falls. They have developed a deep connection and regularly communicate by phone and online video services, and Hyslop says that he thinks of them as part of his family.
While Hyslop has enjoyed his private non-political retirement, he hopes to be remembered fondly for the positive impact he made through his leadership roles in the city.
Perhaps the best person to reflect on the former mayor is the current position holder, Debbie Brown, as she worked side by side with him through most of his public life while acting in her capacity as city clerk and treasurer.
“Jeff is a very smart person and was fair when working with others,” she said. “He was very calm and kind, even when facing difficult situations, which was reassuring to me and other city officials.
Brown went on to highlight his ability to listen to others and be very prepared when it came time to make an important decision or announcement.
“One thing I can add is that Jeff is a fighter and isn’t afraid of obstacles,” Brown added. “He never complained about anything, including his own personal health challenges. He just went about his job professionally with the interests of Eagle River always front and center. I respected that and I am sure others did as well.”
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here