Doug Schutte

LAKEWOOD — Douglas Schutte is no stranger to working for his community.

He has served on many boards, including the YMCA, Jamestown Business College, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Lakewood Community Development Corporation, and is an elder of The First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown. A 25-year resident of Lakewood, he is now turning his attention to the Lakewood Village Board. He has been endorsed by both the Republican and Democratic parties in the village.

Schutte is joining forces with current village trustee Ted McCague, who he says is a proactive, forward thinker. Schutte said they both share beliefs that government should be efficient, accountable, transparent and not be satisfied with the status quo. He is committed to fully funding the Public Works Department, police force, fire department and EMS as essential services. If elected, he said will work with all residents and current leaders of Lakewood, work to implement the Comprehensive Plan, and promote a sustainable future for Lakewood.

“The village is at a critical point where we can join Jamestown and other communities in shedding the “rust belt” stigma. The Buffalo area is experiencing a powerful renaissance and its heading this way. Lakewood is a great family oriented community with a perfect location on Chautauqua Lake, excellent schools, and a lot of great people. Lakewood has all the foundational strengths to reverse declining population and tax base trends. We just need a “can do” attitude and people who want to get things done,” Schutte said.

Schutte’s passion for the village’s new comprehensive plan, adopted in early 2017, marks the cornerstone of his campaign message. He intends to champion implementation of the Comprehensive Plan through strong zoning, code enforcement, and aggressive pursuit of outside grant funding for community development projects, including parks and recreation, and sidewalks.

“I want to see the Comprehensive Plan take on a life of its own — where it transcends small town politics and becomes a rallying point for village residents, business owners, and leaders,” Schutte said. “We need to be proactive, and embrace forward thinking. The sustainability of Lakewood, the strength of our Fire, EMS, Police, and DPW services depends on it.”

Schutte’s professional background is as a financial advisor and tax planner. With more than 30 years in the financial services industry, Schutte said he has skill sets well suited for helping the village. He owns Summit Wealth Management Inc. and Summit Accounting Solutions LLC., which provide financial planning and tax accounting services to individuals and business clients across the region. He has been using his professional skills to help the village since joining the Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee in 2016, and Schutte said he continues to help guide the village finance committee on fiduciary matters.

“We analyzed the Lakewood village budget in depth and served as a “think tank” to explore opportunities for more efficient use of tax payer dollars and outside funding sources for village development projects,” he said.

Schutte is always willing to dedicate time outside of his professional duties. He says he has considered running for trustee in the past, but now that his children are independent, it’s the right time for him to seek a seat on the Village Board. Schutte’s wife, Lisa, of 33 years, a teacher in Frewsburg, supports his efforts to help improve Lakewood for future generations. They have raised four children in Lakewood, all of whom are Southwestern Central School graduates who participated in sports, church and the community.