The residents and visitors to the City of Platteville made their choice.

After a three-week-long election for four candidates vying for the honor of being named the first Scrooge for the City of Platteville, the winner is Larry Bierke, City of Platteville City Manager.

Bierke won over Jack Luedtke, Platteville Main Street Program Executive Director; Connie Valenza, Platteville School District superintendent; and Dennis Cooley, UW–Platteville Foundation executive director.

“I need to thank the people of Platteville who voted in the ‘Choose a Scrooge’ election and to the competition who made this election so enjoyable,” said Bierke. “The competition was good spirited, fun and exciting.

“Ebenezer Scrooge was once described as a ‘despicable old miser’ who made good in the end and doubled Bob Cratchit’s wages. In Platteville I can’t double anyone’s wages, but I am thrilled to know that the funds raised will be put to good use helping those in need of emergency care.”

Votes at $1 each raised $1,671.32 for the City of Platteville’s Project Pulse, which has a goal of having an Automated External Defibrillator in all the public city buildings along with replacing the old AEDs in the police department squad cars. The cost of the AED and necessary accessories is $1,600.

Through Project Pulse, AEDs are currently available at the Platteville Senior Center, Platteville Public Library, Platteville Family Aquatic Center and two in police department squad cars. The amount raised will allow the city to purchase the sixth of 20 necessary AEDs.

Ballots were cast at the Municipal Building, Platteville Public Library, Country Kitchen, Platteville Regional Chamber and Heiser Hardware. Mound City Bank helped tabulate the ballots.

To donate or for further information on Project Pulse, contact EMS Administrator Brian Allen, allenb@platteville.org, 348-1835.