VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have worked in local govt for 30 years with the last 14 at the City of La Crosse. Unfortunately during that time I have witnessed some very bad behavior by both elected officials & high level employees. I am running for office to ensure honesty, integrity & transparency is maintained at the County Board.

The county funds libraries in many communities & can also fund the north side library. I also would like to see some city-County collaboration to try to resolve some of the floodplain issues that have plagued the north side for decades.

1. Maintaining the current levels of service while balancing the budget & keeping property taxes down. 2. Supporting the north side business community by providing well maintained county roads with on-street parking adjacent to businesses.

Both new funding sources & more efficient methods of delivering services would be ideal solutions. This is easier said than done but they must be found. Removal of homes from the north side floodplain would allow redevelopment & improvements that would increase property values & increase property tax revenue without raising tax rates. New technology like AI will help us identify more efficient ways of providing services.

I am running for reelection because I strongly believe in the progress we’re making. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase "the world is run by those who show up.” I’m committed to ensuring, as the vision statement of our Strategic Plan says, that “La Crosse County’s vibrant local economy and strong public services create the foundation for a healthy, safe and inclusive community.” A recent article in the Wisconsin Counties magazine pointed out that trust grows when people feel connected; I also worry local non-partisan issues are becoming more divisive, so I’m challenging myself to find more common ground. Approaching nuanced conversations like where to approve off-road vehicle routes or whether to support regional transit requires our full attention with good intention. I'm connected to the community as a local nonprofit’s volunteer coordinator and I bring a unique perspective as a brain cancer survivor.

The northside of the City of La Crosse is a lovely mix of aging adults and young families. The County, often an invisible layer of government, offers many services that benefit my neighbors. Sometimes providing these resources can be a challenge given the insufficient model of shared revenue from the state, which is why I’m so passionate about being an effective liason and advocate. For example, last summer I sat in on a Health and Human Services committee meeting where staff highlighted the policies, practice, and people of the Aging and Disability Resource Center. There's no stigma and no income limit; the ADRC is always just one call away. I also found it helpful to dig into Cia Slab’s 2024 Housing Needs Report to better understand what housing insecurity looks like for Hmong families in La Crosse County. We must be equipped with this kind of information to ensure we're building a region where folks can thrive, not just survive.

First I believe we must firmly adhere to our Strategic Plan, ensuring County services are responsive to community needs. Some of my very first meetings after being elected in 2024 focused on shaping and implementing this guidance, particularly our commitments to data driven decision making and exceptional communication. Second, we must push for continued transparency and partnerships. One such initiative, our Co-Response program, proactively pairs county social workers with city law enforcement officers to respond to mental health crises. We must hold the County accountable to addressing disparities directly and fostering a community where respect, fairness, and a sense of belonging are fundamental rights.

I will work diligently to set a positive example for productive public discourse. Serving as a County Board Supervisor is a humble reminder to balance your personal priorities with the impacts to your district and, most importantly, what’s best for the entire County. The health of our communities are connected, which is why it’s helpful our Strategic Plan includes measurable outcomes to track our progress. One innovative County partnership to highlight, our collaboration with the City of La Crosse on Pathways Home--a plan to reach functional zero homelessness before the end of the decade--combined with the interactive dashboard updated monthly puts us in a strong position. We’re better able to secure grant funding and this serves as a data driven model for other communities to follow. We must think creatively beyond what state mandates require of counties to achieve the best possible results.