VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’ve been fortunate throughout my life to be supported by family, teachers, friends, and community groups, which has led me to value and appreciate strong, supportive communities. I now want to give back and contribute to helping more people in La Crosse County feel connected to a supportive community that is committed to caring about them. As the District 4 Supervisor, I will strive to ensure that the County continues to provide key services that keep our community strong, in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner. I will also seek to help County residents better understand and feel more connected to their local government. Lastly, I want to use my knowledge and experience as an environmental scientist to ensure the county is responsibly and sustainably stewarding our precious natural resources.

The County offers many programs and resources that are beneficial to District 4, such as the Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, mental health and addiction services through the Health Department, and assistance with state and federal benefit programs. However, I don’t think residents know much about them. I believe our district could benefit from resources to make residents aware of these programs, even before they need them. This could include increased outreach to the community through schools and churches, libraries, or local media. I would recommend a review of the County’s current outreach efforts to evaluate whether opportunities are being missed or under-utilized.

I believe the top issue facing La Crosse County is financial uncertainty. With costs rising across the country, it’s becoming more expensive for local governments to provide services, while at the same time more residents will likely need those services due to economic or social challenges. Revenue sharing from the state to the counties to administer programs has not kept up with rising costs, and traditional federal funding sources seem increasingly unpredictable. How will the County continue to provide quality services without raising taxes? Another top issue is housing - not only for the unsheltered population, which the County is working with the city and other partners to address, but a shortage of quality, affordable housing for all types of residents.

I believe seeking more partnerships and collaborations to pool resources and improve operational efficiency could reduce costs for the County, easing the financial uncertainty we face. I would also try to think "outside the box" to reduce costs or explore new funding sources, such as grants to invest in improvements that may seem expensive upfront but could cut costs over the long term (for example, renewable energy systems and building efficiency upgrades to reduce utility bills). Regarding housing issues, the County identified 19 recommendations in their Envision 2050 Comprehensive Plan, which I served on the advisory committee for in 2021-22. As a supervisor, I would ensure that the County is prioritizing, pursuing, and adapting those recommendations.