VOTE411 Voter Guide

When I first ran for the La Crosse County Board in 2022, I sought to prioritize meaningful connections with constituents, research and partnerships for sustainable solutions, and transparent decision-making. In a time marked by partisan divide, I thought these approaches would help build trust, understanding, and a truly representative democracy. I still believe that, which is why, in my first two terms, I worked to build bridges with community members through local events, calls, emails, annual letters, and an active Facebook page. I also collaborated with stakeholders to develop policies and programs that address community needs. Just in 2026, I introduced two successful budget amendments to improve public transit options in rural areas and to fund the County’s Climate Action Plan. I also advocated for safe and affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and access to care (health, mental health, and dental). I will continue prioritizing these needs in my third term.

The County does not directly support the Town of Shelby’s fire and emergency medical services (EMS). Instead, Shelby funds these services through a combination of tax levy, charges to a neighboring township, limited State revenues, and annual fundraising, primarily the Chicken Q. The Town’s fire department and EMS depend mainly on its dedicated volunteers. Looking more broadly, EMS systems across the State face funding and staffing challenges. Running just one ambulance year-round costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, and most rural and volunteer agencies depend on just a handful of individuals for most calls. With this context in mind, I have been working with County leadership and other partners to determine how the County might support local fire and EMS systems. This might include direct funding for equipment, training staff, coordinating existing services, establishing intergovernmental agreements for resource-sharing, or even an EMS tax levy, as in other counties.

Climate change, driven by fossil fuel consumption, will cause greater damage without action. The damage will take place on multiple levels: public health, ecosystems, and infrastructure. As a large organization with a significant community presence, the County has a role to play in drawing down its own emissions and in giving community members the tools and incentives to do the same. But this issue isn’t just about preventing future harms; it’s also about leveraging opportunities to save public dollars, invest in our local workforce, and achieve energy independence.

The growing gap between wealthy individuals and those living in poverty also demands County action. Working-class families, people with disabilities, and those living on fixed incomes face rising costs and a shrinking safety net. Even those working full-time jobs sometimes can’t make ends meet. The result is greater stress, strained providers, and higher costs for reactive (instead of proactive) interventions.

Since being elected, I have prioritized sustainability initiatives. In 2024, I joined the Climate Action Plan Community Advisory Team, which helped produce a plan to advance sustainability initiatives at the organizational and community level. The plan is a roadmap for sustainability investments, identifying high-impact practices that reduce emissions and save public funds. For the last budget, I requested and the Board approved $250,000 to begin implementing these practices.

I also proudly support the County’s efforts to give a hand up to those barely getting by and to create living-wage jobs. For example, the County partnered with the City to implement Pathways Home, a five-year plan to end homelessness. The Pathways team has housed 290+ individuals with a 90% housing retention rate. We are also wrapping up a wage study to ensure we are paying our staff at or above market rates—that is, living wages that attract and retain employees and that help create thriving communities.