Campaign Phone #
(715)577-7514
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Campaign Phone #
(507)398-9608
Campaign Phone
(507)398-9608
Education
Master and Bachelor Degrees in Business - St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
Personal Pronouns
he/him
Economic Development, Education, Election Integrity, Environment, Healthcare and Reproductive Rights.
I’ve spent the last three months listening to concerned constituents in the newly redrawn 29th Assembly District. The one consistent message I’ve heard is that folks are exhausted by the hyper-partisanship and gridlock in Madison. To make progress on these priority issues requires the ability to compromise.
In my 20 year career at Mayo Clinic as an Emergency Management Coordinator, my job was to collaborate with entities as diverse as local and state law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, public health officials, healthcare professionals and elected officials. We got things done because we respected each other and by realizing the best decisions were arrived at after listening to legitimate differences of opinion.
I've also worked with teachers, poll workers, state and county officials, and active members of our community in a variety of roles.
The first thing we need to do is acknowledge that the lack of affordable housing is a big problem in our communities. In the 29th Assembly District, as well as across the state and nation, we have workers living out of their cars due to the lack of housing. Wisconsin currently has a $3.5 billion surplus. I would use some of that money to address our housing crisis.
Wisconsin needs to get creative and explore options that will incentivize production of affordable housing. Tax credits can be designed to spur developers to build smaller-footprint homes. Funding packages should allocate money toward building homeless shelters and converting office buildings into apartments. We should consider increasing the property tax credit for rental housing and rental assistance to prevent evictions and expand protections for renters. Over-restrictive zoning laws need to be updated.
The affordable housing crisis requires multifaceted solutions.
As a poll worker and Chief Inspector in my polling municipality, I have met some of the most civic-minded, patriotic people in our region who are dedicated to ensuring every vote is counted. Insulting the integrity of our process, without having any knowledge of that process, is counterproductive and demoralizing to the voting public as well as our dedicated poll workers and election clerks. I have been a proponent of Fair Maps via county referendum and state hearings in Madison.
The “Iowa Model” of drawing up maps is something we should embrace to end the extreme gerrymandering of our legislative districts. Having a non-partisan civil service entity create the maps keeps the fox out of the hen house.
Final Five Voting (FFV) and Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) are effective tools to address the current hyper-partisanship. FFV/RCV encourages healthy competition, more civil campaigns, non-partisanship and discourages big money. They work in Alaska and Maine - they can work in Wisconsin.
Promote renewable energy and clean up our drinking water
In the past six years, my wife and I have restored 25 acres of highly erodible land into wild prairie pollinator habitat, using cost-shares from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Last year we purchased our first hybrid vehicle and installed a 24 panel roof mounted solar system. I would support educational campaigns encouraging folks to take advantage of state and federal tax credits to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
I would also support initiatives like enhanced groundwater testing and remediating PFAS’s and nitrites in our drinking water where they exceed legal limits (a huge problem in Pierce and Pepin Counties). Protecting our environment comes at a cost, but being proactive is less costly than cleaning things up after the fact.
Tourism with economic development incentives will keep our Driftless Area a crown jewel for outdoor enthusiasts and visitors.
Everyone in our family (myself, wife, children, parents and eight siblings) is the product of public schools. The generations who came before us were willing to support strong public schools at the state and local level. Now it is our turn.
I would support using some of the $3.5 billion surplus to fund our public school districts so they don’t have to cover shortfalls with local referendums. The Prescott School District just lost their bond referendum by 12 votes on April 2, which will result in cuts to staff and curriculum.
We should prioritize school funding so our teachers are secure and valued in their jobs. Limit class sizes and increase funding for para-professionals who are essential for students with differing abilities.
I would increase funding for vocational training programs. AmeriCorps for the construction industry could significantly increase a trained workforce in high-needs areas and contribute to solutions for the housing and infrastructure problems we face.
Candidate has not yet responded.
