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Published - Thursday, April 17, 2008

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Kapanke to run for re-election


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State Sen. Dan Kapanke said Wednesday he wants another four years in Madison to work on growing the local economy.

“So much work needs to be done. I hope I’ve earned the right to go back,” said the Republican from French Island, who kicked off his re-election campaign with announcements in La Crosse, Viroqua and Prairie du Chien.
“We have to grow the economy,” said Kapanke. “We can’t raise taxes.”

Kapanke faces a challenge from La Crosse County Board Supervisor Tara Johnson, a Democrat from the town of Shelby. Johnson hasn’t formally announced she plans to run, but Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker has already started fundraising on her behalf and announced District 32 is the Senate Democrats’ top targeted race in 2008.

Kapanke promised to run a positive campaign and told groups who might run independent ads, “If you go negative, I want you out.”

Speaking at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Cleary Center, Kapanke talked at length about UW-L and the importance of the campus, calling it one of the area’s “economic engines.”

He also defended his vote against public financing for Wisconsin Supreme Court

justice elections, saying the $3 million in taxpayer funds it would have required should be spent on helping children on medical assistance get access to dental care.

Health care also is likely to be a major issue in the campaign, especially the Healthy Wisconsin health insurance program passed by Senate Democrats. That plan is going nowhere in the Republican-controlled Assembly, and Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle is at best ambivalent about it.

Kapanke said Wisconsin already has a relatively small percentage of citizens who don’t have health insurance. “We can’t turn the whole system upside down for 4 to 5 percent” of people without insurance, he said, adding the state needs to work on getting them coverage.

Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, introduced Kapanke in La Crosse.

“Here’s a man who’s as comfortable on the state Senate floor fighting for the issues and needs of western Wisconsin as he is in a field helping a farmer get a greater yield for his corn crop or as he as he is throwing us a bag of peanuts at a Loggers game,” Huebsch said.

Kapanke, 60, started his political career on the town of Campbell’s board and served as its chairman for seven years. He ran for the open District 32 state Senate seat in 2000, losing to Democrat Mark Meyer, who served one term. Kapanke ran again in 2004, defeating Democrat Brad Pfaff.

Kapanke and his wife, Ruth, are owners of the La Crosse Loggers summer league baseball team, which they started in 2003. He also has worked as a regional sales manager for Kaltenberg Seed Farms.

UW-L political scientist Joe Heim said a Kapanke-Johnson race should be interesting because Kapanke won by such a close margin (52.46 percent) in 2004 and the district is trending Democratic, especially in presidential elections.

However, Kapanke has four years of experience and being an incumbent gives him an advantage, Heim said.

Reid Magney can be reached at (608) 791-8211 or rmagney@lacrossetribune.com.
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rickey wrote on Apr 23, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Repubs are as popular as Hurricanes ,Floods, Diseases or Tornadoes "

tax-me-more wrote on Apr 22, 2008 6:04 AM:

" recklessness and water
wrote on Apr 18, 2008 1:15 AM:

Hypothetically, let's just say I agree with your assessment of Dan.

Does anyone really believe that replacing him with a Left Wing elitist LIBERAL would be a good thing?

I certainly don't! Of the two, Kapanke is the better choice by far!

As for your grammatical attack, usually posters resort to that when they realize they are on the wrong side of a discussion. "

recklessness and water wrote on Apr 18, 2008 1:15 AM:

" "When it comes to road or anything else" is not a sentence.

And I like Dan, I would be surprised to hear about anyone who actually met him and didn't like him. That said, his backing of Mike Huebsch and his lunatic agenda do not jive with the voters. I know it's a lot to ask, but maybe we could get someone who can think for themselves? Dan's heart isn't in this race, and that's fine, but if he isn't up for a good fight, it's time for someone who is. Go Loggers! "

Gunny wrote on Apr 17, 2008 10:48 PM:

" Dan has worked hard to get things done in Madison that will help this side of the state. Check how much money gets spent on the East side verses the West side of the state. When it comes to road or anything else. Dan has been fighting for us and will keep doing just that. He is a good business man and family man. Keep him in office.
Gunny "

retired wrote on Apr 17, 2008 1:41 PM:

" He's going to have a hard time arguing he is representing the best interests of the La Crosse area when he's taking huge sums of money from the telecommunication lobby.

http://www.wisdc.org/pr110907.php "

The Real World wrote on Apr 17, 2008 1:21 PM:

" I have my own check list that I rate candidates, Kapanke rates in the top 6 percent. That is the best rating for anyone in 16 years. He supports the Constitution and the rights of everyone. "

county resident wrote on Apr 17, 2008 11:56 AM:

" Dan is truly concerned about the students of wisconsin, He supported the virtual schools bill that passed recently anf he understands that wiscosnin needs to be loking at new ways to educate children and lower the costs to do it. Our county needs to look into better and cheaper ways to educate. "

unpolitical_correctness wrote on Apr 17, 2008 9:59 AM:

" With Kapanke as town chairman, I feel he did a poor job at what he did. Maybe it was the politics of the island. However, Kapanke has done the best in representing his constituants. Sadly, I'm not a fan of Mikey campaigning for Dan; life goes on. Dan has done marvals for the community and this Democrat is voting across party lines for Kapanke. Keep up the good work! I will hold you to a "dirt free" campaign!! If you can do as you say in the pledge for a dirt free campaign, I feel that you deserve the senate seat no questions asked. "

notme wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:36 AM:

" NO, I'd say based on her RECORD, Johnson is out of touch with the people.

Add to that, she told the local media she "hasn't decided yet" but this Decker guy is saying she is.

Who's in charge? Is she just a pawn? "

notme wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:25 AM:

" In 2003, Johnson's statement was [If we think we're not paid enough, we should increase our pay.] How "eletist" is that?

In 2006, Johnson voted FOR the de-criminalization of marijuana. Does that support "family values" or help our kids to NOT USE marijuana?

In 2007, Johnson voted YES to give O'Malley a huge 6% yearly pay increases while those who pay his salary have seen stagnant wages. "

notme wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:21 AM:

" Let's look at some statements made by Johnson in a 2001 letter to the editor about the size of the board:

[I am concerned that some of my fellow supervisors believe that they know what is best on this issue.]

I'll paraphrase; supervisors should NOT be the ones making the decision.

[If you know how things get done, if you know how committees and people and processes, work then I believe you are "qualified" to give an opinion on this issue.]

Again, I'll paraphrase, only those who know HOW the county board works, i.e. supervisors, are qualified to give an opinion.

In one statement, she wants the people to have a voice, and in the other, she says the people aren't qualified.

Net result, the county board got BIGGER costing the taxpayers even MORE in TAXES. "

notme wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:19 AM:

" Johnson does NOT support TOP-DOWN cuts in all state agencies and an actual REDUCTION in tax dollars spent. Just look at how much the county budget has increased since she got on the board.

Johnson does NOT support "open carry" like her Democratic leader Governor Doyle. She did NOT propose any resolution supporting our right to bear arms since being elected to the board. In fact, she believes the government should SEIZE ALL GUNS, just like Shilling. "

rprp wrote on Apr 17, 2008 8:10 AM:

" As far as I'am concerned Kapanke has represented the special interest groups of farmers and teachers and forgot about seniors and working people and businesses. If you look at his record you can easily see why LaCrosse needs someone who will represent everyone fairly. My total taxes has at least doubled since the year 2000 and it's because of liberals like Kapanke. We need TABOR. "

Richard Cranium wrote on Apr 17, 2008 6:54 AM:

" To just the facts: What " family issues" are you talking about? And, what difference does the source make as long as what they are talking about is the truth? Also, can you expand on your comment about Johnson being a "political thug"? "

rickey wrote on Apr 17, 2008 6:08 AM:

" Repubs will be like the loggers last year and have a losing season.Inflation and the economy will be a Grand Slam for the Dems "

just the facts wrote on Apr 17, 2008 5:59 AM:

" This will be a dirty campaign like it or not. Dans Family issues will be introduced early and of course no one will have any knowledge of the source.The Demos want this seat and will stop at nothing because thats what they do best. Jonnson is known as a political thug , locally. Johnson will use the abortion issue, to question Dans morality , while she was an original supporter of same sex medical benefits for county workers and wont use her married name! "


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