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Wisconsin’s 91st District Assembly race has drawn 10 candidates — more than any other race this fall — vying to replace one of the longest-serving incumbents, Barbara Gronemus, when she retires this fall.
Six Democrats and two Republicans will face off Sept. 9 for spots on the ballot — which they will share with a Libertarian and an independent.
The vast, mostly rural district, sprawls from Trempealeau to Osseo and almost to River Falls, encompassing all of Buffalo and Trempealeau counties, as well as parts of Pepin, Pierce and Jackson.
The field includes several with local government experience — one mayor and two county supervisors — and a mix of public servants and small business owners. Three have previous experience running for state office, though none has won an election at this level.
Almost all agree on the issues: skyrocketing health care costs and lack of access to insurance for many farmers and small businesses; a school funding system in which state aid is based on enrollment while districts rely heavily on local property taxes — putting rural districts at a disadvantage; and crippling property taxes.
They differ on the approaches.
Though held for nearly three decades by a Democrat, the 91st is considered by many observers to be a swing district.
Gronemus, who was first elected in 1980 and announced last year that she would not seek re-election, said party affiliation doesn’t matter to most voters. They want the person who will best represent the district.
“People don’t care what party you belong to,” she said. “They want the best voice they can have.”
Candidates were given an opportunity to make a 50-word statement. Not all responded.
Democrats
Marge Baecker
Home: Independence
Age: 59
Occupation: Retired teacher
Key political experience: Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission, 2004 present; 3rd Congressional District Democratic party chairwoman, 2005-07
Education: BA in history, College of St. Teresa; master’s degree in education, UW-La Crosse
Web site: www.margebaeckerforassembly.com.
A longtime Democratic party activist who has campaigned for other candidates over the past decade, Baecker is making her first run for office. A teacher for 37 years in both public and private schools, school funding tops her priorities.
Issues: Health care, school funding, property taxes
Solutions: Open to all alternatives for creating affordable health insurance, especially for farmers and small business owners and their employees; favors more state funding for schools to shift the burden off property taxpayers. Would close corporate tax loopholes to increase revenues.
In her words: “The elected representative is the voice of the people at the state Capitol, and I will listen. The 91st Assembly District continues to deserve a state representative who will be a strong leader in Madison. I want to be the next assemblywoman to represent the district. I will be an effective voice for western Wisconsin.”
Steve Boe
Age: 24 (25 on Sept. 1)
Home: Taylor
Occupation: farmer
Key political experience: intern for Ron Kind, 2007
Education: BS, agricultural education/political science, UW-River Falls
Web site: www.steveboe.com
Though the youngest candidate running, Boe held leadership positions as a student, serving as a state and national representative for FFA, and spent a summer as a congressional intern in Washington, D.C.
Issues: Agriculture, school funding, health care
Solutions: Vows to advocate farm-friendly legislation; open to all possible solutions to lower health care costs, which he also sees as one of the primary strains on school budgets; favors moving school funding away from property taxes.
Remy Ceci
Age: 59
Home: Pepin
Occupation: Owner and manager, Great River Coffee Roasters and Café
Key political experience: Pepin Planning Commission, 2002-06
Education: Attended St. Olaf College and University of Minnesota; certificate in wind energy technology from Red Wing Energy Education Center
Web site: www.remyceci4assembly.com
A former wind energy developer for the state of California as well as in the private sector, Ceci advocates renewable energy — including wind, solar, and bio fuels — as a potential source of economic development in the district. She has been a small business owner in Pepin since 1995.
Issues: school funding, property taxes, health care
Solutions: favors restructuring school funding while re-examining the state’s tax code to lessen the burden for residential property owners; advocates state mandates on insurers to guarantee coverage for all.
In her words: “We need a strong Democrat representing the 91st Assembly District. Tough decisions must be made regarding property taxes, school funding, health care costs, and the energy crisis. These issues affect every family farm, small business owner, and senior citizen. I have the business knowledge, government experience and leadership skills to best represent you in the State Assembly.”
Chris Danou
Age: 41
Home: Trempealeau
Occupation: patrol officer, Onalaska Police Department
Key political experience: Trempealeau County Democratic party chairman, 2007
Education: BA, history, University of Wisconsin; MA, international affairs, American University; MS, wildlife biology, UW-Stevens Point.
Web site: www.chrisdanou.com
Danou, who ran in 2006 for the 31st District state senate seat and lost in the primary to eventual winner Kathleen Vinehout, is the best-funded candidate in the race, having raised more than $16,000 by mid-July. The president of the Onalaska police officer’s union, he has been endorsed by the state police and teachers’ unions.
Issues: health care, property taxes, school funding
Solutions: believes everyone deserves access to full health insurance, though not committed to a particular solution; advocates closing corporate tax loopholes to ease burden on property owners and making schools less dependent on local property taxes.
John Kimmel
Age: 33
Home: Arcadia
Occupation: Manager, Detox Bar and Grill
Key political experience: Arcadia mayor, 2006-present
Education:
Web site: none
After making national news in his first term with a controversial proposal to address problems with illegal immigrants, Kimmel won a landslide re-election in April. Now he’s looking to carry his success to the state capital. Kimmel ran for the seat in 1998 as an independent.
Issues: Health care, school funding, energy
Solutions: Open to all options for regulating health insurance; wants to find more equitable funding for schools though doesn’t specify funding source; proposes universal access to college education.
Jim Kraft
Age: 59
Home: Durand
Occupation: union millwright, Millwrights Local 1056
Key political experience: Pepin County board of supervisors, 2004-present
Education: BS, industrial education, UW-Stout
Web site: www.jimkraft4assembly.com
The former business owner and teacher turned millwright has built experience managing budgets in four years on the Pepin County board. He hopes to keep more young people in the district through job creation initiatives.
Issues: School funding, agriculture, health care
Solutions: Thinks the best fix for the problems facing the district is to boost the local economy; proposes bills to stimulate local job development; proposes possible health insurance tax deduction as a way to make health care affordable.
In his words: “I have the needed government experience to be your 91st Assembly representative. As a three-term elected Pepin County Board supervisor, I have hands-on experience addressing and resolving many complex issues. I will work hard to be your voice and vote in Madison and will listen and work for you.”
Republicans
David Anderson
Age: 58
Home: Whitehall
Occupation: finance manager, Osseo Ford
Key political experience: Trempealeau County board of supervisors, 1994-2000
Education: attended UW-River Falls
Web site: www.anderson4assembly.com
Anderson twice ran against Gronemus for the District 91 seat, pulling 35 percent of the vote in 2004 and 30 percent in 2006 — better than any of the incumbent Democrat’s previous challengers.
Issues: economic development, taxes, health care
Solutions: Favors lowering corporate and individual taxes to create more favorable environment for businesses; would trim non-core services from state budget; advocates market-driven solutions to health care crisis, including transparent pricing for services.
In his words: “In this campaign, I am talking about reducing taxes and having affordable health care because these are important issues of concern that the voters talk about. I believe that I am the best person for this job because of my experience in local government and in the business world.”
Dave Hegenbarth
Age: 52
Home: Galesville
Occupation: Owner, four Piggly Wiggly grocery stores, Pig Stop convenience store
Key political experience: none
Education: attended Loras College and UW-La Crosse
Web site: www.hegenbarth4wi.com
The small business owner and political newcomer touts a consumer-driven approach to government and positions himself as government reformer. He has also been a prodigious fundraiser, accumulating more than $14,000 by the mid-July reporting deadline.
Issues: Fuel costs, health care, agriculture
Solutions: Proposes lowering gas tax to match Minnesota’s and mandating insurance providers to offer a basic catastrophic coverage plan to all residents — transparent pricing and competition would bring costs down, and employers could augment coverage.
