Candidate Profiles
The Monroe Times contacted candidates in area races and gave them the opportunity to submit profile information. The following profiles were returned and are published below as they were submitted. Democrat Mark Pocan and Republican Peter Theron are running in the Nov. 4 general election for the 2nd Congressional District.
Peter Theron
Age: 58
City/town of residence: Madison
Family: Wife, Amy
Education: Princeton University, 1978 BA Statistics
UW-Madison, 1988 PhD Mathematics
Occupation: Math instructor at Madison College
Previous elected positions held: Conscientious Voter
What are the top issues facing this district/board/office and how would you work to resolve them?
Economy. The most important issue facing the United States is an uncertain economy. Unemployment, underemployment, no-longer-looking-for-work unemployment, new adult career stall, early retirement, and very slow creation of decent paying jobs are the problems Americans, including the people of south-central Wisconsin are wrestling with every day.
What do we do about the economy?
• Lower taxes on companies will make us more competitive and allow companies to bring into this country trillions of dollars earned overseas.
• Reduce the red tape and bureaucracy that is stifling growth.
• Eliminate the uncertainty about health care that has affected so many employment decisions.
• Accelerate energy production with the goal of making America energy independent. Also help Europe reduce or eliminate its need for Russian or Mideast energy.
• Make returning to work the goal of federal support programs.
• Reduce government's share of the economy to free up capital for job-creating investment.
Health Care. The Affordable Care Act must be repealed. It is a bad law and is affecting the health care of Americans in serious ways both financially and medically. In its place I would support any number of reforms including encouraging interstate portability of health care coverage, allowing customization of insurance plans so consumers can purchase coverage that fits their needs, expanding access to personal health savings accounts, and fixing the problems with Medicare/Medicaid.
What are other key issues facing the district/board/office, and how would you work to resolve them?
Foreign Affairs. A third violent storm is hitting the Middle East. The War on Terrorism, which was largely won, has re-ignited, this time with a new terrorist nation, ISIS. Our walking away from Iraq was a mistake. The world will always be a dangerous place.
What do we do about ISIS?
• Resolve to completely defeat terrorism including the utter elimination of ISIS.
• Rebuild our military.
• Work towards energy independence. This will reduce our need for Middle East energy and decrease the money that gets redirected to terrorist groups.
Federal Spending. The national government takes too much of our national output and spends not only that but borrows trillions more. Taxes are burdensome. This is a recipe for economic disaster. We need to learn from the Great Recession. Reducing government's footprint will go a long ways to boosting the economy.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
Our nation faces serious challenges. Answers will not come from Washington. I am the candidate working to find solutions that work for the people of south-central Wisconsin.
Age: 58
City/town of residence: Madison
Family: Wife, Amy
Education: Princeton University, 1978 BA Statistics
UW-Madison, 1988 PhD Mathematics
Occupation: Math instructor at Madison College
Previous elected positions held: Conscientious Voter
What are the top issues facing this district/board/office and how would you work to resolve them?
Economy. The most important issue facing the United States is an uncertain economy. Unemployment, underemployment, no-longer-looking-for-work unemployment, new adult career stall, early retirement, and very slow creation of decent paying jobs are the problems Americans, including the people of south-central Wisconsin are wrestling with every day.
What do we do about the economy?
• Lower taxes on companies will make us more competitive and allow companies to bring into this country trillions of dollars earned overseas.
• Reduce the red tape and bureaucracy that is stifling growth.
• Eliminate the uncertainty about health care that has affected so many employment decisions.
• Accelerate energy production with the goal of making America energy independent. Also help Europe reduce or eliminate its need for Russian or Mideast energy.
• Make returning to work the goal of federal support programs.
• Reduce government's share of the economy to free up capital for job-creating investment.
Health Care. The Affordable Care Act must be repealed. It is a bad law and is affecting the health care of Americans in serious ways both financially and medically. In its place I would support any number of reforms including encouraging interstate portability of health care coverage, allowing customization of insurance plans so consumers can purchase coverage that fits their needs, expanding access to personal health savings accounts, and fixing the problems with Medicare/Medicaid.
What are other key issues facing the district/board/office, and how would you work to resolve them?
Foreign Affairs. A third violent storm is hitting the Middle East. The War on Terrorism, which was largely won, has re-ignited, this time with a new terrorist nation, ISIS. Our walking away from Iraq was a mistake. The world will always be a dangerous place.
What do we do about ISIS?
• Resolve to completely defeat terrorism including the utter elimination of ISIS.
• Rebuild our military.
• Work towards energy independence. This will reduce our need for Middle East energy and decrease the money that gets redirected to terrorist groups.
Federal Spending. The national government takes too much of our national output and spends not only that but borrows trillions more. Taxes are burdensome. This is a recipe for economic disaster. We need to learn from the Great Recession. Reducing government's footprint will go a long ways to boosting the economy.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
Our nation faces serious challenges. Answers will not come from Washington. I am the candidate working to find solutions that work for the people of south-central Wisconsin.