Election 2018: Lafayette County Board
On the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors, four incumbents will have opposing candidates for the nonpartisan seat. District 1 Supervisor Larry Ludlum will seek re-election against Mike Paulson, District 3 Supervisor Jack Sauer will be on the ballot versus candidate Nick Metz, Supervisor Leon Wolfe of District 4 will be running against Jeremiah Kleiber, and District 5 Supervisor Dwayne Larson will be on the ballot against candidate Andy Schilling.
Incumbents Steve Spensley, Tony Ruesga, Robert Boyle, Kriss Marion, Jack Wiegel, John Bartels, Gerald Heimann, Carol Korn and David Hammer are running unopposed. In District 9, the incumbent Wayne Wilson resigned Aug. 31. Robert Laeser will be on the ballot for the seat. District 13 Supervisor Ted Wiegel and District 16 Supervisor John Perkins have both chosen not to seek re-election. District 13 candidate Ursula Fecht is running unopposed. Two candidates will vie for the District 16 position: Rita Buchholz and Cal Robbins.
Age: 64
City/town of residence: Benton
Family: Married to David Buchholz for 19 years
Three adult children Tammi Sherman, Travis Olson, Matthew Olson. 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandkids
Education: graduated from Lancaster Senior High in 1971
Occupation: retired in 2009 after nearly 31 years with the United States Postal Service
Previous elected positions held: served on Benton School Board from 1994 to 1999
What are the top issues facing this district/municipality and how would you work to resolve it?
I believe one of the biggest problems in our area is the many issues surrounding drug and alcohol related crimes. There is no community too small to be affected. There is most likely no family in Lafayette County unaffected by drugs and/or alcohol. I would push for greater education geared toward prevention, and advocate for more man-hours on Benton's police force.
What are other key issues facing the district/municipality, and how would you work to resolve them?
As with every small town in Lafayette County, Benton could use an economic shot in the arm. We would love to see the village population increase, more businesses open, and have more services readily available to the townspeople. Benton has been working on these things for several years through the BCDC (Benton Community Development Corporation) and it's community leadership and has made great progress. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the village board to see Benton grow even better.
Why are you the best candidate for this office?
I grew up in a small town and appreciate the values and advantages of rural Wisconsin. My children grew up in Benton and will always call it home. This town helped shape their lives, and mine.
I also grew up in a large family and because of that, learned compromise at an early age.
Another lesson learned was to speak up if I wanted something, and I would use that voice to speak for Benton and it's needs and concerns. I'm proud to live in Benton. I care about my town, and about Lafayette and want to work to improve both.