MONROE - Democratic candidates for the 45th and 51st Assembly districts made an impression on some voters who attended a forum held by the Democratic Party of Green County Monday, July 9 at the Monroe Library - but they still have a way to go to get their votes.
Janis Ringhand, Evansville, who represented most of Green County including the city of Monroe as part of the 80th District before redistricting, and her challenger, Sheila De Forest, Beloit, will face off in Aug. 14 primary in the 45th District, while Pat Bomhack, Dodgeville, and Maureen May-Grimm, Mineral Point, will compete for the Democratic place on the 51st District.
Monroe is in the 51st District as part of redistricting.
Gordon Kottke, Monroe, said he didn't know the candidates before Monday night. He would like to see Democratic representatives to the Assembly "be more aggressive in what we're doing."
"Mo (May-Grimm) is talking more old school," he said, "keeping things the way they have been run, keeping the standard, not let the boat sink, whereas Pat (Bomhack) is saying, 'OK, no matter what ... we have to keep everything flowing (with compromises), working with more Republicans, give a little more.'"
Kottke, a 30-year school custodian in Cudahy, now retired in Monroe, said the state government has a "good base the way it is," but there are certain things he'd like to see changed, such as hiring new employees at lower wages and have them work longer to rise to the top wage levels, "rather than cut back into the system" the way Gov. Scott Walker did to balance the budget. Kottke would also like to see lower wages, but more profit sharing with employees, which he said would benefit the state, the companies and the employees.
Mike Furgal, a Green County supervisor, would not reveal his candidate choice, but said the forum "reinforced my opinion on who to vote for."
"I enjoyed it," he said. "It's good to hear the diversity of opinions. It's always a pleasure to meet the candidates."
Bill Batz, 36, Monroe, said he was still undecided after the forum. "I'm pretty up on stuff," he said about his knowledge of political issues. "I think they should have had a little more on the questions of healthcare and jobs."
The forum was a chance for the candidates to distinguish their differences.
De Forest repeatedly emphasized her approach to "messaging" and framing the issues to voters in a way that will help clear their confusions.
"I am a person of action, and want to find solutions to problems. I have a long-track record of doing that with communication and relationship building," she said.
De Forest said that, even though she is a Democrat, she doesn't "toe the party line."
"I'm not afraid to fight for what is right, even to go against my colleagues," she added.
As a council member and mayor of Evansville and as a current member of the state Assembly, Ringhand brought out her long history of working toward solutions with people on different sides of issues. As an example, Ringhand noted she "reached across the aisle" and "worked with Republicans" to develop legislation to solve a problem with enterprise zones that stopped at the boundary lines, for growth in small communities.
May-Grimm targeted "tax breaks for the rich," which she said is falsely promising "jobs will start to rain down on us." She was against tax credits to corporations; especially those that she said provide jobs at wages below living standards. May-Grimm offered one solution for putting to work people who are collecting unemployment: giving them jobs to fix up schools, which are struggling under lower state funding.
With her experiences with data analysis, May-Grimm said she will clear up the confusion about which side is telling the truth, and use data to show the solutions, rather than using it to support a preconceived solution.
Bomhack said he wanted to focus on honoring and renewing Wisconsin's "Progressive tradition." He outlined education, the working class, women's equality, growing the economy and restoring good government as his top areas of focus.
Bomhack distinguished himself with his two of government service working under Russ Feingold and two years under Gov. Jim Doyle, and his law studies at the University of Wisconsin. Bomhack said he was the candidate that could go "toe-to-toe" against the Republican candidate, incumbent Assemblyman Howard Marklein, who was "highly motivated and highly financed."
He favors a budget presented by Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, a Democratic candidate for governor in the recall election against Scott Walker, which he said "accepts union concessions, cuts corporate tax breaks and eliminates Walker's programs."
All the candidates mentioned education as one piece of the state budget that needed more money.
Green County was split into three districts under new redistricting boundaries, with the southwest quarter of the county in 51st District and the southeastern townships in the 45th District.
Janis Ringhand, Evansville, who represented most of Green County including the city of Monroe as part of the 80th District before redistricting, and her challenger, Sheila De Forest, Beloit, will face off in Aug. 14 primary in the 45th District, while Pat Bomhack, Dodgeville, and Maureen May-Grimm, Mineral Point, will compete for the Democratic place on the 51st District.
Monroe is in the 51st District as part of redistricting.
Gordon Kottke, Monroe, said he didn't know the candidates before Monday night. He would like to see Democratic representatives to the Assembly "be more aggressive in what we're doing."
"Mo (May-Grimm) is talking more old school," he said, "keeping things the way they have been run, keeping the standard, not let the boat sink, whereas Pat (Bomhack) is saying, 'OK, no matter what ... we have to keep everything flowing (with compromises), working with more Republicans, give a little more.'"
Kottke, a 30-year school custodian in Cudahy, now retired in Monroe, said the state government has a "good base the way it is," but there are certain things he'd like to see changed, such as hiring new employees at lower wages and have them work longer to rise to the top wage levels, "rather than cut back into the system" the way Gov. Scott Walker did to balance the budget. Kottke would also like to see lower wages, but more profit sharing with employees, which he said would benefit the state, the companies and the employees.
Mike Furgal, a Green County supervisor, would not reveal his candidate choice, but said the forum "reinforced my opinion on who to vote for."
"I enjoyed it," he said. "It's good to hear the diversity of opinions. It's always a pleasure to meet the candidates."
Bill Batz, 36, Monroe, said he was still undecided after the forum. "I'm pretty up on stuff," he said about his knowledge of political issues. "I think they should have had a little more on the questions of healthcare and jobs."
The forum was a chance for the candidates to distinguish their differences.
De Forest repeatedly emphasized her approach to "messaging" and framing the issues to voters in a way that will help clear their confusions.
"I am a person of action, and want to find solutions to problems. I have a long-track record of doing that with communication and relationship building," she said.
De Forest said that, even though she is a Democrat, she doesn't "toe the party line."
"I'm not afraid to fight for what is right, even to go against my colleagues," she added.
As a council member and mayor of Evansville and as a current member of the state Assembly, Ringhand brought out her long history of working toward solutions with people on different sides of issues. As an example, Ringhand noted she "reached across the aisle" and "worked with Republicans" to develop legislation to solve a problem with enterprise zones that stopped at the boundary lines, for growth in small communities.
May-Grimm targeted "tax breaks for the rich," which she said is falsely promising "jobs will start to rain down on us." She was against tax credits to corporations; especially those that she said provide jobs at wages below living standards. May-Grimm offered one solution for putting to work people who are collecting unemployment: giving them jobs to fix up schools, which are struggling under lower state funding.
With her experiences with data analysis, May-Grimm said she will clear up the confusion about which side is telling the truth, and use data to show the solutions, rather than using it to support a preconceived solution.
Bomhack said he wanted to focus on honoring and renewing Wisconsin's "Progressive tradition." He outlined education, the working class, women's equality, growing the economy and restoring good government as his top areas of focus.
Bomhack distinguished himself with his two of government service working under Russ Feingold and two years under Gov. Jim Doyle, and his law studies at the University of Wisconsin. Bomhack said he was the candidate that could go "toe-to-toe" against the Republican candidate, incumbent Assemblyman Howard Marklein, who was "highly motivated and highly financed."
He favors a budget presented by Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, a Democratic candidate for governor in the recall election against Scott Walker, which he said "accepts union concessions, cuts corporate tax breaks and eliminates Walker's programs."
All the candidates mentioned education as one piece of the state budget that needed more money.
Green County was split into three districts under new redistricting boundaries, with the southwest quarter of the county in 51st District and the southeastern townships in the 45th District.