BRODHEAD - The only contested race for the Green County board involves two candidates who stress their experience in government.
Steve Stettler, 55, is the incumbent in the campaign for District 18. He's been a member of the board for 14 years. Challenger Bob Gadow, 50, has served on the Decatur Township Board for seven years.
Both candidates graduated from Brodhead High School.
Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker and owner of Decatur Dairy. Gadow is employed at Martin Automatic, Rockford, Ill.
They have different approaches when it comes to voting for something.
"I'm not just a candidate who votes no," Stettler said. "I've never been called about a vote I've made. I weigh the issues and try to decide what's best for the township and the county."
Gadow said he doesn't vote for something because it's popular.
"I'm not afraid to vote 'no' or offer my opinion," Gadow said.
Gadow said he had a problem with how the county board handled the Pleasant View Nursing Home and the Green County Justice Center.
"I think they got that backward," Gadow said. "There should have been a referendum for the Justice Center and the board should have been able to find a way to budget for the nursing home."
Stettler supported a proposal for a referendum for the nursing home, and he also supported moving the court system out of the Green County Courthouse to the Justice Center.
Stettler said it was important the county taxpayers have a voice in the nursing home's future.
"People wanted to keep the nursing home," he said.
The board's task it to make the home operate more efficiently, he added.
"We've done a good job with the new administrator," Stettler said.
The state has continued to keep money for its budgets that should be sent to the counties, which is a reason why the county needed the referendum, Stettler said. Wisconsin mandates things for the county but doesn't pay for them, he said.
Gadow said he understands the financial difficulties faced by all counties. The Green County Board has been fiscally conservative over the years, he said, but there is a need to continue to keep spending under control.
"I'm concerned about the seniors," he said. "You can't keep taxing people who are living on fixed incomes."
Since the Pleasant View referendum has been approved by voters, Gadow said the county needs to make sure it spends the money wisely.
Steve Stettler, 55, is the incumbent in the campaign for District 18. He's been a member of the board for 14 years. Challenger Bob Gadow, 50, has served on the Decatur Township Board for seven years.
Both candidates graduated from Brodhead High School.
Stettler is a Master Cheesemaker and owner of Decatur Dairy. Gadow is employed at Martin Automatic, Rockford, Ill.
They have different approaches when it comes to voting for something.
"I'm not just a candidate who votes no," Stettler said. "I've never been called about a vote I've made. I weigh the issues and try to decide what's best for the township and the county."
Gadow said he doesn't vote for something because it's popular.
"I'm not afraid to vote 'no' or offer my opinion," Gadow said.
Gadow said he had a problem with how the county board handled the Pleasant View Nursing Home and the Green County Justice Center.
"I think they got that backward," Gadow said. "There should have been a referendum for the Justice Center and the board should have been able to find a way to budget for the nursing home."
Stettler supported a proposal for a referendum for the nursing home, and he also supported moving the court system out of the Green County Courthouse to the Justice Center.
Stettler said it was important the county taxpayers have a voice in the nursing home's future.
"People wanted to keep the nursing home," he said.
The board's task it to make the home operate more efficiently, he added.
"We've done a good job with the new administrator," Stettler said.
The state has continued to keep money for its budgets that should be sent to the counties, which is a reason why the county needed the referendum, Stettler said. Wisconsin mandates things for the county but doesn't pay for them, he said.
Gadow said he understands the financial difficulties faced by all counties. The Green County Board has been fiscally conservative over the years, he said, but there is a need to continue to keep spending under control.
"I'm concerned about the seniors," he said. "You can't keep taxing people who are living on fixed incomes."
Since the Pleasant View referendum has been approved by voters, Gadow said the county needs to make sure it spends the money wisely.