MONROE - Two political newcomers are running to represent District 13 on the Green County Board of Supervisors.
Jeff Williams, 55, said he is always on "the other side of the table" when it comes to local government, applying for zoning permits or other licenses for his Town of Spring Grove dairy farm.
Now Williams, who said he has attended one county board meeting, wants to try out a seat on the government side of the table.
Paula Vestin, 41, is similarly a longtime farmer and eager to learn about county affairs. Her friends urged her to run when no one else had yet applied, she said, adding that she enjoyed collecting signatures to get on the ballot since it gave her an excuse to get to know her neighbors better. She said she hasn't yet been to a county board meeting.
The mother of six runs the 10-acre Caulpris Farm south of Juda with her husband, Chris. Before moving to the area eight years ago, they lived in depressed rural areas in Minnesota and Massachusetts.
They've found that Green County is different.
"This is a nice place to live," she said. One of her top concerns for the county is that it retain its population. Children grow up here but "leave to go to college, and they don't necessarily have a reason to come back."
Jobs are the answer to luring the younger generation back, she said, plus making sure tax money is continuing to go where it's needed.
"I want my own children to have a reason to come back here," Vestin said. "I want to give back to the community."
Agriculture is the top priority for Williams. He lives with his wife Karen, who runs Bullwinkle's Coffee and More in Brodhead. They have two daughters and a son.
Williams has run the dairy farm Bedrock Bovines with his brother Brad since 1982. They now have a 900-cow operation, with surrounding acreage to feed the animals.
"We've spent all our time building our business, learning as we go along," he said, and "keeping the farming operation on the straight and narrow."
If elected, putting that knowledge to practice on the county level would be his focus.
"I want the voice of agriculture to be represented within the county," he said, adding that manure management, highway weight issues and the landfill are top priorities.
"I'm going to go in there with the mindset I want to listen and base a decision on what is the logical approach," he said.
Politically, he says he's independent. He's inspired to action by what he sees happening in Wisconsin state politics.
"We can't continue on the course we are currently on economically," he said. "I just think the county is not a whole lot different than the state. We have to keep things balanced. I think people need to listen and find common ground."
Jeff Williams, 55, said he is always on "the other side of the table" when it comes to local government, applying for zoning permits or other licenses for his Town of Spring Grove dairy farm.
Now Williams, who said he has attended one county board meeting, wants to try out a seat on the government side of the table.
Paula Vestin, 41, is similarly a longtime farmer and eager to learn about county affairs. Her friends urged her to run when no one else had yet applied, she said, adding that she enjoyed collecting signatures to get on the ballot since it gave her an excuse to get to know her neighbors better. She said she hasn't yet been to a county board meeting.
The mother of six runs the 10-acre Caulpris Farm south of Juda with her husband, Chris. Before moving to the area eight years ago, they lived in depressed rural areas in Minnesota and Massachusetts.
They've found that Green County is different.
"This is a nice place to live," she said. One of her top concerns for the county is that it retain its population. Children grow up here but "leave to go to college, and they don't necessarily have a reason to come back."
Jobs are the answer to luring the younger generation back, she said, plus making sure tax money is continuing to go where it's needed.
"I want my own children to have a reason to come back here," Vestin said. "I want to give back to the community."
Agriculture is the top priority for Williams. He lives with his wife Karen, who runs Bullwinkle's Coffee and More in Brodhead. They have two daughters and a son.
Williams has run the dairy farm Bedrock Bovines with his brother Brad since 1982. They now have a 900-cow operation, with surrounding acreage to feed the animals.
"We've spent all our time building our business, learning as we go along," he said, and "keeping the farming operation on the straight and narrow."
If elected, putting that knowledge to practice on the county level would be his focus.
"I want the voice of agriculture to be represented within the county," he said, adding that manure management, highway weight issues and the landfill are top priorities.
"I'm going to go in there with the mindset I want to listen and base a decision on what is the logical approach," he said.
Politically, he says he's independent. He's inspired to action by what he sees happening in Wisconsin state politics.
"We can't continue on the course we are currently on economically," he said. "I just think the county is not a whole lot different than the state. We have to keep things balanced. I think people need to listen and find common ground."