From Lauren Bernstein Powers

Mineral Point

To the editor:

Fall is here! And that means the fall elections are just around the corner. I hope our community members are aware of the two excellent leaders we have running for office: Kriss Marion, a candidate for State Senate in the 17th District, and Jeff Wright who is running for the State Assembly, 51st District. They are both getting out there, knocking on doors and listening to our concerns. 

I recently heard Kriss Marion talk about her concerns for our area and what can be done to support our rural communities in every way possible. The reports on conditions here are sobering. Our roads are some of the worst in the nation. Farm bankruptcies in our area are at a record level. Communities are struggling to overcome deep public school cuts, and the all-too-frequent closing of small-town schools has become the death-knell for their towns’ future. Kriss is a farmer, a county board supervisor and a small-business owner who is a strong advocate for rural life and for control in the hands of local leaders. She convinced me that she is the right person for the office and will be an effective voice for our residents and our issues.

Jeff Wright just knocked on my door this past weekend. His points strongly resonated with me. He emphasized the following points: that we need local dollars to invest in our roads and infrastructure, that we need to work to protect our drinking water, that we need to make sure rural residents are represented in conversations about affordable healthcare and he further explained that education is a chief concern of his. To Jeff, strong public schools are the heart of strong communities — and investing in high quality teachers and modern classrooms ensures our kids are prepared to be productive involved citizens. He is a respected educator and a community builder with a reputation for bringing people together to get important work done.  

Fresh, independent voices in Madison are desperately needed who will put our interests ahead of corporations on the other side of the state. I’m supporting Kriss Marion and Jeff Wright.