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Letter to the Editor: Claims on farmer’s union false
Newspaper 2

From Pat Skogen

Monroe

To the editor:

Misleading, folksy scripts and downright lies written by political action groups funded by unknown contributors are flooding mailboxes, radio and TV. According to the WI Democracy Campaign, a watchdog for following the money, the WI Alliance for Reform and Jobs First Coalition have targeted both Kriss Marion and Jeff Wright in 2018. 

Here are a few facts. Kriss Marion is not “the local president of (South Central) Wisconsin Farmers Union”; although she was one of the founders five years ago, now with over 250 families in Green, Rock and Lafayette Counties. I am the President of SCWFU. Every claim this ad makes regarding WFU policy on gas, estate tax, and renewable fuel standard is false. Our policy is at https://www.wisconsinfarmersunion.com/legislation, or attend our annual meeting Nov. 13, 6:00 in Monticello. WFU does not endorse candidates or make campaign donations. Our policy positions, established by our grassroots membership, reflect our family farm and rural community values. Political attack ads violate our values of honesty, collaboration, and civility. 

The WI Alliance for Reform, created in 2015, using a Madison PO box, a Milwaukee phone number, is an outside, conservative group. The Alliance’s decision to sponsor issue ads means that it can secretly raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. Jobs First Coalition Political Fund, spending more than $11,000 on radio ads this year, spent an estimated $1 million on electioneering activities between 2010 and 2016. The 51st Assembly race between Todd Novak and Jeff Wright is one of three targets. Consider their accusation that Wright is “double-dipping”. They would have Jeff Wright, the father of two young children, make the financially irresponsible decision to quit his job at Sauk Prairie Schools before being elected. 

How many of you would quit your current job to run for office? Let’s leave any employment decisions up to Jeff, his superintendent and school board. I personally would like to see Novak reject Jobs First support.