Editor's note: The Times editorial board met with candidates in upcoming Assembly district races. Below are our endorsements.
51st Assembly District
Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, is a numbers guy, an accountant with a strong grasp of state finances. His mission to continue to scour the bottom line for inefficiencies, waste and possible fraud well serves his constituency, and the state as whole. As a freshmen representative, he authored legislation that would require the state to budget using generally accepted accounting principles, the same standards used in private business and school and municipal budgeting.
He weathered the firestorm that exploded at the state Capitol just weeks into his first term, after Gov. Scott Walker's dropped his Budget Repair Bill, and proved to be an effective legislator, one who is willing to take a bipartisan approach in order to make things happen in Madison. He co-authored legislation to support an aquaculture business in his district, as well as a bill to foster the state's bioscience industry, a potential source of high-paying, technical jobs.
Under redistricting, Marklein's district will now include the city of Monroe. He's the right choice to represent us and the entire district in the state Assembly.
As was the case two years ago, Marklein faces a worthy opponent in the race. While Marklein earns our endorsement, Maureen "Mo" May-Grimm also impressed us with her measured approach. She has real-life experience as a project manager, looking carefully at each step of a problem, not just the numbers, to find a better approach. She has much to offer beyond her role on the Mineral Point school board.
45th Assembly District
Like Marklein, Janis Ringhand was taken by surprise by the contentiousness of state politics in Madison that has marked her first term in office. And like Marklein, Ringhand has demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle for a better good. Her district is also changing, as she switches from representing the 80th District to the 45th District, a diverse area that includes rural areas such as Juda and Albany to a portion of the city of Beloit.
Ringhand is on the right track by trying to grow jobs in our district by addressing the skills gap affecting area employers. Her priorities include working with Blackhawk Technical College to get a manufacturing technology center - this type of initiative is a solid step to ensure we are preparing workers with the right skills to nurture the growth of more good-paying jobs in our area.
Ringhand has also been responsive to her constituents, including small businesses. She co-authored legislation designed to protect small craft breweries from changes in distribution licensing. She also sees helping returning veterans regain a solid footing at home, and health and dental care issues as a top priority in her next term. She's earned her stripes, and we endorse her as the best candidate to serve the 45th District.
Her opponent Beth Schmidt is also concerned about supporting local small businesses in order to spur job growth. While earnest, Schmidt lacks the necessary experience and broader view to affect change in Madison.
80th Assembly
The Times was unable to speak with both candidates running for the 80th Assembly District, which will now include New Glarus and Monticello, and will not be making an endorsement in that race.
However, we urge voters to carefully consider their options in this race.
Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Cross Plains, has represented the 79th District since 2002. She is the ranking member chair of the Assembly's education committee, and sits on the housing and children and families committees. Her answers to our profile questions were published in Friday's edition of The Monroe Times.
Republican opponent Tom Lamberson did not respond to our requests for basic profile and issue-based information. (He also did not respond to a similar request from the Wisconsin State's Journal.) His website lists no information regarding his candidacy, experience and background other than his "platform" of "limited government and place more power in the hands of the people, the way the Constitution intended." In fact, there's a remarkable lack of information about Lamberson readily available to voters in his district, and we find that unacceptable.
51st Assembly District
Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, is a numbers guy, an accountant with a strong grasp of state finances. His mission to continue to scour the bottom line for inefficiencies, waste and possible fraud well serves his constituency, and the state as whole. As a freshmen representative, he authored legislation that would require the state to budget using generally accepted accounting principles, the same standards used in private business and school and municipal budgeting.
He weathered the firestorm that exploded at the state Capitol just weeks into his first term, after Gov. Scott Walker's dropped his Budget Repair Bill, and proved to be an effective legislator, one who is willing to take a bipartisan approach in order to make things happen in Madison. He co-authored legislation to support an aquaculture business in his district, as well as a bill to foster the state's bioscience industry, a potential source of high-paying, technical jobs.
Under redistricting, Marklein's district will now include the city of Monroe. He's the right choice to represent us and the entire district in the state Assembly.
As was the case two years ago, Marklein faces a worthy opponent in the race. While Marklein earns our endorsement, Maureen "Mo" May-Grimm also impressed us with her measured approach. She has real-life experience as a project manager, looking carefully at each step of a problem, not just the numbers, to find a better approach. She has much to offer beyond her role on the Mineral Point school board.
45th Assembly District
Like Marklein, Janis Ringhand was taken by surprise by the contentiousness of state politics in Madison that has marked her first term in office. And like Marklein, Ringhand has demonstrated the ability to work across the aisle for a better good. Her district is also changing, as she switches from representing the 80th District to the 45th District, a diverse area that includes rural areas such as Juda and Albany to a portion of the city of Beloit.
Ringhand is on the right track by trying to grow jobs in our district by addressing the skills gap affecting area employers. Her priorities include working with Blackhawk Technical College to get a manufacturing technology center - this type of initiative is a solid step to ensure we are preparing workers with the right skills to nurture the growth of more good-paying jobs in our area.
Ringhand has also been responsive to her constituents, including small businesses. She co-authored legislation designed to protect small craft breweries from changes in distribution licensing. She also sees helping returning veterans regain a solid footing at home, and health and dental care issues as a top priority in her next term. She's earned her stripes, and we endorse her as the best candidate to serve the 45th District.
Her opponent Beth Schmidt is also concerned about supporting local small businesses in order to spur job growth. While earnest, Schmidt lacks the necessary experience and broader view to affect change in Madison.
80th Assembly
The Times was unable to speak with both candidates running for the 80th Assembly District, which will now include New Glarus and Monticello, and will not be making an endorsement in that race.
However, we urge voters to carefully consider their options in this race.
Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Cross Plains, has represented the 79th District since 2002. She is the ranking member chair of the Assembly's education committee, and sits on the housing and children and families committees. Her answers to our profile questions were published in Friday's edition of The Monroe Times.
Republican opponent Tom Lamberson did not respond to our requests for basic profile and issue-based information. (He also did not respond to a similar request from the Wisconsin State's Journal.) His website lists no information regarding his candidacy, experience and background other than his "platform" of "limited government and place more power in the hands of the people, the way the Constitution intended." In fact, there's a remarkable lack of information about Lamberson readily available to voters in his district, and we find that unacceptable.
