It is long past time to fix our education funding system. Our public schools are the heart of our rural communities and the state is systematically underfunding public schools through vouchers and the local levy structure that places outsized burden on local property taxes for schools. 

1. Reform the antiquated school funding formula that creates huge financial burdens for rural school districts. Under the current system we are unable to borrow enough to fix our aging rural schools - it is a system that will eliminate some schools by slow neglect. It’s not fair and not smart to let our rural schools fail.

2. Support local schools by replacing funding lost to local school districts through vouchers. 

3. Provide greater funding to cover the cost of special education, raising the reimbursement rate to 90 percent from the current 29 percent.

4. Eliminate unfunded mandates that drive up costs for our school districts.

5. The State should match referendum funding to support communities willing to invest in their schools.

Serving in local government, I see the many ways state regulations take away local control, increase costs and fail to address local concerns. It’s time to get some common sense into government and get a few things done.

1. Protect our property rights, water and natural resources. Local governments should be able to regulate water usage, the operation of industrial farms, data centers and other developments that fundamentally change our neighborhoods.

2. State guidelines should set minimum zoning standards to protect natural resources and communities, but local communities should be allowed to reasonably regulate beyond these minimums. 

3. Housing. A lack of affordable housing affects our northern communities. Local zoning can help bring costs down with state support for common-sense regulations for short-term rentals, multi-family housing and alternatives for rural septic systems like grey water and compost.

4. Repeal limits on conditional use permits. Counties should be able to issue conditional use permits within reason by repealing S59.69(5e) that ties conditions to a “substantial evidence” standard forcing counties to choose between denying permits or largely unchecked developments.

Northern Wisconsin's forests, lakes, and public lands are not just our identity — they are our economy. From timber and tourism to fishing and hunting, the health of our natural resources directly determines the prosperity of our communities. As a forester who has spent decades working these lands alongside local families, I know that good stewardship and economic vitality go hand in hand.

1. The DNR has been chronically underfunded for years, leaving our forests, waterways, and fish and wildlife programs stretched thin. I will fight for a fully funded DNR that has the staff and resources to do its job.

2. Short-sighted harvesting practices strip the land of long-term value for landowners and communities alike. I will champion sustainable forestry policies that give landowners real alternatives and keep our forests productive for generations.

3. Public lands belong to all of us. I will oppose efforts to sell, privatize, or transfer public lands to corporate interests, and will protect the access that hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts depend on.

4. Our lakes and rivers are among our greatest assets. I will support strong water quality protections and oppose industrial projects that threaten the health of our watersheds and the communities that depend on them.

Our region faces many challenges, including an aging population with flat population growth. I have heard of leaders “managing the decline” of our communities. This is accepting decline as inevitable. I want to fight for a positive economic future for our communities, one that includes opportunities for all. 

For too long, northern Wisconsin has watched its young people leave for opportunities. elsewhere and done too little to bring them back. We need a workforce strategy built for the actual economy of the northland — one that invests in real skills, real jobs, and real reasons to stay. The future of the 25th District depends on the people who choose to call it home.

1. Wisconsin's technical colleges are one of our greatest assets for workforce development. I will fight for increased state funding for technical college programs that align with the needs of northern Wisconsin's economy, including the trades, healthcare, forestry, and agriculture.

2. Apprenticeship programs connect young people to good-paying careers without the burden of a four-year degree. I will support expanding registered apprenticeships across the district in partnership with local employers and unions.

3. We cannot expect young people to stay if there is nowhere affordable to live. I will support policies that expand entry level and workforce housing in rural communities, making it possible for workers to put down roots in the north.

4. Small businesses are the backbone of the northland economy. I will advocate for state programs that help small business owners hire locally, train workers, and grow without being undercut by larger competitors who face fewer barriers.

5. We need to make it easier for young people who left to come back. I will support return-to-rural incentive programs, including student loan relief tied to working in underserved northern Wisconsin communities.

6. We should invest in mainstreet revitalization that attracts young creative entrepreneurs.