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Wealth of candidates means two primaries in 91st District

Five candidates will square off in the Democratic Party primary and two in the Republican Party primary in the 91st Assembly District next Tuesday.

The winners will compete in the November general election when a representative will be elected to replace Barbara Gronemus, who has been 91st District assemblywoman for nearly three decades. Gronemus, a Democrat from Whitehall, has represented the 91st District for 26 years and is now retiring.

The 91st District includes the Pierce County Towns of Martell, Ellsworth, El Paso, Hartland, Isabelle, Maiden Rock, Salem and Union, and the Villages of Bay City, Maiden Rock and Plum City.

Printed below are the candidates' responses to a series of questions.

Steve Boe, Party: Democrat, Age: 25, Address: 341 Bridge St., Taylor, Occupation: Working on family farm, licensed agricultural educator, Family: Parents Daryl and Kathy Boe, sister Cera and brother Chris

Prior elected office: None

Civic involvement: Blair FFA Alumni, Taylor FFA Alumni, Farm Bureau, Taylor Lutheran Church, Wisconsin Association of FFA, Jackson County Holstein Breeders, Canton III Brown Swiss

What are your reasons and/or qualifications for wanting to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly?

I want to be your representative because I want to more than just make a difference in your life, but also make a positive impact.

We have had a great representative for 26 years who advocated for agriculture and what was in the best interests of the 91st. My pledge to you, the constituents, would be to continue that legacy and be a strong supporter of the interests that are important here in the 91st.

I am a licensed agricultural educator. Also, I have a major in political science and spent a summer interning with Congressman Ron Kind out in Washington, D.C. I was elected to serve as a Wisconsin State FFA officer in 2003-2004 and traveled over 30,000 miles representing the Wisconsin Association of FFA and agricultural leadership throughout the state and nation.

Most importantly, I was raised on a farm. I learned the meaning of hard day's work at a very young age. My commitment to you would be to work tirelessly to make sure the state maintains and promotes our agricultural industry and creates an education system that equally gives student every opportunity and a health care system that is fair and affordable for all.

Chris Danou, Party: Democrat, Address: 23951 Eighth St., Trempealeau, Occupation: Police officer, Family:Wife, Kate; two sons, Orion, seven, and Rowan, five

Prior elected office: President, Onalaska Professional Police Association, four years

Civic involvement: Ducks Unlimited, Holmen Rod and Gun Club, County Emergency Response Team (SWAT Unit), MEG unit (drug trafficking investigations), Wisconsin Professional Police Association.

What are your reasons and/or qualifications for wanting to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly?

I am running for the same reason I am a police officer: I believe deeply in service to my community. I stand for the values of freedom, opportunity and security for all. I will be a state representative who will always be available to the people of the district to answer questions and respond to their concerns. I also bring a well-rounded educational and professional background to the job.

I am also president of the Onalaska Professional Police Association. One of the things I am most proud of is the people I work with, and who know me the best, chose me to lead the organization that represents their interests. They did so because they know that I work and fight hard for them.

When elected, I will continue in my commitment to those I represent, the people of Western Wisconsin. I will be a state representative who puts people before politics and will represent Main Street, not Wall Street. As a working person with a tight family budget, I know firsthand the challenges being faced by the working families of Western Wisconsin living in a rural district.

Remy Ceci: No reply received, Party: Democrat

James K. Kraft, Party: Democrat, Age: 59, Address: N6135 Dorwins Mill Rd., Durand, Occupation: Union millwright, Family: Glenys Kraft, three grown children and five grandchildren

Prior elected office: Wisconsin Conservation Congress delegate, five years; Pepin County Board supervisor, elected to third two-year term; County Board committees: U.W.-Extension (chairman), Land Conservation (vice-chairman), Commission of Aging, Human Services and Economic Development Board

Civic involvement: Pepin County Democrats, Pepin County Farm Management Club, Faith Lutheran Church and Church Council, Pepin County Sportsman's Alliance (vice president), Durand Sportsman's Club, NRA, Arkansaw Fur, Fish and Game, Eau Claire Archers, FCCLA regional judge, Local Union 1056

What are your reasons and/or qualifications for wanting to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly?

I want to serve the people of the 91st Assembly District in the tradition established by Barbara Gronemus. I want to maintain and enhance our rural quality of life. My wife Glenys and I have three grown children and five grandchildren who all live in the 91st Assembly District. I am the fifth generation to live in the Chippewa River Valley, so what happens here, and in Wisconsin, is extremely important to me.

My experiences in farming, education, small business, industry and government give me unique qualifications to represent the people. My credentials include Pepin County Board supervisor. I have served on the following committees: Land Conservation, Commission on Aging, Human Services, UW-Extension and Economic Development Board. Through these committees, I have gained experience working with local, state and federal agencies.

I have worked with a wide variety of people to achieve common goals throughout my life, on the farm, teaching, in industry and as a small business owner. I'm a hard worker and I care about people. I have the background needed to address important issues like agriculture, school funding reform, health care insurance reform and property tax relief. I am prepared to be your voice and vote in Madison.

Marge Baecker, Party: Democratic, Age: 59, Hometown: 23233 Silver Ct., Independence, Occupation: Retired teacher and principal, former small business owner, Family: Husband Bill and adult children, Nick and Patrick

Prior elected offices: None

Civic involvement: Member of S.S. Peter and Paul Parish; Trempealeau County Democratic Party and past chair and executive committee member of the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party; Trempealeau County representative to the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission.

What are your reasons and/or qualifications for wanting to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly?

This is a critical time for all of us, with escalating prices ranging from food to fuel. There are important issues the state Assembly has been unable to deal with. I want to become a member of the Assembly in order to address the issues of the district and listen to the concerns of the people.

I will work with fellow legislators on "both sides of the aisle" to come up with fair and reasonable solutions to the problems we face.

I have the qualifications to serve "the people" in the Assembly. I am knowledgeable about the issues of the district. I have strong leadership qualities I have used in the education profession and in my involvement with community, church and business organizations.

I have been actively involved in politics and government for most of my adult life. I am a member of the Trempealeau County Democratic Party. I have served as chair and secretary of the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party, represented by Ron Kind.

I am currently a Trempealeau County representative to the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission.

David Anderson, Party: Republican, Age: 58, Hometown: 18169 Anderson St., Whitehall, Occupation: Finance manager, Osseo Ford, Family: Wife Marnie, four children, three grandchildren

Prior elected offices: Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors, six years

Civic involvement: Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, Church Council, Sunday school teacher; Whitehall Lions Club, vice president; chairman of community celebration, Beef and Dairy Days; National Rifle Association; National Wild Turkey Federation

What are your reasons and/or qualifications for wanting to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly?

I want to serve in the Wisconsin Assembly because I believe I can make a positive difference in the lives of the people in the 91st District as well as the people in the rest of the State of Wisconsin.

I believe my experience in county government and in the world of business has given me the skills necessary to effectively represent this district in the state Assembly.

I have learned leadership skills through work, county government and civic work I will use to provide positive leadership to solve our problems.

Dave Hegenbarth: No reply received. Party: Republican

Published 07:20 Sep-05-08

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