Kerry Kittel, a self-described "average guy," wants a crack at representing state Assembly District 29. The Republican majority in the Assembly, he contends, is not getting the job done.

"I believe I'm at a point in my life where I have a lot to offer," said Kittel, a Democrat and long-time New Richmond High School teacher.

Kittel says residents are tired of politicians and he pledges to bring new ideas and practical experience to the job.

Republicans, who hold a 59 to 39 majority in the Assembly heading into the Nov. 7 election, haven't made progress on the educational front or in passing tougher ethics standards in the wake of several high-profile scandals involving lawmakers, according to Kittel, who is talking about both issues in his campaign.

The Senate passed a bill to strengthen enforcement of the ethics law, but Kittel laments that it didn't get a vote in the Assembly. People, he says, "ought to be mad about that."

"I am," he said.

The native New Richmond resident also says he would fight to lower health care costs and improve access. And he says he supports more education funding and a more equitable property tax system.

"We need to try to give residential property owners a break," Kittel said. Kittel supports "Homeowners Property Exception" - or HOPE - a property tax plan first proposed last year by Senate Democratic Leader Judy Robson.

HOPE would exempt the first $60,000 in value of an owner-occupied home from school property taxes.

Democrats say schools would not be hurt because the state would replace the lost property tax revenue.

The money could be made up, Kittel said, by closing corporate loopholes. The proposal could provide as much as $570 in annual savings to residential property owners, whom Kittel says are carrying too much of the property tax burden.

Kittel opposes the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, saying it handcuffs the ability of governments to keep decisions local. TABOR calls for capping the amount of money governments can spend and how much taxes they can raise.

Kittel supports the Action Plan for Affordable Health Care.

The proposal does not dictate solutions but requires legislators to pass a health care solution by Jan. 1, 2008 that would lower health care costs by 15 percent and cover at least 98 percent of Wisconsin residents.

Out on the campaign trail, health care gets brought up by nearly every person he speaks with, Kittel said. "People are nervous about the costs and they are concerned about access," he said.

His 28 years in the classroom give him first-hand insight into education issues that would be valuable as education policy is crafted, Kittel said.

"I know a lot about students and families and I know how schools work," he said.

Majority Republicans have not produced "meaningful progress on education," Kittel said.

He supports boosting financial aid to give more students the chance to attend college or technical schools. As a teacher, he says he sees too many bright kids unable to pursue post-second education due to financial constraints.

At the K-12 level, Kittel said the state has backed away somewhat from its two-thirds commitment to education and he'd like to see that commitment restored.

On the flip side, Kittel thinks his experience as a lawmaker, if he's elected, would be invaluable in the classroom. Should he win, Kittel, a civics and U.S. history teacher, doesn't plan to quit teaching.

He's already received the OK from the district to teach part-time. "It will be an amazing fit, I think," Kittel said of a teacher in the Assembly and an assemblyman in the classroom.

Kittel says he feels good about his campaign's chances. He's talked to 2,000 people out on the trail and says he's only come across one who was rude. "I think that's amazing," he said.

This is Kittel's first shot at elected political office, but he's been active in the Democratic campaigns of other candidates in the past.

He describes himself as an average guy who is politically moderate when it comes to the issues.