Coming Aug. 9 as prelude to the November general election, Pierce County voters will have a great many decisions to make for state and national candidates. While not all primary races on the ballot are contested as such (i.e. voters can only choose one party and some have only one candidate), the Journal put together a review of the state and national races up for consideration in order to give readers an idea of who each candidate is. As to the State Assembly, Pierce County is largely served by District 93, with the exception of Clifton township, which is part of District 30. Split down the middle for state representative, River Falls north of Division Street is included in State Assembly District 30, while River Falls residents south of Division Street are served by State Assembly District 93. As such, these are the choices.

State Assembly District 30 Shannon Zimmerman (Republican) Running this year for another term, District 30 State Assembly Rep. Shannon Zimmerman was elected to the Assembly in 2016. A small business owner and married with two children, Zimmerman has also served as a youth football coach. He is also the founder and CEO of a language translation company, per the 2019 – 2020 Wisconsin Blue Book. As to issues and voting, the website justfactsvotesmart. org reports that Zimmerman received an 8 percent rating by the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws along with a 6 percent rating by Climate Cabinet Action. Additionally, he voted ‘yea’ on a concurrence vote for SB 940 – Authorizes Suspension of Voters for Information Discrepancies, a bill that was later vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers this April. Zimmerman voted ‘yea’ for passage of AB 995 – Amends School Mask Mandates and In-Person Learning Requirements, as well as voting ‘yea’ on the passage of AB 912 – Prohibits Emergency Declaration of Businesses as Essential, Nonessential. A full voting record for Zimmerman is available at Vote Smart.

State Assembly District 30 Sarah Yacoub (Democratic) Running on the Democratic ticket for State Assembly District 30 in the Aug. 9 primary, Sarah Yacoub is the daughter of two research scientists and is a Hudson resident with a J. D. (Juris Doctor), who has worked to provide nocost legal representation to survivors of sexual assault. As to her priorities if elected in November (not having a primary opponent), Sarah lists healthy people and a healthy economy, auordable healthcare, common sense gun reform, feeding hungry kids and returning Driver’s Ed to school as among her priorities. Also on the list of issues Yacoub would champion are responsible economic growth, repeal of the 1849 Wisconsin abortion law, public education, and what she calls “family focused legislation,” as well as mental health and addiction healthcare, clean water, safe communities, and cannabis reform, also declaring herself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community.

State Assembly District 93 Warren Petryk (Republican) On the ballot in State Assembly District 93, incumbent Warren Petryk is seeking another term unopposed. The Eau Claire area native and Eagle Scout holds a B. A. in Philosophy and Music from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. He is a member of the Prescott and Ellsworth Chambers of Commerce, per the 2019 – 2020 Blue Book put out every two years by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. First elected to the Assembly in 2010, the representative seeking a second term is also a member of the Ellsworth Sportsmen’s Club, per the Blue Book.

As to the issues and voting, justfactsvotesmart.org reports that Petryk received a 0 percent rating from the Normal Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, with an 11 percent rating from Climate Cabinet Action. Petryk voted ‘yea’ on a concurrence vote for S. B. 940 – Authorizes Suspension of Voters for Information Discrepancies. Additionally, Vote Smart Reports that Petryk voted ‘yea’ on passage of A. B. 884 – Classifies Courses on U. S. Constitution as Diversity, Ethnic Studies.

Lastly, Petryk voted ‘yea’ on AB 995 – Amends School Mask Mandates and In-Per – son Learning Requirements, as well as AB 912 – Prohib – its Emergency Declaration of Businesses as Essential, Non-Essential. A full record of Petryk’s votes in the Assembly is available at Vote Smart.

State Senate District 31 Je Smith (Democratic)

Currently representing all of Pierce County save the township and city of River Falls in the State Senate, Jeu Smith is on the ballot this Aug. 9 and in November. A gradu – ate of Eau Claire North High School, Smith was elected to the Assembly from 2006 to 2008, then to the State Senate in 2018. He operated a win – dow washing business for 30+ years. Smith has dedicated his public service career to pro- vide public education oppor tunities, health care access and auordability, redistrict ing reform, protections for water and helping peo – ple run for elected ovce. As to the issues and voting, Vote Smart reports that Smith voted ‘no’ with relation to a concurrence vote for AB 912 – Prohibits Emergency Declara tion of Businesses as Essential, Nonessential. Additionally, Smith voted ‘no’ to concur – rence votes on AB 995 and AB 884, the first which would amend school mask mandates and in-person learning re – quirement, and the last which would classify courses on the U. S. Constitution as diversity and ethnic studies.

State Senate District 31 David Estenson (Repub –

lican)

On the Aug. 9 primary bal –

lot as a Republican and run – ning against Jeu Smith this November is David Estenson. Committed to firmly standing for principles of freedom and liberty, Estenson reportedly has 12 years of law enforce – ment experience as well as 10 years as an independent busi ness owner in the trucking in- dustry. Currently a member of the Whitehall School Board, Estenson professes a commitment to preserving the Consti- tution “all freedoms and lib – erties.” He professes a strong Christian faith and values as well as support for all reli- gious freedoms and a strong free market.

Shifting from the legisla tive to the executive branch in Wisconsin, the races up for consideration this election cycle include Governor, Lieu – tenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General.

Governor Tony Evers (Democratic)

Gov. Tony Evers was elect – ed to succeed Scott Walker in 2019; Evers is the 46th governor of Wisconsin and a native of Plymouth. A proud Badger, Tony is married to his high school sweetheart and junior prom date Kathy, with whom he has three chil- dren and nine grandchildren.

Declaring himself as taking “a common-sense approach to the challenges facing our state,” Gov. Evers cites what he calls a strong record of bipartisan accomplishment, listing among these a cut in middle class income taxes of 15 percent, as well as increas- ing funding to public schools and fixing roads-thousands of miles. Additionally, Evers touts as an accomplishment under his administration the expansion of high-speed broadband to 387,000 homes and businesses, as well as sup – porting small businesses and farms. Stating that Wiscon – sin has a record-high budget surplus with historically low unemployment and growing economy, Evers seeks your vote this Aug. 9.

As to the Republicans on the Aug. 9 primary ballot, here’s a little on each, starting with someone whose name is on the ballot but who recently withdrew:

Governor Kevin Nicholson (Repub –

lican)

On the ballot but with – drawing after determining that any way forward would mean running a very negative cam- paign, Nicholson has withheld any endorsement of candidates until after the primary.

Governor Rebecca Kleefisch (Re –

publican)

Serving as Lieutenant Governor under Scott Walk – er, Rebecca Kleefisch is a middle-class mom who un –

derstands the challenges Wis consin families are facing, including skyrocketing infla – tion, rising crime, declining schools, and out-of-control government spending. Serving as Lieutenant Governor during the passage of controversial Act 10 back in 2011, Kleefisch lists her platform priorities, as follows:

• Securing elections (prevent fraud to give voters renewed confidence their vote counts).

• Improving education (expand school choice and ban critical race theory from Wisconsin classrooms)

• Growing Wisconsin’s economy (cutting taxes and strengthening vocational training while getting government out of the way to support job creators)

• Reforming government (move state agencies out of Madison and return power to taxpayers)

• Funding police (defend the men and women of law enforcement and provide the funding to keep Wisconsinites safe).

• Standing up for life ( speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves)

• Fight for the Second Amendment (standing up for Second Amendment rights)

• Make Life Aord able Again (tackle in- flation she attributes to Biden and Evers) Positioning herself as the proven and tested conser – vative that can be trusted to get Wisconsin back on track, she asks your vote this Aug. 9.

Governor Timothy Ramthun (Re –

publican)

Also on the ballot this Aug. 9 as a Republican is Timothy Ramthun, A graduate from the Kewaskum School District Class of 1975, Ramthun is also a 1983 graduate of the MBTI Business Training Institute.

Self-declared as “Wisconsin’s only America First Gubernato – rial Candidate” per his website, Ramthun has endorsements from the Chippewa County Republican Party along with Mike Lindell, General Michael Flynn, and a group named Born to Ride for 45.

As to the issues themselves, his record as a state assembly representative records in part that Ramthun received a 0 per – cent rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, while he voted ‘yea’ on a concurrence vote for SB 940 – Authorizes Suspension of Voters for In – formation Discrepancies, as well as ‘yea’ on passage of AB884 – Classifies Courses on U. S. Constitutional Stud –

ies as Diversity, Ethnic Stud – ies. Lastly, Ramthun voted ‘yea’ on AB 963 – Specifies Rights of Parents, which up- held parental rights to deter – mine the religion of their child along with medical care and type of school or education setting, along with the right to review instructional materials. He asks your vote this Aug. 9.

Governor Adam J. Fischer (Repub –

lican)

Running for governor as a Republican in the Aug. 9 pri – mary, Adam Fischer is a man who has seen the trust erode between the people and their government, and is no longer able to stand by and do noth – ing. His website declares he’s “one pissed ou American.” As such, Fischer pledges to in –

troduce the following propos als to the Legislature if elect- ed in November:

• Medical freedom and elimination of mandates (eliminating all COVID vaccine and mask mandates in Wisconsin and allowing for individual choice as such)

• Operation Safe Streets and Communities (putting restraints on local communities that defund law enforcement and including a mandatory 10 -year sentence for felons who commit a crime with a firearm)

• Voter and election integrity (putting a ban on voting machines connected to the internet and requiring paper ballots only, along with making drop boxes and mail-in ballots illegal, plus mandatory jail sentences for anyone convicted of election and vote tampering)

• Statewide education reform

(banning Critical Race Theory)

• Infrastructure revitalization (legislation to upgrade and improve transportation infrastructure statewide)

• Economic reforms (tax incentives for businesses that create jobs paying $20+ per hour, along with incentives for companies returning from out of state or overseas)

• Respect and honor for law enforcement and firefighters ( legislation to provide immediate vest – ing and pension to those killed in the line of duty).

Calling these points a “Contract with Wisconsin” Fischer asks your support in the August 9 primary to determine November’s ballot.

Governor Tim Michels (Republican)

Among those on the Aug. 9 primary ballot as a Republican is Tim Michels, a Brownsville native who has served in the U.S. Army and earned the rank of Major. Now residing in Hartland and a business owner, Michels has been endorsed by for – mer president Donald Trump.

As to what Michels would do as governor, the following is of note:

• Never dictate if a business is essential or nonessential (what it says)

• Reform the “Madison Swamp” (Close the lobbyist spousal loophole and prohibit fundraising event PACs controlled by lobby groups).

• Election reform (make it easier to vote and harder to cheat, in part by repealing all previous Wisconsin Election Commis- sion (WEC) guidance and freezing issuance of new guidance. Also placing a ban on unmanned ballot drop boxes).

• Reform education (Improve reading, sign parental bill of rights, expand apprenticeships, secure schools, increase

Continued on page 10

Jeff Smith (Democratic)

David Estenson (Republican)

Tony Evers (Democratic)

Kevin Nicholson (Republican)

Rebecca Kleefisch (Republican)

Timothy Ramthun (Republican)

Adam J. Fischer (Republican)

Tim Michels (Republican)