To the editor,

As a River Falls resident who lives a mile away from where the newly proposed data center would be located in Mann Valley, I worry for the future of my family’s and my neighbors’ water and quality of life. When I think about growing food for my family, and consider my farmer neighbors who grow crops and food as their livelihood, I cannot underestimate the critical necessity of clean water and soil. And in this moment, when we’re staring down a possible data center in my community, I can’t help but think about Shannon Zimmerman’s decision to court these AI data centers to Wisconsin.

In 2023, Zimmerman authored the bill that exempted data center developers from paying sales tax, resulting in more than $2 billion in tax breaks so far. But as voters prepare to go to the polls this election cycle, it is important for us all to be aware of any candidate's conflicts of interest. That is why it is so important that voters in Wisconsin’s State Assembly District 30 know that Shannon Zimmerman works in AI and directly benefits from incentivizing AI data centers. His LinkedIn profile even lists him as the Vice President of Artificial Intelligence for TELUS International - a position that he held until only a few months ago.

Our representatives are supposed to look out for the best interests of their constituents, not big tech. Zimmerman’s actions in the Assembly – including authoring the legislation that has given $2 BILLION dollars in tax breaks to AI data centers – show that he cannot be trusted to prioritize Wisconsinites’ best interests over himself. A vote for Shannon Zimmerman is a vote for data centers. In River Falls, I’m taking that vote very seriously.

Kevin Knoke is Zimmerman’s opponent. Knoke is a retired fifth grade teacher, not an AI executive. He is not beholden to big tech.

When voters go to the polls this year, they should consider which candidate they most trust to represent their best interests.

Linda Vivoda-Sadee

River Falls