All Candidates Attend the 50th Assembly District and 17th Senate District Candidate Forum

Candidates for the 50^th Assembly and the 17^th Senate District participated in a candidate forum that was held last night at the American Legion in Mauston. Democrat candidates Pat Bomhack and Chris Miller and Republican candidates Ed Brooks and Howard Marklein were each given a three minute opening statement before going to the forum questions.

Bomhack was first, then Marklein, then Miller, and Brooks. Their responses are below:

Bomhack:

Marklein:

Miller:

Brooks:

After the open statements, each candidate was asked a question, the same question. The format was this. Questions alternated between the Assembly candidates and the Senate candidates, and the first two candidates had three minutes to answer the question, and then the next two had a minute and a half.

The first question: The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has estimated that next year’s state budget will face an almost $1.8 billion shortfall. How would you address this shortfall while maintaining services?

Miller:

Brooks:

Marklein:

Bomhack:

Question 2: Do you support the expansion for voucher schools and if so, how would you fund that expansion and what would be the impact on our rural schools where choices are very limited?

Marklein:

Bomhack:

Brooks:

Miller:

Question 3: What is your position on expanding high voltage transmission lines and what role would you play in that conversation?

Brooks:

Miller:

Bomhack:

Marklein:

Question 4: What is your stance on women’s rights and equal pay for equal work?

Bomhack:

Marklein:

Miller:

Brooks:

Question 5: How would you work with members outside your party to build compromise on issues that affect us all?

Miller:

Brooks:

Marklein:

Bomhack:

Question 6: What steps do you think need to be taken to reform campaign finance laws?

Marklein:

Bomhack:

Brooks:

Miller:

Question 7: Current school funding relies primarily on property taxes. What are the alternatives for school funding besides raising property taxes?

Brooks:

Miller:

Bomhack:

Marklein:

Question 8: Do you think that current laws are adequate to ensure that frac sand mining is done in an environmentally and economically sustainable way? Why or why not?

Bomhack: