By GEORGE C. WILBUR | La Farge
I believe in contributing to the common good, and I have worked with Democrats and Republicans who share that view. I’ve run for state Assembly as a Democrat, and I was chosen by the Republicans to be their nominee to be elected district attorney of Vernon County.
Back then, one could serve as a Republican and be comfortable in a party that included many progressive Republicans, like Brian Rude and Warren Knowles, who worked with Democrats to protect the water resources of this state, fund our schools so our children got a good education, honor and pay well the teachers of our children, and maintain good roads for farm and commercial benefit to the economy. They also agreed that voting should be encouraged in fair and open elections.
Those days are gone. The new brand of Republicans, led by Gov. Walker’s and the Koch brothers’ agenda, is failing to protect our water and air, letting our roads go to hell, and failing to adequately support our public schools. State funds are diverted to private interests, including voucher schools, private social service and insurance contractors, and campaign supporters who qualify for money grants with no commitment to keep jobs in Wisconsin.
State Rep. Lee Nerison consistently votes for Gov. Walker’s agenda. The core of this problem is a runaway campaign finance system that lets private interests buy candidates by giving them the money to drown out the voice of others in elections. I personally reviewed the campaign finance reports of Lee Nerison for his 2014 election, and he received 80 percent of his money in large contributions from outside the district. That was about $70,000 in money from groups and executives of railroads, real estate and insurance companies, bankers, road builders, payday loan companies and even Pattison Sand in Iowa.
Lee Nerison was elected to represent the people of Vernon, Crawford and southern Monroe counties. Or does he represent the people outside of our district who gave him 80 percent of his campaign money?
I’m supporting Alicia Leinberger, a Viroqua Main Street business owner, for state Assembly. She will be a real voice for our rural communities who will champion local control, public education, safe roads, and protection of our air, water and natural resources. Despite the money of the special interest, I believe the people of this district, Democrats and Republicans, have had enough and will vote for Alicia this fall for real representation in the state Assembly.
