By LEE NERISON | Westby
As someone that was fortunate to be able to serve the 96th Assembly District, which includes Monroe, Vernon, and Crawford counties, for fourteen years and seven legislative terms, I’ve met and worked with quite a few legislators and elected officials at the local, state and federal level. Most are in it for the right reasons, but some, unfortunately, are not. Or, as some know, there are elected officials that serve in order to get their next job and lose focus on what they were elected to do and who they were elected to serve. It’s unfortunate, but it happens and when you see it, you recognize it.
I share all of that to let you know that my friend Nancy VanderMeer is not one of those people. Since I first met her and had the chance to serve with her in 2014, I could tell that she had ran for office for the right reasons. One of the reasons I know that is because it became quickly evident to me that the Nancy you work with in in Madison is the same Nancy you work with at a meeting in the district, whether it’s on the farm or at a local business, and it’s the same Nancy that will readily meet you out at a local town hall to hear from and try to resolve issues for her constituents. That’s not always the case. Another reason I know that Nancy had ran for office for the right reasons is because when I first met her, she would not stop asking me questions. Don’t get me wrong, I was happy to help, but it wouldn’t stop, and she wasn’t asking questions about how she could make herself look good, she was asking questions about how to best help the people that she worked for.
That may not seem like it means a lot, but it does and that’s why I”m encouraging voters in the 70th Assembly District to support Nancy VanderMeer in the Nov. 3 election. I could go on and talk about all the good things I know she has done and plans to do for farmers and producers, veterans, business owners, the local tourism industry, and those that value faith and family, but I’ll leave it there for now. Please support Nancy VanderMeer on Nov. 3.