Primary ballot features county board race

Residents of the La Crosse County Board’s 23rd District, which includes the villages of Bangor and Rockland, the town of Burns and part of the town of Farmington, have the opportunity to vote in a primary election Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Incumbent Supervisor Tammy Gamroth of Bangor, who was elected to her first term two years ago, is being challenged by Brian Kapanke of Bangor, who held the 23rd District seat on the county board before Gamroth, and Mark Meston, who serves on the Rockland Village Board.

The top two votegetters in the primary will move on to the April 6 general election.

In an effort to help voters get to know more about the candidates, the Coulee News asked them to answer a questionnaire about issues, motivations and qualifications. Here are their answers:

Why do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board?

GAMROTH: I was born and raised in the county of La Crosse. Since the age of 4, I have lived in the village of Bangor. This is the place where my husband and I have raised our two children.

I have been a part of the county as a resident, but in April 2008, I had the opportunity to become a public servant, and represent the people that I have been neighbors with my whole life. I have enjoyed serving on the La Crosse County Board and Health and Human Services Committee. We have tackled and accomplished many important issues.

I would appreciate the voters giving me a second opportunity to continue working for them.

KAPANKE: I’ve always had an interest in politics and having served on the Bangor Village Board for a few years, I wanted to experience the next level of government at the county board. It certainly broadened my awareness of areas of government one does not experience at a local level. I enjoyed the association with other supervisors and their views. It gives one a new appreciation for the amount of effort it takes our employees to run the county and its services.

I was not actually thinking of running again, but I was contacted by a very high ranking county board member and he asked if I would consider running again, so I am. I want to serve again and be more visible at the local level, in that one month I would attend a Bangor Village Board meeting, then the next month a Burns Town Board meeting, then the Rockland Village Board meeting.

Granted, there are always County Board meetings as well, but it’s very important to be available for the local level of government and ensure the county level is hearing concerns of the local levels.

MESTON: Two primary reasons. I’ll be another voice of reason standing on strong fiscal responsibilty. In Rockland, we have done everything possible to avoid raising taxes. It’s not an easy task, but it is one that is worth fighting and requires creative governing.

Then, the fact that other municipalities have multiple supervisors on the board and we have one voice representing two small villages, that voice better be strong and loud.

It’s too easy for La Crosse and others to push us to the back burner. I will do everything in my power to make sure that does not happen.

What personal qualities and experiences make you the best qualified candidate for the job?

GAMROTH: The quality that I have that is very important for serving on the board is that I listen to all viewpoints on each issue. It is very important to be open-minded and patient while deciding the best approach on each issue.

A major focus in my life has been my family. Relating this to politics, I see the voters of my district as families dealing with real-life issues that our decisions affect.

KAPANKE: My personal qualities are the ability to listen and understand both sides of issues and make the right decision to ensure that the outcome is beneficial and proper. I have experience at both the local and county level to ensure representation is familiar with the proceedings of county government. As well as my experience in the federal level of government being a civilian government employee. I am approachable and considerate of people and their views. I am always willing to listen.

MESTON: It’s a combination of things really. For years, I’ve educated myself on politics, the good, the bad and the ugly. Personally, I’ve decided to take an ethical stand regarding always remembering that you serve the people, not yourself.

Together with the fact that I’ve dealt with corporate CEOs on a regular basis, building confidence in myself, gives me the tools to represent my little village effectively. This is not so much about representing the people of La Crosse County as it is representing the interests of the people of Bangor/Rockland in the business dealings of the county board.

What are the three most important issues facing the La Crosse County Board and what would your approach to dealing with those issues be?

GAMROTH: The issues facing the board are varied and vast. No three are more important than others. They all require a delicate balancing act of fulfilling the needs of the people of the county while still keeping the budget and taxes in mind and in line.

I have always approached and intend to continue to approach all the issues that come before me on the county board and Health and Human Services Committee with the utmost concern for the welfare of my district constituents, and also the county residents as a whole.

KAPANKE: Being away for two years from the inner proceedings, I am not aware of the immediate concerns facing the board but as with all levels of government one issue with the bad economy: How do county and local governments sustain services and infrastructure and not overburden the taxpayer more than they are now?

With ever-shrinking shared revenue to local governments, it is getting harder for the local levels of government to sustain services and ensure roads are maintained with ever increasing costs.

Another issue on the same line is rising health costs and that effect on budgets and its effect on salaries and wages of local and county employees. Depending on what happens at the national level, how is that going to affect the local and county government and taxpayers and how or what can be done to reduce costs and not affect coverage of employees and ensure they receive fair wage increases?

Another is unfunded mandates by the state. This is always a concern and has quite effect on county budgets. I know there is always the talk of collaboration between counties. Collaboration, if it isn’t occurring now, I believe it needs to start or increase in the manner of counties combining together and approaching state representatives, showing the costs associated with the unfunded mandates and then if that unfunded mandate does not affect or assist a large percentage of a population, work with our state representatives to have unfunded mandates eliminated.

MESTON: Number one is the Department of Revenue’s request that Wisconsin counties take over the process of property assessments. In the meeting with them, they could not come close to quantifying the cost to the taxpayer. Although, they did seem to think that it would negatively effect those in smaller towns more. I think you can surmise how I would vote on that issue.

Number two: Wisconsin is the fourth worst state in the nation to do business in based on taxation. Even though Madison continues to introduce legislation that punishes business, we could take steps locally to promote our area for business growth. This does require a proactive approach to keep the taxpayers in the loop as to what we are trying to achieve ... JOBS!

Number three: As property taxes continually rise, we would need to take a hard look at what we are spending money on. Do we need a $2 million beach house or could that money be better spent on tax relief?

Meet the candidates

Tammy S. Gamroth

AGE: 51

FAMILY: Husband Timothy; daughters Mallorie Gran and Jacie Gamroth

EDUCATION: Bangor High School

PROFESSION: Sales associate at TJ Maxx

PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD: La Crosse County Board supervisor, April 2008-present

Brian Kapanke

AGE: 48

FAMILY: Wife Jane; daughters Jennifer and Jessica.

EDUCATION: West Salem High School; bachelor’s degree in business administration, Viterbo University

PROFESSION: Civilian employee (program analyst) with the U.S. Army at Fort McCoy

PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD: Bangor Village Board: 1994-96; La Crosse County Board, 2003-08

Mark Meston

AGE: 43

FAMILY: Wife, Diana; children Kelsey, 10, and Kyle, 7

EDUCATION: Downers Grove North High School, 1984; marketing degree from Roosevelt University, Chicago

PROFESSION: Food broker with Innovative Food Group

PREVIOUS OFFICES HELD: Rockland Village Board, three years
.

PRINT ADS

View more >

TOP HOMES

TOP WHEELS

Comments »

Post a comment (150 word limit) »