School Republican takes on veteran lawmaker in St. Croix County

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A conservative pupil from River Falls is coming into politics towards a New Richmond enterprise chief who left the Legislature after 14 years in workplace greater than a decade in the past in a bid to win Wisconsin’s twenty eighth Meeting District seat within the Aug. 13 main. 

The twenty eighth Meeting District contains St. Croix County together with components of western Dunn County and northeast Pierce County. In latest elections Republican Rep. Gae Magnafici has gained the seat by greater than 25 factors. 

Maginifci just isn’t searching for reelection, leaving the spot open. Rob Kreibich, govt director of New Richmond’s Chamber of Commerce, and Brady Penfield, a 21-year-old College of Wisconsin-River Falls pupil, are dealing with off within the Republican main. The winner faces veterinarian Danielle Johnson, the only real Democrat, within the Nov. 5 election.

Penfield has stayed on high of native political points as a member of School Republicans. 

Within the Legislature he mentioned he would deal with psychiatric amenities, refugee resettlement and employment, whereas centering his platform across the Christian religion. 

“I’m pro-God, pro-family and pro-America,” he informed Wisconsin Watch. “After I say pro-America, I imply pro-Wisconsin, as a result of that’s the affect I’ve in Wisconsin, nevertheless it means I help the America first insurance policies that Donald Trump believes in, and at a small stage, I consider that these ideas ought to be utilized to Wisconsin.” 

He mentioned the border disaster is a “big concern” with residents in St. Croix County and he agrees with their worries. Moreover, he desires to work on financial growth and opening job alternatives for folks by preserving taxes low and getting companies to start out operations in Northeast Wisconsin. 

Penfield mentioned he stands out from the opposite candidates as a younger outsider coming into politics with out the affect of lobbyists.

“I’ll vote in accordance with my Christian religion, no doubt. That may even affect my integrity, that I gained’t take any cash from lobbyists after I’m in Madison,” he mentioned. “That may be a promise that I cannot do this, which makes me stand out.” 

Kreibich, 65, who didn’t reply to repeated requests for remark, has served as a state consultant for the 93rd Meeting District from 1993 to 2007 and now’s New Richmond’s Chamber of Commerce govt director. 

Wisconsin Watch has launched a brand new voter information with the objective of offering voters a central hub to seek out out extra about their native candidates for Meeting, Senate and Congress.

“I’ve been profitable and efficient within the Legislature earlier than and I can do it once more. This rising county wants a 3rd robust voice in Madison and I can present that,” Kreibich informed the Hudson Star Observer. “I’m within the trenches on a regular basis working with small companies and entrepreneurs. I’ve a entrance row seat to folks pursuing their desires. They want the state govt to be an ally not an impediment to their success.”

Whereas within the Legislature he served as chair of the Meeting Faculties and Universities Committee for 12 years and authored the Edvest School Financial savings Program which has helped households make investments over $6 billion to pay for his or her kids’s greater schooling prices.

Johnson, the one Democrat within the race, informed Wisconsin Watch she thinks the district would profit from inexpensive daycare and clear water. 

“Communities and small companies particularly are actually impacted when households don’t have entry to daycare, and somebody is or can afford it, in order that we’re already headed for a very extreme employee scarcity, and we’re feeling that pinch and lack of accessible daycare actually has an enormous ripple impact for the well being of communities on the entire when when small companies can’t discover staff due to that impediment,” she mentioned.  

There are additionally problems with contamination in St. Croix County and neighboring cities, Johnson mentioned. Many residents don’t have entry to wash water with out PFAS in it.

And as a veterinarian and enterprise proprietor, she has the distinctive talent to see these issues and remedy them, significantly because the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson mentioned.