In the race to represent the 85th Assembly District of Wisconsin, Rep. Pat Snyder, R-Schofield, is up against Democrat Alyson Leahy, of Wausau, as he eyes his second term.
Wausau Pilot and Review gave both candidates, listed in alphabetical order, identical questions to answer to better inform voters about their positions on crucial issues facing residents before the election. Their unedited answers are listed below.
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For information on the 86th District race, click here.
Alyson Leahy, Challenger
Age: 31
City of residence: Wausau
Education: K-12: Shullsburg Schools, Shullsburg WI; Bachelor’s Degree: UW-Platteville, Platteville WI
Employment experience: Customer Service Rep at Sun Printing; Graphic Designer at The City Pages; Graphic Designer at Foot Locker; Currently working as a Copywriter at Foot Locker. I also co-founded a non-profit organization called The Wausau Makers Market, Co. My partner and I collaborate with local businesses and organizations to host art markets featuring local artisans and makers, giving a platform to small, local artists looking to sell their products and connect with the community.
Political experience: In 2017 I applied for and was accepted into a program called Emerge WI, which is a 6-month program that trains women how to run for office and provides a network of support for those running. I currently sit on the Marathon County Board, and am a part of the Extension, Education and Economic Development Committee.
What are your reasons for running for office, and why should voters choose you?
I’m running because the people in my district deserve better representation. I believe a fresh perspective is needed in Madison, and it’s time for the next generation to lead WI. I’ve watched as our political landscape has grown more and more extreme, more divided – we need leaders to step up who aren’t entrenched in one way of thinking and can work creatively to solve modern problems.
Issues facing working people, like low wages, high student loan debt, or high healthcare costs will not be addressed by politicians who are beholden to special interests; they will be addressed by fellow working people.
Wisconsin relies heavily on gas taxes and registration fees to fund transportation. With revenues from both sources growing slowly, what changes, if any, would you support to meet the state’s transportation needs? If you would not increase revenues, how would you reduce spending in order to adapt to more modest revenue growth?
We need long-term, sustainable solutions; lack of transportation funding from the state has forced municipalities and county governments across the state to borrow at rates that aren’t practical. As a legislator, I would support diversifying our revenue sources for transportation. It’s clear that we can’t rely solely on current funding options and we know that the local vehicle registration fees we’re seeing across the state are regressive and unpopular. We need to find funding opportunities that partner with our local governments rather than force them to shoulder the hard decisions on their own.
A growing number of local governments (including Marathon County) have turned to “wheel taxes” to fund their transportation programs. Do you support their ability to do so, or do you favor restrictions on these fees? Would you favor alternative local revenue options instead of, or in addition to, wheel taxes, such as local gas or sales taxes?
I am a strong advocate for local control, and believe that locally elected officials who are closest to residents and have the best understanding of local issues should not be micromanaged by the state. I do support the county’s ability to enact such taxes, although I wish they weren’t necessary.
What policies should Wisconsin pursue to attract and retain the employees needed to maintain our workforce over the next 20 years – or, how should Wisconsin prepare instead for a smaller, older workforce?
As older workers retire, we absolutely must attract new workers to replace them in the workforce. The Millennial and Gen X generations are poised to become the largest contingency of workers in this country, and it’s time we seriously consider the issues facing this group when we talk about attracting and retaining workers across the state. The combination of a student loan debt crisis and a recession has greatly impacted millions of young workers and families, affecting the types of jobs people can afford to take and the places they can afford to live. A student loan payment, on top of standard living expenses, often means an enhanced need for public transportation, affordable housing, and reliable high-speed internet for remote work in a gig economy. It’s easy to see why younger workers may decide to move toward bigger, urban hubs.
A living wage is key. All WI workers deserve to be paid fairly, and to be paid a wage that will allow them to thrive in our district. Full-time employees should not be struggling to pay bills.
Those with student loan debt should be able to refinance those loans at lower rates. Student loan forgiveness programs could be implemented where applicable to remain competitive in the job market. Of course fully funding the UW system to 2018 levels, making up for the historic cuts made to the university system in 2011, would allow campuses to freeze or lower tuition without affecting the quality of services provided.
Investing in our roads and rural broadband will play a huge role in attracting new workers to Central WI and rural areas. Someone may be willing to commute from Bevent to a job in Wausau, but how long will they be willing to put up with crumbling roads and extra car repairs to do so? Budding entrepreneurs could see a need to fill in Hatley, but will they be able to secure access to reliable cell and internet service?
And overall, we must be forward-thinking. Economic development/job creation goes hand-in-hand with attracting a workforce to take those jobs. How is WI being proactive with our economic development? I would love to see greater exploration and investment in green manufacturing; this area could certainly be a manufacturing powerhouse again, but we have to embrace industries of the future.
Given research showing that, in general, the growth in Wisconsin has been uneven, what steps would you take to promote development in areas that have seen the slowest growth (particularly rural and northern Wisconsin)?
North Central Wisconsin has so much potential. We are centrally located, our neighbors are hardworking, and our community holds strong values. We have a lot of the right ingredients to contribute to a strong economy but we need the state to invest in us. In order to encourage development evenly across Wisconsin, we need to put more money into public education, improve transit and restore the ability of local governments to provide basic emergency services and be responsive to local needs. We also need to increase broadband access at a much, much faster pace to allow business to compete and access markets across the globe.
I’ve talked to thousands of people in the last six months and I know there there is potential if we just explore new avenues of job creation, job training or retraining for new industries. I want to bring new ideas to the table.
Should the current general aids system for K-12 schools be changed? If so, how?
In 2011, Republicans gutted K-12 funding. We have not seen those funds restored. At the same time funding for private voucher schools, who are not accountable to public school boards, has expanded. That’s taking hard-earned taxpayer money away from public schools and putting it into private hands. We have seen school referendums increase across the state; according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 286 public school referendums have been passed since Jan. 1, 2010. Voters are saying “Yes, raise my taxes to keep the lights on at our local school.”
I grew up in Wisconsin. I attended K-12 in my hometown of Shullsburg, where my dad taught agriculture and was the FFA advisor. Back then, funding public schools wasn’t politicized – it was something all representatives saw value in, because they knew it was the most important and effective investment they could make for the state.
We need to get back to those shared values by fully funding public schools to 2018 levels. Fab Labs are great, but they don’t take the place of needed funding. Public schools serve the public good, and our budget should reflect that; we must have high expectations for the entities that get public dollars. They need to be held to high standards and they need to act with transparency. If we’re not going to stop the spread of unaccountable private voucher funding we need to ensure that every voucher school accepting taxpayer money adheres to the same exact rules as the public ones.
Voters in Marathon County will be asked to weigh in on medical marijuana in this election. What are your views on medical marijuana? What about recreational marijuana?
I was happy to vote YES to move the medical marijuana referendum to the ballot, here in Marathon County. I heard from many constituents who wanted their voices to be heard, and during that monthly meeting we had to expand the time allowed for public comment because so many people wanted to speak. Ultimately, this is what we as elected officials should want – an engaged public! I felt that it was important to allow the ballot measure to proceed.
I support the legalization and use of medical marijuana. This is an issue that Wisconsin has avoided. Wisconsin has storied research legacy; at the very least the we should be open to researching the topic. As the opioid epidemic continues to spread, and our population ages, we owe it to Wisconsinites to explore other avenues of pain management.
I would be in favor of the decriminalization of recreational use as long as the proper authorities are allowed to regulate the sale and use for the safety of minors, much like we do with alcohol. This would require collaboration between legislators and law enforcement to address a variety of legal standards.
It’s also important to note the morality of this issue from a criminal justice perspective; we are now in a place where some people are incarcerated for something that’s legal elsewhere in the country. And as pharmaceutical companies and other corporate entities begin to explore cannabis usage in their products, we’ll see big business profit off of something that remains illegal for average citizens – that people remain locked up for using. That’s unacceptable.
Would you support modifications to existing levy limits to give municipalities and counties greater flexibility or do you support them in their current form to curb growth in property taxes?
Across our state communities are struggling to fund fire, ambulance, police and basic school needs. One of the reasons is the state-imposed levy limits. However, in 2012 the Governor and current legislative majorities also cut shared revenue (aid) to municipalities by 8% and have not increased it since. That means that residents in Wausau, Ringle, and Hatley are paying out but they are never seeing those funds come back to help local projects.
Because of the lack of state partnership and support, there are increasingly municipalities and school districts in Wisconsin that have needed to pass significant referendums to exceed levy limits and raise property taxes by a significant amount to provide for public safety needs. The notion that current levy limits curb growth in property taxes is not what we actually see happening. Playing politics by making it harder for local governments to do their jobs, while at the same time reducing funding insulates the Governor and legislators from taking responsibility for policies and actions. It also kicks those difficult decisions to local governments who have no choice but to ask their neighbors to contribute more or see fewer services.
What will you do to address the rising costs of prescription drugs? Would you support state legislation to prohibit drug companies from charging excessive prices, or does the state have no business meddling in such enterprise?
I will support the SeniorCare Prescription drug program and work to ensure that it is permanent. Our seniors and those on fixed incomes can’t afford those drastic changes. People shouldn’t have to choose between groceries and taking their prescription drugs.
I would also support legislation aimed at curbing price gouging, which would require drug manufacturers of both name brand and generic prescription drugs to notify the state when drugs are set to increase by more than 25%. Consumers have a right to know why drug prices are increasing, and pharmaceutical companies should be required to be transparent about changes.
What will you do to ensure that Wisconsin continues to be affordable for groups like seniors and working families? What will you do to ensure they have access to health care?
I believe everyone has a right to healthcare, not just the wealthy few. Being priced out of a plan is the same as not having access at all. That separates me from my opponent.
My opponent voted against protecting pre-existing conditions in Bill AB363, a bill that would have explicitly prohibited pre-existing condition exclusion and premium surcharges based on preexisting conditions. And currently Wisconsin is part of a lawsuit seeking to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would repeal protections for pre-existing conditions. It would also repeal a provision that helped me a lot, when I graduated college and was having trouble finding a job, let alone a job that was offering benefits of any kind – the ability for young people to remain under their parents’ plan until they’re 26. I am grateful to have had that help in the midst of the recession. I want to make sure every Wisconsinite has those protections.
ACA isn’t perfect but to advocate for repealing this law without any plan for replacement, as our Republican representatives have done over and over again at the federal level, is irresponsible and impractical. And campaigning for eight years to repeal a law, only to turn around at election time and say otherwise, is disingenuous and dangerous to constituents.
Do you support taxpayer-supported incentives for big businesses, such as we’ve seen with Foxconn? Why or why not?
While each project should be considered individually and on its own merits, in general I don’t support taxpayer giveaways to large corporations. I’ve worked for many small businesses, starting with my first waitressing job in high school, a local grocery store in college, and here in Wausau at places like Sun Printing and The City Pages. If the state decides to play a role in business investments, it should be with local companies where those investments could have a real impact on the growth of the company, and offer real benefits to the workers and the community at large.
In the case of Foxconn, we’re seeing $4.5 billion dollars spent on one project, with each job subsidized to the tune of $200,000+. Imagine what that money could’ve done for local businesses or startups here in Marathon County. Or imagine that money instead going to pay for road repairs or fund public schools, or install broadband across every rural area in the state. I’m afraid we have put all of our eggs in one basket, with very little guarantee that this will be a good deal for WI.
There are Wisconsin companies that are committed to our state and our state workers. Exact Sciences, the makers of a non-invasive colon cancer screening test, for example, has received taxpayer assistance. It is proving to be a wise investment. They’re reaching out to neighborhoods near their headquarters to provide job opportunities for people that had been economically disadvantaged – jobs that start at $15 per hour and provide benefits. These are the kind of companies we should be investing tax dollars to help.
Hunger and homelessness continue to be issues both statewide and in Wausau, where there are hundreds of homeless students in our local school system. Critics say Gov. Walker’s changes to foodshare programs exacerbated that problem, making hard times harder for families and children. With that in mind, what policies would you support to help ensure children do not go hungry?
Students can’t learn if they’re hungry. I support increasing breakfast and lunch programming available to children in our schools, and providing funding to ensure that children can go to school during breaks and vacations in order to receive meals they need. Those programs show a real benefit for children right here in our local school districts.
We also need to support parents so they can help their families. They need job training and educational opportunities that will help them land truly family supporting jobs.
Most of the folks that make use of foodshare benefits are working, or are people with legitimate need based on disability or age. If I am elected, I will not be the kind of representative who chooses to score political points by going after people who have less.
Far too many people in Wisconsin still do not receive treatment for mental health or addiction disorders. If elected, what will you do to make sure all people with mental illness and addictions have access to the lifesaving treatment they need?
Unfortunately one of the largest issues is systemic; people with mental health and addiction issues might not be able to make it to their doctor regularly to get the care they need or to ensure they are taking their medications properly, or they might be willing to enter into recovery but they don’t have the proper support to help and encourage them to stay the course.
Access to preventive care can help people avoid emergency treatment, and after care is essential for rehabilitation. One thing Wisconsin can easily do, right now, is accept the millions of federal dollars, that our current legislature continues to turn away for ideological reasons, and invest in expanding Medicaid and get more people the care they need.
Awareness and de-stigmatization of mental health are also important, and this can start at an early age. Increased funding for school counselors and nurses could provide a resource for young people to seek help when needed. We are lucky, in this community, to have a facility like North Central Health Care, which offers a variety of mental health and recovery services – and I was honored to vote YES to approve upgrades to the facility earlier this year.
What else would you like voters to know about you before they vote?
I’ve been knocking doors since May, trying to talk to as many people in the district as possible. And not just Democrats; I’ve been talking to Independents and moderates and Republicans too. And I’ve had some really great conversations with them all.
By now, probably all of those people have seen or heard attacks against me. My friends and neighbors say they’ve been getting mailers every day. Millionaires and billionaires that aren’t even from Wisconsin are trying to influence your vote with negativity and divisiveness. These PACs that support my opponent say that I am too young and that I don’t have the experience to be a state legislator. That’s simply wrong. My neighbors and District 85 deserve to be represented by someone who brings fresh ideas to the table, someone who has the ability to quickly understand complex issues, someone who hasn’t already decided where to land on the issues.
I don’t have millionaires coming to bail me out in the homestretch. I’ve worked hard for the last six months to reach people with positive ideas to help workers, grow the middle class, protect pre-existing conditions, fund public schools, and attract new residents to central WI to keep our communities and economies moving.
I want to be more than your voice in Madison, I want to be your ears in the district and I want to bring your values with me.
Pat Snyder, Incumbent
Age: 62
City of residence: Schofield
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Iowa 1978
Employment experience: 34 years in broadcast industry, Outreach Director for Congressman Duffy, Wisconsin State Legislature
Political experience: Schofield City Council, Outreach Director for Congressman Sean Duffy, Wisconsin State Representative
What are your reasons for running for office, and why should voters choose you?
I am running to continue the work I started last session on behalf of the residents of the 85th Assembly District and the State of Wisconsin. There is more I want to accomplish with foster care and continue to improve overall health care. Again, education is a high priority for me, ensuring resources are there for our teachers to help prepare students for the best career opportunities. I want to continue efforts to create and maintain a business environment that promotes growth and even more well-paying jobs.
Wisconsin relies heavily on gas taxes and registration fees to fund transportation. With revenues from both sources growing slowly, what changes, if any, would you support to meet the state’s transportation needs? If you would not increase revenues, how would you reduce spending in order to adapt to more modest revenue growth?
I believe this should not be a political issue and that all sides need to evaluate every option. When I talk with residents at the doors, they are receptive to an increase in the state gas tax but do not like hiking registration fees. This situation won’t go away, and as the years go by we’ll continue to see an increase in fuel efficiency as well as more electric cars. There are many good ideas that can be drawn from and expanded on, but above all we need to come up with a long-term fix.
A growing number of local governments (including Marathon County) have turned to “wheel taxes” to fund their transportation programs. Do you support their ability to do so, or do you favor restrictions on these fees? Would you favor alternative local revenue options instead of, or in addition to, wheel taxes, such as local gas or sales taxes?
Many residents I have spoken to do not like the wheel tax. A bill was brought forward in the 2015-16 legislative session that would allow counties to raise fuel taxes but it ultimately was not passed. It is something that can add to the overall discussion in the next session, as I see this as an ongoing conversation between our counties and the state.
What policies should Wisconsin pursue to attract and retain the employees needed to maintain our workforce over the next 20 years – or, how should Wisconsin prepare instead for a smaller, older workforce?
Preparing Wisconsin’s future workforce starts in our schools. I’m so happy that middle-school students are beginning career planning, not only for college but also for vocations and manufacturing. I’m glad to see more youth apprenticeship opportunities and an increase in Fab Labs across the state. Additionally, we can attract out-of-state workers by continuing to welcome manufacturing in the state. Keeping taxes low and good quality education a priority will make this a much more attractive location to live and raise a family.
Given research showing that, in general, the growth in Wisconsin has been uneven, what steps would you take to promote development in areas that have seen the slowest growth (particularly rural and northern Wisconsin)?
It is a fact that northern Wisconsin is growing older and losing population. Our school enrollment in the North has been on a decline over the years. I believe as a state we need to encourage growth in manufacturing and technology, primarily by making broadband and other economic incentives available in our region. We need to market the lifestyle as well. Recently I talked with a doctor who moved here from Chicago. His family was living in a small apartment with off-street parking and a long commute to work. Now they have a beautiful home with a garage and an eight minute commute to work. He loves it. I honestly believe the quality of life in the Northwoods is one of Wisconsin’s best-kept secrets. I’m always looking for ways to tell our story while in Madison.
Should the current general aids system for K-12 schools be changed? If so, how?
I would like to see a new formula developed to maintain a strong revenue source for our public schools. This year there was a Blue Ribbon Commission established which toured the state with that objective. I’m anxious to see their recommendations.
Voters in Marathon County will be asked to weigh in on medical marijuana in this election. What are your views on medical marijuana? What about recreational marijuana?
I’m very open to medical marijuana for patients in need. I believe it should be prescribed by a doctor like other medications. I hope the federal government declassifies it to a schedule II drug so that our universities can do medical research to help create FDA-approved drugs.
I am not open to recreational marijuana after talking with the Marathon County Health Department and the AODA about the harmful effects it could have on our community. I’m concerned about the negative impacts, especially on our youth, some prompted by studies I read from Colorado and California which have legalized recreational marijuana.
Would you support modifications to existing levy limits to give municipalities and counties greater flexibility or do you support them in their current form to curb growth in property taxes?
Residents of the 85th want to keep their property taxes down. Some of the larger communities will have increased revenue from business expansion. But I am concerned about some of the smaller land-lock communities like Rothschild and Schofield, which don’t have the room for the same business expansion. We will need to find a solution.
What will you do to address the rising costs of prescription drugs? Would you support state legislation to prohibit drug companies from charging excessive prices, or does the state have no business meddling in such enterprise?
I am hoping that the federal government comes through with legislation that will reduce costs. State involvement could lead to less access to medication for our residents.
What will you do to ensure that Wisconsin continues to be affordable for groups like seniors and working families? What will you do to ensure they have access to health care?
I am so happy to see that unemployment has been below 3% in the state for the past eight months and that there are more people working in Wisconsin now than any time in its history. Wages are going up, which will help working families and we must keep this economic environment growing. Keeping property taxes down will help our seniors but more attention is needed with assisted living and senior care. I voted to keep pre-existing conditions in our health care coverage. I will work to continue to provide access to all and lowering premium prices.
Do you support taxpayer-supported incentives for big businesses, such as we’ve seen with Foxconn? Why or why not?
I do support incentives that will make positive economic impact for the State of Wisconsin. That’s why I am working to provide better jobs through the $1 billion rural economic development fund, which will bring new jobs here – not just Southeast Wisconsin. Foxconn is pay as you grow. There must be a $10 billion investment in the facility, 13,000 jobs averaging $53,000 per year, and Foxconn must spend $1.4 billion with Wisconsin suppliers. That works out to the state receiving $18 for every $1 dollar invested. Merrill Iron and Steel and County Materials already have been awarded large contracts with Foxconn, which is proof the economic impact is rippling across Wisconsin.
Hunger and homelessness continue to be issues both statewide and in Wausau, where there are hundreds of homeless students in our local school system. Critics say Gov. Walker’s changes to foodshare programs exacerbated that problem, making hard times harder for families and children. With that in mind, what policies would you support to help ensure children do not go hungry?
As a member of the Marathon County Hunger and Homeless Committee, I see the seriousness of the situation. Unfortunately, drugs have become an increasing problem for many adults who have children. We need to get those who are addicted healthy again so that they can help their families. Our out-of-home placement of children is at an extremely high level. We have to identify these individuals in order to get them the help they need, working to stem the problem of homelessness among that population.
Far too many people in Wisconsin still do not receive treatment for mental health or addiction disorders. If elected, what will you do to make sure all people with mental illness and addictions have access to the lifesaving treatment they need?
As a state and a nation, we have to end the stigma surrounding mental health. I am so glad we increased funding to bring mental health counseling into the schools. I advocated for funding that helped Marathon County start a drug treatment court last March. I also helped put $3.5 million into the psychiatric residency program at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wausau. I will continue this work, making Wisconsin a healthier and safer place for all her citizens.
What else would you like voters to know about you before they vote?
Some might view politics as a game or through the lens of wins and losses. That’s not me; as a policy maker – my focus has always been you, the people I serve. My wife and I love this community and are proud to call it home.
I am committed to putting people first, helping kids succeed, developing the workforce of tomorrow, and protecting the taxpayer. You sent me to Madison to work with both sides of the aisle to find real solutions and that is what I have done.
If an idea is good for Marathon County, you can be sure that I will work to pass it.
I had five bills that I authored signed into law in my first term, and with this experience, I ask you to send be back to Madison to continue to work for you.
