Primary: 65th Assembly District

Updated

KENOSHA NEWS STAFF

Three Democrats will face off in a Tuesday primary for an open seat in the newly drawn 65th Assembly District, which includes much of the city of Kenosha. The primary victor is all but assured of winning the seat in November, as no other parties are fielding candidates in the race. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. To determine whether you live in the new district and to find your polling place, call your local municipal clerk’s office or search by your address at http://co.kenosha.wi.us/countyclerk/wheretovote.phtml.

Dayvin Hallmon

-- Address -- 1341 57th St.

-- Age -- 27

-- Education -- Working toward bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside

-- Occupation -- Retail worker, Office Max

-- Experience in public office -- Kenosha County supervisor, 2008-present

What do you feel qualifies you to serve as a member of the Assembly?

For the last five years on the Kenosha County Board I have been performing as a legislator on the county level with my colleagues. I oversee state programs that are critical to all of Kenosha such as Badger Care, W-2 program, agricultural programs, and job training programs. I am in constant dialogue with state legislators and state agency officials about how well Wisconsin’s programs are working. I and my colleagues do this while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget. Additionally, last year I put in place a foreclosure program that saved 78 Kenosha families from being foreclosed upon.

How would you work in Madison to try to bring jobs to the Kenosha area?

Strengthening Kenosha’s economy requires a varied approach. I’d improve the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.’s programs that are made to cultivate good jobs. I would work to provide tax incentives, grants and other services thereby making Kenosha more attractive for businesses. State investments in education must be increased. I will reverse the deep cuts to education and job training programs that are vital to Kenosha’s economic prosperity. Protecting Kenosha’s environment and natural resources are as equally critical to our tourism as they are our way of life. I would protect our lakes, bike trails and support mass transit.

How do you believe the state should balance offering services to its residents — such as BadgerCare and other health programs — with a desire to balance the budget and hold the line on taxes?

I stand for fairness in taxes above simply holding the line especially in an uncertain economy. Any added revenues would then be used for health care and education. Better financial responsibility is needed concerning the state’s health care programs to make sure that we are getting the best health outcomes per dollar spent.

How would you try to work through the partisan political climate in the Capitol?

I am against talking points. Talking points are made by strategists to appeal to isolated audiences. One of the things that I believe that has made me so successful on the County Board is talking about the values we share regardless of political bias. Policy and decision-making should be made off evidence based research combined with the lived experience of Kenosha’s citizens. I don’t want to be a politician. I want to be a public servant. In order to not put myself above the realities of my constituents, I voted to get rid of the County Board health insurance.

Albert Namath

-- Address -- 6109 25th Ave.

-- Age -- 62

-- Education -- Bachelor’s in business administration, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

-- Occupation -- Retired land developer

-- Experience in public office -- None

What do you feel qualifies you to serve as a member of the Assembly?

I am a University of Wisconsin-Whitewater graduate in business administration. I was a former small-business owner in general contracting in housing and a developer for 40 years. I do have an extensive knowledge of zoning laws, subdivision laws, which included state laws. ...

I did have a general contractor’s license in the state of Illinois and the state of Wisconsin. I did have a real estate broker’s license in the state of Wisconsin.

I do believe that my vast knowledge of being a successful business owner for 40 years will bring this experience to Madison if I am elected.

How would you work in Madison to try to bring jobs to the Kenosha area?

I would meet with all of the (local) state representatives and then to set a strategy with them to create more jobs. I would like all of the representatives to meet with Congressman Paul Ryan to try for federal money or grants to come to Kenosha. ...

Virent Industry and Soil Net LLC are startup corporations. The University of Wisconsin-Madison did help get their patents and knowledge in order for them to succeed. ...

I would like to meet with the university and maybe explore other technologies that their staff is working at.

How do you believe the state should balance offering services to its residents — such as BadgerCare and other health programs — with a desire to balance the budget and hold the line on taxes?

I do believe providing the citizens of the state of Wisconsin that are truly in need of health care like BadgerCare should receive this insurance. ...

I do believe that excessive use of the emergency room by people under BadgerCare should be looked into and (we should) try to rectify the abuse of these people using emergency rooms for their personal health. ...

I do believe preventive health care, which is one of my platforms, will cut emergency room use down. I would like to see these people under BadgerCare take classes on how to use insurance.

How would you try to work through the partisan political climate in the Capitol?

I do believe both parties will agree that job creations are the most important aspect in the state of Wisconsin. I do hope by bringing livable-wage jobs with benefits will bring both parties together for the benefits of the residents of the state of Wisconsin. ...

Another aspect is bringing a quality education from our technical colleges. ...

I do hope (to create) apprenticeships for CNC operators, machinists, welders, carpentry, electric, plumbing and whatever trades are needed to fulfill the needs of corporations who are willing to hire, but do not have any (qualified candidates) for these jobs of the future.

Tod Ohnstad

-- Address -- 3814 18th Ave.

-- Age -- 60

-- Education -- High school graduate; approximately 90 credits completed at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside

-- Occupation -- Retired autoworker, United Auto Workers Local 72 union officer

-- Experience in public office -- Kenosha alderman, 2008-present

What do you feel qualifies you to serve as a member of the Assembly?

I have had 30 years of experience representing working and retired people. My first experience was as a representative of my co-workers at AMC/Chrysler. I was continually re-elected from 1977 until I retired in 2004 because I built a reputation of being responsive to people when they had a problem and resourceful in resolving them. I am now serving my third term on the City Council, having been elected with 74 percent of the vote. In both positions I took a common-sense approach to solving problems. I will take that same approach in Madison.

How would you work in Madison to try to bring jobs to the Kenosha area?

With Lake Michigan and our proximity to both Chicago and Milwaukee, we have distinct advantages. We need to capitalize on that by expanding tourism. We also have a proven workforce and we need to utilize that along with our location to expand manufacturing. We have a great educational network with Gateway, Carthage and Parkside. We need to further strengthen this network to prepare our workforce for the jobs of the future.

As a state we need to tie corporate tax relief to job creation. ... We need to provide working capital for small entrepreneurs with a good idea to start up or expand their business.

How do you believe the state should balance offering services to its residents — such as BadgerCare and other health programs — with a desire to balance the budget and hold the line on taxes?

Providing health care benefits in programs such as BadgerCare have benefits that perhaps outweigh, or at least offset, the costs of providing them. Increased productivity of those that are served, decreased hospital costs by decreasing emergency room usage as the first choice for providing health care are only two examples of the economic benefits of having a healthy population. I have a proven record of being fiscally responsible as a member of the Kenosha Finance Committee for the last four budgets. There are certainly efficiencies to be found to reduce the cost of government without doing it on the backs of poor people.

How would you try to work through the partisan political climate in the Capitol?

My years at both AMC/Chrysler and on the City Council have frequently involved a partisan political climate ... but nevertheless I have been able to remain an independent representative looking for positive results, not a partisan position. ...

One of the most rewarding things in my 30 years of representing people has been meeting such a diverse group of people. The other is being able to be part of the solution to their problems. Oftentimes that means working with people with different perspectives. I’ve been able to do that in the past for those I’ve represented and will again in the Assembly.

— Data compiled and prepared by Kenosha News reporter Joe Potente. Note: Candidates were asked to provide answers of 100 words or less. In some cases, answers were edited to meet this guideline.