My call was handled extremely well. I appreciate the patience and service.

By Gena Kittner, The Wisconsin State Journal

Aug. 29–Two candidates are seeking the Republican nomination for the 79th Assembly District seat, currently held by Democrat Sondy Pope-Roberts.

Tom Clauder

Age: 58

Family: Married with two daughters

Address: 2583 Norwich St., Fitchburg

Current job: Railroad safety analyst for the state of Wisconsin. Currently on unpaid leave while running for office; former Fitchburg police officer, 26 years.

Political experience: Dane County Board, 10 years; Fitchburg mayor, six years; former chairman of the Dane County Cities and Villages Association; past chairman of the Dane County Emergency Medical Services Commission; former vice-chairman of the Dane County Public Protection and Judiciary Committee; and member of the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission.

Other public service: Certified emergency medical technician; Special Olympics of Wisconsin volunteer; Fitchburg Lions member; Collaboration Council of Dane County member; Madison Elks member; Fitchburg Historical Society member.

Education: Associate degree in liberal studies from Madison Area Technical College.

Website:

Carl Skalitzky

Age: 36

Family: Married with two children

Address: 3614 Lynn Court, Middleton

Current job: Gasoline delivery to stations for Condon Transport of Ripon

Political experience: Ran unsuccessfully for the 79th Assembly District in 2008

Other public service: None

Education: Certified as an emergency medical technician in 2001; certified diesel truck driver from Diesel Truck Driver Training School in Sun Prairie in 1996; and served in the U.S. Navy from 1992 to 1995.

Website: None

Q&A

Q: If you could throw out the current school funding formula and start over, what would your plan look like?

Clauder: There should be a minimum amount of state support for each pupil. Additional support should be given to children with special needs. It’s easy to introduce legislation requiring changes to the funding formula, but it’s hard thing to do because some districts will gain while other will lose staff support.

Skalitzky: I support a core curriculum statewide for grades four through 10 that would be similar to what is taught for a General Equivalency Diploma, regardless if the school is public, private, charter, virtual or home-based. A satisfactory score on the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam will be equal to obtaining a G.E.D. State money should represent student enrollment, as I side with criticism against overpaid, top heavy administration.

Q: Do you think the state has a role in enforcing immigration policy? If so, what should that be?

Clauder: I respect the effort of legal immigrants who have made Wisconsin their home. The state should require an employer verification process. Fines should be given to employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants committing felonies should be deported. The federal government should standardize and enforce the immigration process.

Skalitzky: Criminals, gang members and those in drug trafficking shall be deported. I feel if a worker is peaceably found and has been productive for two years or more, I may be more tolerant with processing and policies to reflect that. Laws that are written need to be enforced.

Q: What one piece of legislation would you most like to see repealed?

Clauder: The Legislature should change state law that is increasing auto insurance rates. Law now requires an insurer to pay for damages caused by a policy-holder, even if that vehicle is not insured. This practice requires insurance companies to charge more for auto insurance to cover uninsured vehicles. It’s unfair to citizens to pay higher premiums for this reason.

Skalitzky: The whole train issue needs to be scrapped. The train to Milwaukee is a single bid insider project to begin with. In Madison, the city train needs to go to referendum since county supervisors did not campaign on it in the spring elections.

Similar Posts:

Share