Local Friends 'stand with Dan'; Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise

By Jack Knowles

11.26.2009

State Senator Dan Kapanke was back in Hillsboro last week, and this time rather than beginning his day at Holvy's with the "Breakfast Club," he ended it at Beezers with about 30 local supporters of his Congressional candidacy.

Billed as a "Stand With Dan" rally, a number of Kapanke's area friends gathered at the brand new restaurant and bar to hear about his plans for the next 50 weeks. Dan is going to be busier than ever as he strives to represent them in Congress by unseating the Democratic incumbent, U.S. Representative Ron Kind.

The rally was sponsored by Andy and Rhonda Peterson, along with Al and Nancy Picha. One thing that was totally unnecessary was an introduction to the folks because Dan has spent more time in the Hillsboro area than any politician I've seen over the last 20 years. Whether it's an election year for him or not, he has enjoyed Hillsboro's hospitality often, from Labor Day Parades to Cesky Den Celebrations, to unexpected visits to the School Board and City Council.

One of Dan's favorite pastimes is swapping stories with the early birds at Holvy's. In fact, he dropped in at the restaurant on the very morning after his last election to thank Hillsboro area residents for their support. Earlier, he had heard the good natured doubts from Holvy's patrons when promising them that he would make the trip from his home in La Crosse on the morning after his victory party.

Dan showed up last Wednesday night with his good friend, State Assemblyman Lee Nerison, after visiting a similar gathering in Seneca. While folks enjoyed snacking on Beezers appetizers, the candidate pointed out the basic tenants of his beliefs, anchored by a history of fiscal accountability and common sense budgeting.

One of the reasons Dan feels right at home in rural communities is the fact that he spent 25 years in Western Wisconsin agri-business selling seeds as a Sales District Manager after growing up on a farm. He was in the right company with Nerison, the former President of the Vernon County Board, who has been a farmer his entire life.

In addition to farmers, Dan can relate to the plight of other small businessmen because he brought minor league baseball to La Crosse and now owns and operates the highly popular La Crosse Loggers team.

The owners of Beezers and Whitehall Cheese Specialties, Steve and Kelly Fawcett, were also at the meeting and Kapanke addressed the issue of the importance of bringing jobs to small towns like Hillsboro, as they did with both businesses. Calling the Fawcetts' accomplishments a "great American story," he pointed out that they are "bucking the trend by bringing jobs to people who want to work and stay in small communities like this one."

While traveling around the huge Congressional district, Dan has taken note of the main concerns troubling the voters, and he ticked them off, not necessarily in order of importance. The economy, including the rising debt to China, health care reform, education of our children, threats from Iran, and elderly benefits, although he was quick to diplomatically say that he didn't see any elderly folks in the room that night!

He also mentioned that he was among 600 who attended at Tea Party in Hudson, where many folks were concerned about Second Amendment rights of citizens to purchase and keep guns. "We've been all over the District listening to folks, and I'm convinced that in the 2010 election, voters will be involved more than ever before," he stated. Calling the health reform plans in Congress, "awful," Kapanke asserted that "government intrusion into the private sector has got to stop, and citizens can stop it by working right here."

"We're taking it one day at a time," he stated. "That seat doesn't belong to Ron Kind, and he has to be rehired next November to stay in it. We hope to shake hands with everyone in the Third Congressional District, and we've found that many small businessmen are supporting our effort. This election is all about people stepping up and taking control of a bad situation. They are no longer sitting on the sidelines!"

"We're working like farmers, seven days a week, and frankly if we don't do the job well after being elected, we'll expect to be fired in two years too."

Before Dan fielded some questions from the gathering, Nerison also spoke to them for a few minutes. "Dan started in state politics with me, so I know all about his work ethic," he told the crowd. It's difficult in many ways to run for office and it's competitive. The opposition spent $800,000 against me for my lonely, little seat."

Both campaigners singled out fund raising as the toughest part of running for public office, especially in this economy. The best part is easy: getting out and meeting the people. "I'll be there listening to your comments, and so will Lee," Kapanke stated. "Local politics is where the rubber meets the road, and both of us know that. We always try to make new friends at these meetings, no matter the differences in opinions."

After more than an hour of discussion between candidates and folks in the room, he thanked everyone for coming and called the evening "a great dialogue".

Politics aside, one thing that has struck me about Dan is his very inquisitive nature. When he first ran for the State Senate, he always showed an interest in local matters, and the people who call this area home. We know when he's visiting Hillsboro because he always stops at the Sentry office to ask what's happening in town.

And, when he started the La Crosse Loggers, he spent many nights filling all the different jobs involved with the business. If you went to a game, you might see him taking tickets at the gate, and by the third inning, you'd see him up in the stands pedaling peanuts! The next game, he's working on the field, or passing out souvenirs.

I once asked him about this unusual trait, and he replied that the best way to learn about different jobs is to just do them for a while. And, besides, he enjoys dealing with the fans at the Logger games because he makes new friends that way and it's one of the things he likes most about any business.

So, don't be surprised if you see even more of Dan in the next 50 weeks. At heart, he's one of us.