State GOP Candidates: 'Take our country back' La Crosse Tribune

By Richard Mial

11.09.2009

SPARTA - The theme was clear at a Republican candidate forum Sunday: "Take our country back."

Candidates for Congress, U.S. Senate, state Senate, lieutenant governor and secretary of state all expresssed that message, or variations of it.

Sue Lynch of Onalaska, newly elected president of the National Federation of Republican Women, a job for which she will have to move to Washington, D.C., for two years, called for a voter ID law and for Republicans to regain control of Congress. Before introducing the candidates, she urged those present at the Colonial Lanes and Banquet Center to get involved in Republican campaigns.

She said the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama is "taking our rights away every single day."

State Sen. Dan Kapanke of La Crosse, who is running against U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, said that because of the bailout bills, the federal government now controls much of the automobile and finance industries.

With the House vote to approve a health care reform plan, he said, another sector of the economy is in danger.

"Eighteen or 17 percent of the GDP in health care, and we're going to let the government grab that?" Kapanke said.

Tomah Mayor Ed Thompson, a restaurant owner and brother of former Gov. Tommy Thompson, is running against Alma Democrat Kathleen Vinehout for state Senate. He said several businesses in the Tomah area have laid off workers, and Republicans are needed in office to reduce spending and taxes.

"How in the world can you increase taxes and increase spending when you have a deficit?" he asked.

Dave Westlake, a small-business owner from Watertown who is running for the U.S. Senate against Russ Feingold, called health care reform, bailouts and high taxes "threats to liberty."

Westlake, who described himself as a social and fiscal conservative, talked about Patrick Henry of Virginia, who said during the American Revolution, "Give me liberty or give me death."

"As Americans," Westlake said, "liberty is our divine birthright."

He said no other country in the world has helped more nations gain their freedom than the United States. He referred to an "American exceptionaliism" that the nation is in danger of losing because of actions by Democrats.

Dave Ross is running for lieutenant governor, one of two Republicans in the race. He described himself as a fiscal conservative and said in his seven years as mayor of Superior he has brought down taxes and spending, in part by eliminating 50 of 300 city positions.

When he privatized operation of the city-owned golf course, he said, it began to make money for the city.

State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Monroe, is the other candidate for lieutenant governor. He said he had 100 percent ratings from pro-life, pro-gun and pro-Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the state's biggest business lobby group.

He also has experience at the staff level, having served Tommy Thompson when he was governor and later when he went to Washington as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

David King of Milwaukee is running for Secretary of State. He is a minister and father of 10 who uses Bible stories to illustrate his political views. He also was the only black candidate at the meeting and said that Republicans need to make an effort to outline their views to inner-city residents.

A believer in a "hand up" and not a "handout," he said he wants to turn the Secretary of State into a real service position - and have staff spend three days in Madison and two days in the field working on "issues that are important to the people."

He said his first issue is to address voter fraud.

Sparta Municipal Judge Mark L. Goodman, who is running for Monroe County circut court judge, told the group he emphasized youth issues as a city court judge and worked with school and city officials to curtail truancy.

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