Gumz and Venzke run for District 30 seat

By Peter Weinschenk The Record-Review

The District 30 incumbent Richard Gumz will be challenged April 5 by Andrew Venzke. Both candidates were interviewed this past week.

Richard Gumz, a lifelong resident of the town of Holton, is a graduate of Colby High School and MidState Technical College in the farm business management program. He has taken farm classes at Northcentral Technical College.

Gumz, married with two children, is a beef, poultry and hay farmer. He also drives school bus. Gumz is a member of the Abby Free Church and is a longtime member of the Holton 4-H Club.

On county board, Gumz serves on the Infrastructure Committee. He is running for his eighth term on the board.

Gumz said that he represents the views of people on the far western end of Marathon County on county board. “I am the conservative choice for the conservative people in this area,” he said. “I represent the average person. I try to be the voice of reason. I don’t have an agenda, but I am not afraid to ask questions.”

Asked how he defined being conservative, he replied with the following: “It means not being Katie Rosenberg.” She is the mayor of Wausau.

Gumz said that “government usually doesn’t fix things” and that regular people usually “do a better job” in addressing issues than government.

Asked about his priorities on county board, he said it will be a challenge to “keep good people” employed by the county and to expand internet access. He said he supports building all season roads in order to withstand the weight of agricultural machinery. He said CTH A “takes a beating.”

Gumz said that he is a well known figure at the county courthouse and that he is able to help constituents deal with county issues. “When people need help, I know who to call and get things done for people,” he said.

The incumbent said that his opponent is a political novice. “He has never been on a board in his life,” he said. “There is no record to point out.”

Andrew Venzke

Andrew Venzke grew up in Milan and now lives in the town of Holton. He graduated from Abbotsford High School and plans to study at Mid-State Technical College to become an electrician.

Venzke belongs to the Central Wisconsin Amateur Winemaking Club. He also raises honeybees.

Venzke said that if he is elected he would be “new blood” on the county board. “It is nice to have change,” he said. “I have a different mindset.”

Venzke said he is running for the county board to become further involved with the local community.

He pledged to “keep people informed” about county politics because “not everybody hears what’s going on.”

Asked what issues he would pursue if elected supervisor, Venzke did not say. He did say that he had an open mind and was willing to learn about county government.