Bub launches bid for 87th assembly district seat

Mike Bub has worn a lot of hats over the past 37 years.

He currently serves on both the Taylor County Board and the Medford City Council. He is a past member of the Medford Area Public Schools School board serving as board president for eight years.

In the community he is the founder and president of Medford Area for Tomorrow Inc. (MATI) and coached high school track for 32 years. He serves as an active member in both the Medford Kiwanis Club and the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1744.

Now Bub is seeking to add another hat. Bub has officially entered the race for 87th Assembly District to challenge incumbent Rep. James Edming. Bub had narrowly lost to Edming in the Republican primary in 2014.

“I am running for the State Assembly because I believe it is time for a change,” Bub said. “For too long the current members of the State Assembly forget there are citizens in Northern Wisconsin. They talk a lot about supporting rural Wisconsin but their actions do not match their words.”

Bub noted the similar challenges facing rural areas around the state including the southwestern counties, northern and northeastern counties. Bub said that individually these areas are weak, but working together in a strong coalition they would be able to force legislative leaders to address the needs and concerns of rural areas. He cited the stalled dark stores legislation as an example of the disconnect between the legislators and the leadership. Individual polling of legislators shows nearly universal support for closing the loophole in Wisconsin tax laws that allow thriving businesses to pay taxes based on if their stores were empty. Bub noted that this is costing homeowners as they have to pick up the burden from large retailers not paying their fair share. He said working together rural legislators would have the ability to force leadership to bring the issue to the floor.

“People that know me, know I’m a leader who works extremely hard to improve our communities. I started a nonprofit group (MATI) to raise funds for a wide range of community projects. I worked with the Taylor County Board of Supervisors to build a Broadband network in Taylor County. If you elect me I will work for you and I will make a difference,” Bub said.

Bub cited as one of his main goals a return to the legislature setting election rules rather than leaving it up to an independent group.

“In 2015 the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate created the Wisconsin Election Commission. Since then our elections have become a source of possible illegal activity and some even question if the elections are being run correctly. Our current State Rep voted for and supported the creation of the Wisconsin Election Commission. We need fair elections where everyone is treated the same. Our election laws need to be followed. Our elections laws need to be created by the Wisconsin legislature and then run by the elected County Clerks not outside donors with large amounts of cash to gain influence,” Bub said.

Bub also addressed school responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our schools need to be open. Closing the schools was a mistake and caused harm to our children,” he said. While local schools remained open for in-person or hybrid learning, many others did not. He said the pandemic highlighted the need for a more robust internet infrastructure in the state.

“During the Covid Pandemic, the need for broadband in our schools, businesses, and homes became more evident,” he said.

“Our current State Rep talks a lot about improving Broadband but in reality, not much help has come from the State. The State of Wisconsin has invested over $72 million to help rural communities invest in Broadband. The 87th district has received less than 2% of the PSC grants funds. The 87th District according to the Public Service Commission (PSC) has some of the lowest Broadband / Internet access in the State. We need more directed financial help to bring high-speed internet to the residents in the 87th District. The citizens in rural Wisconsin deserve their fair share of future grants for our communities,” Bub said.

When it comes to broadband, Bub has an extensive background. Bub worked for Tombstone Pizza, Kraft Pizza Co., and Nestle Pizza Division for 31 years. He was an Information Systems Senior Manager. “Over the years I worked on various Systems and was involved in a number of mergers with various companies during my years with Kraft and Nestle,” he said.

On the county board, Bub has spearheaded efforts to bring broadband to all areas of Taylor County as chairman of the Taylor County Broadband Committee with construction underway on a middle-mile fiber optic network that will provide a backbone for further expansion.

Since his retirement from Nestle Foods, Bub has been employed at Holy Rosary Parish in Medford as the Coordinator of Religious Education.

“There are many issues facing the 87th District and the State of Wisconsin. I look forward to meeting many people in the 87th District to discuss the future of our communities,” Bub said.