Candidates,
from p. 7
term, I anticipate I’ll be there five days a week. I’m hoping to get assigned to the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules.
10. What is the best way to contact you?
Email me at karen@karenhurd.com or call me at 715-577-4860.
11. Anything else you would like the community to know?
Just that I’m here to represent them. I’m representing them, not me.
Joshua Kelley (I-Greenwood) 1. Why are you running for public office?
I come from a very political family. I’ve always taken an interest in politics… I was going to run regardless of whether I ended up in the 68th or the 69th after redistricting. I’m running as an independent because I feel both sides are stuck in the mud and there needs to be somebody in the middle that can reach across party lines and bring everybody together. When it comes to our State Assembly, I see both parties just kowtowing to party lines and not getting anything done. I don’t see people reaching across the aisle to solve real problems. I see gaveling in and out and just doing whatever they can to make sure the other side looks bad for perceived political gain. I would like to unite the parties so we can actually get something done, and if no else will, I’ll just have to run myself.
2. What knowledge and/or experience do you bring to this position?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Greenwood, where I learned a strong work ethic. I’ve been a stainless steel pipe fitter for the last 17 years, where I’ve overcome some of the most complex problems. I’ve had my industrial hemp license for the last six years, where I’ve worked with the FSA, USDAand the DA, not to mention all the other government agencies I already work hand-in-hand with. And what I can tell you about all our government agencies is, one hand doesn’t know what the other is doing… Just the way information travels through the system itself needs an update. I did go to school for computer information systems, so I think I’d be uniquely qualified to help in that area.
3. Inflation is a major concern for many Wisconsinites, with groceries, gas and other commodities being less affordable than ever. If you are elected, what could be done to address that at the state level?
Inflation is always going to be a concern. Things are always going to cost more. When more people are buying things, people are going to pay more for their goods and services, which, believe it or not, is a good sign. It means more people have jobs; purchasing power in other countries is at a high. The only other option is deflation where no one is working and people can’t afford to buy anything, so prices fall. Goods and services cost less. Inflation means strong dollar and better purchasing power. Inflation’s not always a bad thing; the only other alternative is deflation and no one wants deflation. Inflation means people are getting out there and buying goods and what not. But… all this money that’s an influx into the economy, that’s what costs up.And unfortunately businesses take advantage of that and do price gouging. There could be limits on price gouging, but necessarily, inflation isn’t always a bad thing. The only other alternative is lack of jobs and nobody can afford anything, so then the prices go down. That’s what they’re trying to do with the interest rate. That’s why they raised the interest rate, so people wouldn’t have as much money so everything — goods and prices on services would come down.
We could work on infrastructure on how we get things to each other… I’d like to do anything we possibly can. But that involves both sides working with each other to come up with an educated response.
4. Illegal immigration is another hot-button issue. To what degree do you see illegal immigration as affecting our local area, how would you address this issue in state office?
I believe that these people want to be here legally, for the most part. You’re always going to have a few bad apples, but seeing as our system is so broke down, it takes years to get your case looked at and when they do, the government does their very best to turn them away. It only makes sense that these people are just going to come here for a better opportunity and just ask forgiveness later. I’m not saying it’s right; we just need to update the rate at which our information flows from one government agency to another and a lot of these problems will solve themselves.
5. Mental health is another big concern, especially among our youth as we see more and more young people struggling with depression or anxiety. As a state representative, what steps could be taken to address this issue?
Mental health is a big concern, especially for our youth. I could even imagine growing up in this day and age, especially with all the social media and never-ending barrage of mental insecurities. You go home; the bullies don’t go away, sadly. We do not have the right resources in the right places when needed. The only way we are going to be able to deal with this issue in the present time is to find the bullies, see who they are focused on and give that person a long, big hug, tell them that this is not how things should be, and be a true friend to that person. Give that person all the love and support you can. Then one can go and offer the person doing the bullying the same response. Because we’re only going to get through this if we all work together… We also don’t have the mental health resources and social workers that we need in our schools. Our schools are already stretched thin with their budget anyway. Not even to mention the learning disabled. We don’t have enough support for them.
6. In addition to the issues I’ve mentioned, in talking to the people of the 69th Assembly District, what are some of the main issues or concerns you hear brought up, and how do you plan to address those concerns if elected to office?
One of the main concerns I hear a lot of is the lack of action in our government. No one is getting anything done, ever. Everyone is just content with trying to make the other side look bad. As an independent, I would seek to bring both sides back to the table, back together. The word “compromise” means you don’t get everything you want. We can have differing opinions on how to solve problems, but we should all still agree that we have problems that need solutions. If we can’t have a common discourse, then we’ve all lost.
7. What are the main factors that differentiate you from your opponents in this race? In other words, why are you the better choice of candidate?
The main factor that separates two of us is that I’m not beholden to Robin Voss. There is no one telling me what to do but the people. I’ve worked so very hard with my own two hands to help build this country. Now I’d like to use my own two hands for better service by rebuilding our government.
8. The 69th District encompasses a wide area. How have you been working to connect with voters throughout the district?
When I first started gathering signatures, I got 400-plus signatures on a non-partisan ballot… I’ve attended many community functions. I’ve gone to gas stations and grocery stores. I’ve hit every municipality in the district. I like to unite people and bring them together. I would say 98% of the people I’ve talked to, I’ve had a good response. There have been a lot of good responses on both sides. If we can’t have a common discourse, all is lost. I’ve given a lot of handshakes and tried to offer a good message.
9. How are you involved in your community?
I’m a vendor of CBD products. I sell pain creams and chill creams, as well as a wide variety of other products at craft fairs around the area. Right now, I’m trying to find a way to help rebuild our church in Longwood that burned down, and I would also like to find ways to assist in the rebuilding effort in the downtown of Loyal.
10. What is the best way to contact you?
Email joshuakelley69th@gmail.com or call me at 715-937-6396.
11. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I am just one person; I don’t have all the answers. There are a lot of problems out there and the only way we are going to fix them is if we can all come together for the greater good.
