By J.E. Espino
Post-Crescent staff writer
APPLETON — The 2010 election is drawing Republican candidates eager to flex their conservative muscle in northeastern Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District primary runoff.
In a spirited Tuesday forum, three of four declared candidates concerned about the nation's grim economic picture outlined their visions to restore fiscal soundness and adhere to the U.S. Constitution.
About 150 people attended the two-hour forum at the Grand Meridian.
Reid Ribble, 53, a Kaukauna roofing contractor, and Marc Savard, 47, and Andy Williams, 41, county board supervisors from Door and Brown counties, respectively, are competing to unseat two-term Democrat Steve Kagen of Appleton. Their first joint appearance comes a full year before the midterm elections.
A fourth GOP candidate, Kerry Thomas, 44, of Sayner in Vilas County, did not attend the event.
The primary is in September.
The Fox Valley Initiative, a nonpartisan coalition that promotes limited government, lower taxes and a free economy, sponsored the event to kick off the campaign season and give its members a chance to meet the candidates.
"It's going to be that if something doesn't change soon, we're going to have problems like this country has not seen in a very long time," said Jim Steineke, chairman of the Outagamie County Town of Vandenbroek. Steineke is the Fox Valley Initiative's founder and served as moderator for the forum.
Candidates expressed concern about the ballooning national debt and the stimulus packages and what it may mean for future generations. They agreed businesses that make bad decisions should be allowed to fail.
"What's happening in Washington — it's not wrong; it's immoral," Ribble said.
The candidates for the most part found a receptive audience that wanted answers to tough questions, as Steineke had predicted. "It's not going to be softball questions."
Participants wanted to know how they could be expected to remain true to the voters when so many others in Washington, D.C., they feel, have broken their promises.
They wanted to know how they would apply the constitution to their role. When is it acceptable to risk American lives? How are they different from politicians when they too accept campaign contributions from outside groups?
Ribble, who leads by having raised more than $130,000 in the race and the GOP has identified as a potential "Young Gun," said any candidate who is serious about winning next November has to raise enough cash to take on Kagen, who virtually self-financed his 2006 bid.
Williams, a lawyer, pointed out that businesses sometimes need to be allowed to fail. He said he wants to go to Washington to get the country back on the right track and when he is done, to turn over the job to someone who is like-minded.
Savard, an organic farmer, said he knew he wanted to run for office as soon as he saw the results of the 2008 elections, which Democrats dominated. He said the country is headed for dark times. He said he was energized by public involvement in the so-called tea parties conducted by groups like Steineke's, and voters have one full year to get power back from the Democrats.
Following the forum, David Stertz, a Clintonville resident and mechanical engineer, said he was still in search of his candidate.
"I just wish I could have seen more of a firm understanding of the principles of liberty," he said.
The forum's turnout indicated to Debbie Gates of Seymour that voters have real concerns and are determined to put up a fight in the midterm elections.
"They're seeing that the change (they got with President Barack Obama, a Democrat) is not what they wanted to see," she said.
Savard said he wants to be the candidate that reforms the GOP from within.
Williams and Ribble suggested auditing the Federal Reserve.
Steineke would not be drawn to say who would be the best candidate to take on the Democrats next fall.
"I'm reserving judgment. I'm interested to see how they respond," he said.
Additional Facts
On the Web
Democratic incumbent Steve Kagen: http://www.kagen4congress.com/
Republican candidates -
Reid Ribble: http://www.ribbleforcongress.com/
Marc Savard: http://www.savardforcongress.com/
Andy Williams: http://www.williamsforcongress.us/
Appleton Post Crescent Article
Post-Crescent staff writer
APPLETON — The 2010 election is drawing Republican candidates eager to flex their conservative muscle in northeastern Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District primary runoff.
In a spirited Tuesday forum, three of four declared candidates concerned about the nation's grim economic picture outlined their visions to restore fiscal soundness and adhere to the U.S. Constitution.
About 150 people attended the two-hour forum at the Grand Meridian.
Reid Ribble, 53, a Kaukauna roofing contractor, and Marc Savard, 47, and Andy Williams, 41, county board supervisors from Door and Brown counties, respectively, are competing to unseat two-term Democrat Steve Kagen of Appleton. Their first joint appearance comes a full year before the midterm elections.
A fourth GOP candidate, Kerry Thomas, 44, of Sayner in Vilas County, did not attend the event.
The primary is in September.
The Fox Valley Initiative, a nonpartisan coalition that promotes limited government, lower taxes and a free economy, sponsored the event to kick off the campaign season and give its members a chance to meet the candidates.
"It's going to be that if something doesn't change soon, we're going to have problems like this country has not seen in a very long time," said Jim Steineke, chairman of the Outagamie County Town of Vandenbroek. Steineke is the Fox Valley Initiative's founder and served as moderator for the forum.
Candidates expressed concern about the ballooning national debt and the stimulus packages and what it may mean for future generations. They agreed businesses that make bad decisions should be allowed to fail.
"What's happening in Washington — it's not wrong; it's immoral," Ribble said.
The candidates for the most part found a receptive audience that wanted answers to tough questions, as Steineke had predicted. "It's not going to be softball questions."
Participants wanted to know how they could be expected to remain true to the voters when so many others in Washington, D.C., they feel, have broken their promises.
They wanted to know how they would apply the constitution to their role. When is it acceptable to risk American lives? How are they different from politicians when they too accept campaign contributions from outside groups?
Ribble, who leads by having raised more than $130,000 in the race and the GOP has identified as a potential "Young Gun," said any candidate who is serious about winning next November has to raise enough cash to take on Kagen, who virtually self-financed his 2006 bid.
Williams, a lawyer, pointed out that businesses sometimes need to be allowed to fail. He said he wants to go to Washington to get the country back on the right track and when he is done, to turn over the job to someone who is like-minded.
Savard, an organic farmer, said he knew he wanted to run for office as soon as he saw the results of the 2008 elections, which Democrats dominated. He said the country is headed for dark times. He said he was energized by public involvement in the so-called tea parties conducted by groups like Steineke's, and voters have one full year to get power back from the Democrats.
Following the forum, David Stertz, a Clintonville resident and mechanical engineer, said he was still in search of his candidate.
"I just wish I could have seen more of a firm understanding of the principles of liberty," he said.
The forum's turnout indicated to Debbie Gates of Seymour that voters have real concerns and are determined to put up a fight in the midterm elections.
"They're seeing that the change (they got with President Barack Obama, a Democrat) is not what they wanted to see," she said.
Savard said he wants to be the candidate that reforms the GOP from within.
Williams and Ribble suggested auditing the Federal Reserve.
Steineke would not be drawn to say who would be the best candidate to take on the Democrats next fall.
"I'm reserving judgment. I'm interested to see how they respond," he said.
Additional Facts
On the Web
Democratic incumbent Steve Kagen: http://www.kagen4congress.com/
Republican candidates -
Reid Ribble: http://www.ribbleforcongress.com/
Marc Savard: http://www.savardforcongress.com/
Andy Williams: http://www.williamsforcongress.us/
Appleton Post Crescent Article
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