Election 2022: County Board District 11

The two candidates vying for this seat are the incumbent, Morgan Rusnak; and her challenger, Helen Bacon, who also serves as an alder on the Sturgeon Bay Common Council. Bacon had served in this supervisory district on the county board previously (though it was a different district number prior to the 2021 redistricting), but she lost the seat to Erin Tauscher in the 2020 election. Tauscher resigned her seat not long into her term, and Morgan Rusnak was appointed to complete the remainder of Tauscher’s term. Rusnak wants to keep that seat, and Bacon wants it back.  

Helen Bacon

Helen Bacon, 75, is a resident of Sturgeon Bay. She received her nursing degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She is a retired registered nurse and has three grown children. She is currently serving her second term in an elective position as an alder on the Sturgeon Bay Common Council. She served previously on the Door County Board of Supervisors before losing the seat in 2020.

Peninsula Pulse (PP): What is your primary motivation for running for a seat on the county board?

Helen Bacon (HB): My primary motivation in running for the county board is to give back to the county that has supported me and my family. From Sunday hikes when I was a child, to visiting relatives in the country, to working at the local hospital and home-health agency, I have a knowledge of all areas of the county. I am interested in the health and well-being of our citizens and our environment. My parents were involved in volunteer work and set an example for me at a young age.

PP: Please describe your leadership style.

HB: Having knowledge of the issues and listening to citizens and my fellow elected officials is important. I took a nine-month Leadership in Government class and am confident in my ability to take a leadership role, think creatively and deal with differing ideas and personalities. Some decisions are difficult, but my goal is to have a win-win outcome as much as possible.

PP: What experience do you have that would make you good in an elected office in general, and for the county board specifically?   

HB: Some of the topics that come before the county board are very complicated. Communication, knowledge, coordination, listening and being flexible are all a part of my past work experience. I look for practical solutions to problems.

PP: What would be changed, fixed, solved or made better if you were elected to the board? How would your new presence make a meaningful difference?

HB: My presence on the board will add a nonpartisan voice that will put our citizens first. I believe that is the best approach to working together to solve problems. I am able and willing to put in the time to creatively solve problems as they arise. I will bring experience, knowledge and commitment to this very important job.

PP: What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)?

HB: Something that not everyone knows about me is that I am a Master Gardener and am the gardener in charge of the gardens behind the ADRC/Community Center in Sturgeon Bay. I am excited for the gardening season to start! 

Morgan Rusnak

Morgan Rusnak, 32, is a resident of the City of Sturgeon Bay. She has a B.A. in social welfare and justice from Marquette University. She listed as immediate family members a dog, a cat, many houseplants and a boyfriend. She was appointed to her current seat on the Door County Board of Supervisors in January 2021 to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Erin Tauscher. This is her first official run for elective office.

Peninsula Pulse (PP): How many terms have you served, and why do you want to continue to serve on the county board? 

Morgan Rusnak (MR): I was appointed in January 2021 when Erin Tauscher vacated the seat. I want to continue because we deserve governing bodies that reflect the diversity of our community. There are a lot of hardworking people who call Door County home who don’t see themselves represented in their local governments, don’t feel that their elected officials advocate on their behalf or value their input, or aren’t empowered to ask questions or engage with their elected officials. I will continue to help change that mentality. 

PP: Please describe your leadership style and how that style has effectively served your constituents.

MR: Authentic, transparent and informed. I listen more than I talk, and I’m never afraid to ask, “Why?” It’s easy to assume that everyone has processed the same information in the same way. However, that assumption creates barriers and quickly shuts down future engagement. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I will always help get you pointed in the right direction in finding a solution and get the right resources into your hands.

PP: What are the most important things you’ve accomplished while in office? 

MR: Most important is the allocation of Door County’s American Recovery Plan Act funds. This $5.3 million is not a slush fund or free money to supplement our regular budget. As stewards of that money, our board prioritized housing, child care and broadband, backed by actual dollar amounts tied to projects. I’ve been proud to serve on the Sustainability Committee, a group that has committed to looking at all county operations through a sustainability lens. We continue to home in on our own Green Tier Legacy status and have positioned the county to work more collaboratively and effectively with municipalities moving forward. 

PP: What within the county needs to be changed, fixed, solved or made better? 

MR: Housing, child care and broadband. This triad is interconnected, and no one prong is more important than the others. Door County needs to be a sustainable place for families, especially young ones, to work, play and live. That starts with a local government that isn’t afraid to break away from the status quo and won’t cut corners when it comes to investing in our community. Additionally, local government needs to become more accessible by encouraging public participation. Government isn’t a club that only a select few are allowed to engage with. Local government serves to benefit the entire population, and in turn, the floor belongs to everyone.

PP: What is something that few people know about you (and now more will)?

MR: Though I’ve tended bar for well over a decade, I’ve been sober for over three years. Sobriety makes me face my vulnerabilities and fears head on. It has made me the strongest and most authentic version of myself. I’m able to be more intentional with my actions and share information with clarity and empathy. Sobriety is a marathon, not a sprint, and funny enough, since becoming sober, I’ve also run six half marathons – seven in May when the next Door County Half rolls around!