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Three Republicans Set Sights on Bies’ Seat

Three Republicans have announced their candidacy for the 1st Assembly District seat to be vacated by Rep. Garey Bies at the end of his term in January 2015. The candidates are:

• Jon Kruse, owner of Door County Marine in Sturgeon Bay and a former staffer of 1st District Senator Frank Lasee. “Wisconsin’s First Assembly District is facing some serious challenges. We need leadership that transcends petty partisan division. The First District is very diverse and I am ready to work for everyone as their employee,” Kruse stated in a press release announcing his run. “My philosophy has always been that the government should listen to the people, not the other way around. As the owner of Door County Marine, I understand all of the hurdles (some people say harassment) that local, state and federal regulations impose on small business owners across Wisconsin. We need to make it easier for people to own businesses, provide for their families and achieve their version of the American Dream. “The people in this district do not care about political parties,” said Kruse. “What they care about is having someone in Madison who will represent their values, the small town lifestyle, our history and beautiful landscape. They want someone who puts the people of First District first, not special interests.”

• Brian Hackbarth, general manager of a restaurant and two-term supervisor on the Gibraltar Town Board. Gibraltar Planning Commissioner, Gibraltar Parks & Lands Committee Chair, Vice President of “Door County Housing Partnership”, and Vice President of “COIN” (Community Opportunity Investment Network”). Hackbarth is one of the founders of both of the aforementioned nonprofits. Hackbarth said he will begin with a focus on the economy in Kewaunee and Door counties, job creation within the district, housing needs, lower taxes, issues facing farmers, combating excessive regulations that hinder job creation and the wide variety of issues facing local governments within the district “I think I can make a difference in Madison. My experience on the town board and the committees I have served on has been very valuable and I feel like I’ve done a lot of good there. I feel I can make that transfer to Madison. Hackbarth said he has had a political run on his mind for some time, but added, “I would not have run if Bies was running for re-election. I had no desire in challenging an incumbent Republican. Since he announced his retirement, I thought, ‘Now is the time’.” Hackbarth is running for a third term on the Gibraltar Town Board in April. He believes his experience there could be very valuable in Madison. “Sometimes it almost seems the needs locally kind of get lost, especially with the rural communities. It’s easy for them to focus on the cities. Sometimes you have to look at how the people in small communities and town boards are affected by legislation from Madison.”

• Terry McNulty, Forestville village president and Southern Door School Board member. “I’m running because the governor’s policies are working and I think I have the experience to take that next step. Being a businessman I’ve been through good times and bad times in the last 15 years,” he said. “This was just the next logical step for me to take,” McNulty said. “With Garey Bies retiring, there is no better time.” He feels that people are sick of partisan politics and that he can represent both sides. “I see the big issues coming up like tax reform, which I think it’s a good thing. I’m committed to school finance and I think those all work together with creating jobs,” McNulty said. Besides his elected positions McNulty is commander of the Forestville American Legion. He is a retired Army reserve first sergeant.

Arnie Johnsrud, farmer and retired Kewaunee High School teacher, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in December.

The 1st Assembly District includes all of Door County, most of Kewaunee, and parts of Brown and Manitowoc counties. The deadline to file nomination papers for the Nov. 4 general election is 5 pm Monday, June 2, 2014. The partisan primary will be held Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2014.