Wisconsin Assembly Race, District 1

Source: Wisconsin Legislative Maps.

Joel Kitchens (incumbent) vs. Roberta Thelen

We sent questionnaires recently to candidates who will appear on local ballots Nov. 8. Beginning last week – when we ran the questions to and responses from the candidates for the District 1 state Senate seat – and leading up to the midterm election, we’ll continue to publish those responses. Below are the questions to and responses from the candidates for the District 1 Wisconsin Assembly seat that, effective Jan. 3, 2023, will serve all of Door and Kewaunee counties and the northeastern part of Brown County.

JOEL KITCHENS, 65, is the Republican candidate for the District 1 seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. Seeking his fifth term in office, Kitchens has held the seat for the past eight years. He is a full-time legislator and retired large-animal veterinarian. He lives in Sturgeon Bay. 

Peninsula Pulse (PP): Why are you running?

Joel Kitchens (JK): I am running for reelection because I love this community, and this position has given me the opportunity to repay the kindness it has shown me and my family. I believe that I have been a very effective representative for our area in passing legislation that positively affects our community, as well as the state in general. While I am proud of my accomplishments, there is more that I would like to do.

PP: What state solutions do you endorse/propose to mitigate the impact of inflation?

JK: In the Legislature, it is vital that we control spending and keep taxes low. We must continue to fight to keep as much money in people’s pockets as possible.

I have opposed the efforts of Gov. Evers to increase taxes. I have also spoken out against the massive federal-government overspending that is the primary cause of the inflation we are experiencing.

Another contributing factor to inflation is our worker shortage. Over 3 million people have not returned to work following the COVID pandemic. 

Despite the governor’s vetoes, we will continue to pursue legislation that reduces fraud in the unemployment system and makes it easier for residents to rejoin the workforce.

PP: What are your priorities for education spending?

JK: Due to the ending of our federal relief aid, it is necessary for the state to provide a substantial increase in spending to keep up with inflation. It’s essential to ensure this money is spent wisely.

We’re blessed to have fine schools in our district, but that’s not true in other areas. Nearly 60% of Wisconsin fourth-graders cannot read at grade level, with our African American students scoring worst in the nation. Fixing underperforming schools is a top priority of mine.

I have also supported legislation to increase transparency for parents and to offer options in how their kids are educated.

PP: How can the state make health care more accessible and affordable?

JK: We must do a better job of educating citizens on the options available for health coverage. For those just above the poverty level, low-deductible health insurance is available on the Affordable Care Act exchange. Since the pandemic, even the very low premiums have been eliminated, so there is no cost. There is really no reason for anyone in Wisconsin to not have health insurance.

Many people simplistically believe that accepting federal Medicaid expansion will improve our accessibility and save money. Because providers are paid only 65% of their costs when they treat Medicaid patients, increasing the number of people on Medicaid would cause a shift in costs to those who are insured and increase all of our premiums substantially.

A true overhaul can be accomplished only on the federal level, but it is important to know that Wisconsinites pay far less than the national average on health care, and our system is currently ranked 15th among the states for quality and accessibility.

PP: What action does the state need to take on abortion?

JK: I’m proudly pro-life, but I believe our current law should be updated to include exceptions for rape and incest.

My focus in the Assembly has always been on preventing women from being faced with the difficult decision of whether or not to abort. I will continue to fight for my bill, which increases access to birth control, to be signed into law. This approach is proven to reduce abortions in states that have enacted it, and is supported by all the major medical groups.

I’m also advocating for spending some of our federal ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] money on pregnancy resource centers.

PP: What are Wisconsin’s most important environmental challenges, and how do you propose to solve them?

JK: Ground and surface-water contamination is one of the greatest environmental challenges we face in Wisconsin, particularly in Door and Kewaunee counties, with our fragile karst geology and shallow soil.

As chair of the Environment Committee, I have put a great deal of effort into meeting these challenges. My approach has always been to bring farm, industry and conservation groups together to find solutions.  Because of these partnerships, I’ve played a significant role in lessening the amount of contaminants in our water.

Our efforts have been effective, and we must continue to focus on these types of initiatives. Recent test results from Door County show that our drinking water is much cleaner than the state as a whole.

PP: Jails and prisons have become places where inmates with mental-health issues are housed but not treated. What can be done about this?

JK: The state has an obligation both to assist at-risk youth who are spiraling toward crime and to treat inmates humanely.

However, the Green Bay Correctional Institution is a perfect example of the system failing. It’s 40% above capacity, and 20% of all assaults in our state’s prisons occur there. Yet there are virtually no mental-health treatment options available to inmates.

We’ve developed a plan to replace this facility, which would quickly pay for itself. Our proposal includes space for treatment and vocational training. I will continue to fight for this, even with Gov. Evers’ previous veto of our bill.

PP: What additional gun-control measures, if any, must be passed in Wisconsin?

JK: I believe we must do a better job of keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and unstable people. Although we know that over 90% of the guns involved in crime are obtained illegally, it is still incumbent on us to do a better job with background checks. There are numerous different databases that do not always communicate with one another or contain all of the pertinent information. We need to streamline the system so that the checks are speedy and complete.

Additionally, we must renew our efforts to crack down on those who illegally traffic in guns.

ROBERTA THELEN, 69, is the Democratic candidate for the District 1 seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. She last challenged incumbent Joel Kitchens for the Assembly seat in the 2018 election as an Independent candidate. Voters gave Kitchens 68.4% of that vote. Thelen lives in Baileys Harbor, where she serves as a town board supervisor, a seat she has held for the past 14 years. She works as a registered nurse/care coordinator at Scandia Village in Sister Bay. 

Peninsula Pulse (PP): Why are you running?

Roberta Thelen (RT): I am running because I care deeply about the future of the 1st Assembly District and the state of Wisconsin. I believe it is essential for voters to have choices in an election, to protect the integrity of the vote and to preserve democracy. I love living in Baileys Harbor and knowing I have ancestors from Kewaunee going back to my great-grandparents, who had a farm in West Kewaunee. 

PP: What state solutions do you endorse/propose to mitigate the impact of inflation?

RT: Inflation affects everyone, and we need to understand the causes of inflation as a worldwide concern. The push and pull of supply and demand have significantly increased during the pandemic, impacting the cost of all goods. Our Legislature can be instrumental in setting goals to support manufacturing, reduce waste, create a more sustainable market and expand renewable-energy production.

PP: What are your priorities for education spending?

RT: The education-funding increase proposed by Gov. Evers is critical as we face a serious teacher shortage, a need for improved literacy and an increased demand for mental health care services in our schools. 

Our schools also need physical improvements to create an environment that feels safe and healthy. Our teachers and students should feel supported, appreciated and empowered.

PP: How can the state make health care more accessible and affordable?

RT: Wisconsin previously had the opportunity to receive federal funding to expand Medicaid. [Former] Gov. Walker rejected those funds. In the future, we should accept any additional dollars to serve more people with minimal impact to our own budget. 

Moving forward and looking to the future, I fully support a universal health care system. Access to quality health care is a right, not a privilege.  

PP: What action does the state need to take on abortion?

RT: The Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade has ended the fundamental constitutional rights of women to make their own health care decisions. Abortion and reproductive rights are essential parts of women’s health care. Women in Wisconsin today have fewer rights because of a law passed 173 years ago, before women could even vote. The law from 1849 should be repealed.

PP: What are Wisconsin’s most important environmental challenges, and how do you propose to solve them?

RT: The first challenge we face is getting people to acknowledge that we have serious environmental problems, including pollution and climate change, and that we need to respond with a sense of urgency. 

Wisconsin has serious problems with water quality, yet we continue to contaminate wells throughout Kewaunee and Door counties with runoff from chemical fertilizers and the spreading of liquid manure. Our Legislature could do so much more to support agriculture by incentivizing sustainability and farmland preservation. 

Continuing to expand the use of renewable-energy sources is another important step. 

PP: Jails and prisons have become places where inmates with mental-health issues are housed but not treated. What can be done about this?

RT: Mental health is a complex topic, considering the lack of accurate information about the causes and types of mental illness and the lack of resources for mental-health care. 

Many socioeconomic factors can contribute to incarceration, including poverty, homelessness and a lack of basic human services. As people struggle with social injustice, mental illness can be both a cause and a byproduct of criminal activity. When people commit crimes, we should work to address the underlying causes and provide mental-health services. To do that, Wisconsin needs extensive reform to our criminal-justice system. 

PP: What additional gun-control measures, if any, must be passed in Wisconsin?

RT: I would support banning assault-type weapons, having improved background checks and registration, and having a waiting period for gun purchases. We don’t want to take away everyone’s guns, but we need to keep them out of the hands of those with mental illness or criminal intent. 

Wisconsin has many responsible gun owners, and with that responsibility comes keeping guns out of the hands of children and encouraging their safe handling and storage.