Stanley got a visit from Emily Berge recently. Berge, who current sits on the Eau Claire City Council as District One Representative, is running against statehouse incumbent Jesse James to represent the 68th Assembly District at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Arriving in town in a Subaru Outback with a campaign sign affixed to the top, Berge and a campaign assistant held a meet n’ greet in the Soo Park Pavilion beginning at 7:00 a.m. With more information available on her campaign website at www.vote4berge.com, endorsements listed at the site include one from Emily’s List, an organization “dedicated to building a progressive America by electing prochoice Democratic women to office,” as well as the Wisconsin State Council for SEIU or Service Employees International Union, “an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of worker and the services they provide.” For her recent visit, the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s 68th Assembly District heard many different concerns, including those of area businesses.

“Is there a lot of train traffic that comes through?” Berge asked the 10 or so area residents gathered to listen and ask questions. “Not much anymore,” former mayor Dave Jankoski said as it was shared that ACE Ethanol was the only significant user of the railroad through town, with a possible contributing reason being the rail rates. Additionally, Mennonites kept up family farms in the area but were largely seen as being apolitical (no Mennonites were identifiable as present at the meet and greet). A resident from Edson Township shared the plight of many towns with barely enough money to keep their roads maintained, and said that neither Kathy Bernier nor Representative Jesse James had held a meeting in the area “since the election.” Places like Stanley were becoming commuter towns as opposed to true communities.

“I pinky swear I would be here,” Berge said, saying that she knew all political candidates said the same but that meeting with people was her favorite part of the job. Berge directed voters to look at her work on the Eau Claire Council and said that she was a problem solver, with relationship building a key. Contrasting herself with James who she said was promoting black and white thinking with a “law and order” message, Berge said that she viewed solutions as being far more nuanced and that it was important to look at the goal. At the same time, she had a good relationship with the Eau Claire Police Department.

“The neighborhood knows the drug house before the police do,” she said of building partnerships to keep residents safe, and that social workers should be partnered with police as well. Berge said that she wasn’t a quitter and had even been hesitant to run for statewide office since her council term doesn’t end until spring 2021. The hope for finishing her current council term together with the Assembly seat could be reviewed after the election, she said. That wasn’t the whole meeting story though.

“It should be a priority,” Berge said next of internet and broadband access, comparing it to rural farm electrification in the 1930s and 40s. Additionally, she said that as a marriage counselor and mental health professional she wasn’t afraid of conflict, or getting in the middle when things became tense. Berge also said that the state budget was a statement of values and that where money was spent mattered. Berge said she serves on the Wisconsin League of Municipalities and the Board of Health, adding of the current attitude to public health employees that, “People are not nice to them.” Prior to COVID, many public health workers worked in the background, unheard and unthought of. As to why people should vote for her personally, Berge said in part that, “I’m a listener, and I get things done.” One educator attending then shared an assignment they had for the next Wisconsin Assembly.

“Emily, on a side note I want something done about education,” Edith Krueger said. Act 10 and its aftermath had first denigrated and then decimated the teaching profession at both a state and local level, she said. No one wanted to go into education anymore and the local student scholarship for said Noble Profession couldn’t even be given away as a result. Another teacher now retired named Brian Wirth shared that a common refrain was how teachers got four months off during the summer months, with the caveat that many thought teachers made too much already.

“Wisconsin used to be the place for education,” he said, but not anymore.

Berge was still making the rounds as 9:00 a.m. approached, with the Subaru Outback later being seen at the City Hall building on South Broadway and around town.