With absentee voting now in progress, the fall election is officially underway. Election Day for in person voting is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with new legislative maps affecting seat boundaries for state assembly.
Among the choices on the ballot are several state assembly seat candidates, including those for Assembly Districts 68, 69, and 91. District 68 as redrawn is located in Chippewa, Taylor, Rusk, and Price counties. District 69 as redrawn includes all of Clark County as well as parts of Chippewa, Taylor and Marathon Counties. District 91as drawn for the fall election includes Edson and Wilson, along with much of Eau Claire County.
Below is a summary of each candidate’s background along with questionnaires from those responding to comment. Participants were asked to keep questionnaire responses to 700 words total.

State Assembly District 68
Running in District 68 are Rob Summerfield (Republican) of Bloomer and Richard Pulcher (Democratic) of Lublin.
Pulcher is 73 years old, retired and single. He also holds a degree in economics from Augustana College. Originally from Southwest Minnesota, Pulcher’s prior government experience includes being a Village of Lublin trustee. He expresses a desire to restore local control, repeal Act 10, and improve public schools if elected.
Also running in District 68, Rob Summerfield is the current representative for State Assembly District 67. He is 44 years old, married, and has three daughters. He seeks reelection in District 68 after legislative maps last spring drew Bloomer out of his current district. If elected to District 68, Summerfield says he is willing to discuss any issue with constituents, and authored a bill that become Wisconsin Act 112 to address a constituent issue with the DNR.
Here’s what each has to say in full:
Name: Richard Pulcher
Age: 73
Occupation: Retired
Office Sought: Assembly District 68
Prior Elected Office(s): Village of Lublin trustee

Are you from the area originally? SW Minnesota
What about family? Single, never married.
Just what drives you to seek office in this election cycle? I want to restore local control, repeal Act 10, and improve public schools.
What is the biggest problem you want to address while in office? Improve public education.

What is/are the role(s) of an elected official with regard to their constituents? For instance, do you lean more towards a delegate view, a trusteeship view, or both? Can you give examples of this in action? I would be a lawmaker. I would prioritize: research into the reasons for legislation and public input.

What do you bring to the table in terms of both background and experience, and how would you prioritize different needs, made into a list? How would different needs and goals be addressed or achieved? Village trustee, 19 years a union steward, 14 years wastewater treatment operator, volunteer fireman, first responder, EMT Basic.

What else should people know before casting their ballot? I have a degree in economics. 1974 Augustana College - Sioux Falls SD. I support a woman’s control of her body. I support the separation of church and state.

Name: Rob Summerfield
Age: 44
Occupation: State Representative
Office Sought: State Representative of the 68th Assembly District
Prior Elected Office(s): State Representative for the 67th Assembly District

Are you from the area originally? What about family? Just what drives you to seek office in this election cycle? What is the biggest problem you want to address while in office: I was born and raised in Bloomer WI and still reside and raise my family in Bloomer. I have been married to my wife Kim for 19 years and we have three daughters. I feel that my deep ties to the community make me a strong advocate for our region and I strive to make the future brighter for my children and all Wisconsinites. Talking to people throughout the district, inflation and the economy are their biggest concerns and that is the issue I want to address while in office.

What is/are the role(s) of an elected official with regard to their constituents? For instance, do you lean more towards a delegate view, a trusteeship view, or both? Can you give examples of this in action: I work for the constituents. I am always willing to discuss any issue that a constituent will have; even if we do not fully agree on the issue. I have always tried my hardest to find a solution for a constituent’s issue or situation. One example is the past session a constituent reached out to me regarding an issue with the DNR transporting filets of fish. I authored a bill that became Wisconsin Act 112 to address this issue.

What do you bring to the table in terms of both background and experience, and how would you prioritize different needs, made into a list? How would different needs and goals be addressed or achieved: With my experience in small business, strong presence and service within our communities, along with my current representation in the State Assembly I feel that I am a strong advocate for the 68th Assembly District.

What else should people know before casting their ballot: It has been an honor to serve the people of the 67th Assembly District and I humbly ask for your vote on November 5th for the 68th Assembly District. It will be an honor to serve both current and new constituents in the 68th Assembly District. I encourage any constituent to reach out to me with any concerns and issues that they may have.

State Assembly District 69
Contending in District 69 are Roger Halls (Democratic), Karen Hurd (Republican), and Joshua Steven Kelley (Independent).
The first of the three candidates, Roger Halls, is 45 years old, married, and works in Information Technology. His prior experience in elected office includes being on the Stanley City Council. Halls expresses the belief that LGBTQ+ rights are being stripped away and pledges to fight for these communities. He would also like to see the communities and small businesses in District 69 flourish, proposing to expand childcare and education, as well as expand rural broadband. Additionally, he would seek to fully fund schools and keep healthcare in rural communities.
Also running in District 69 is Karen Hurd. Currently the District 68 representative, Hurd is 66 years old, a nutritionist, and married. She has lived in the north central Wisconsin for the past 28 years, being born in Texas and growing up in Missouri. She is seeking election to District 69 after new legislative maps drew her out of her old district. Hurd cites wanting to continue serving the people of Wisconsin as her reason for running in District 69. If elected, she seeks to lower taxes, prohibit illegal immigrants from invading the country, making government smaller, and giving back local control to towns, villages, and cities, among other things.
Also running in District 69 is Joshua Steven Kelley of Greenwood. Kelley is 42 years old and is not a politician yet, which he believes to be an asset in making sound decisions. Currently working as a carpenter, he has been a stainless steel pipe fitter for 17 years. Kelley cites the lack of action in government and nobody getting things done as of concern to him. He further expresses a belief in compromise and the ability to have differing opinions on how to solve problems.
Here’s what each candidate had to say in full.

Name: Roger Halls
Age: 45
Occupation: Information Technology
Office Sought: 69th Assembly District
Prior Elected Office(s): Stanley City Council

Are you from the area originally? What about family? Just what drives you to seek office in this election cycle? What is the biggest problem you want to address while in office? I am originally from Rochester, MN. I lived there until I was 12 years old, then our family moved to Green Bay, WI where I lived until I was 19 and from there I have lived all over the state including Sheboygan, Madison, Eau Claire, and finally settling in Stanley in 2004. My wife, Carrie, was born and raised in Stanley. As a father of three girls, and with family in the LGBTQ+ community, I believe their rights are being stripped away. With the Dobbs decision, and 24 Anti-LGBTQ bills brought up, I want those communities and my family to know they have people fighting for them. I would also like to see our communities flourish and our small businesses succeed, to do that, we need to expand child care, fully fund our schools, expand education, expand on rural broadband, and keep healthcare in our rural communities. All of these areas are either under attack, not appropriately funded, or just ignored.

What is/are the role(s) of an elected official with regard to their constituents? For instance, do you lean more towards a delegate view, a trusteeship view, or both? Can you give examples of this in action? An elected official should actively listen to their constituents and advocate for their expressed needs and concerns. For instance, if most of my district supports expanding rural broadband or lowering healthcare costs, I would push policies that directly reflect those priorities. However, I also believe that elected officials must act as trustees, using their knowledge, experience, and judgment to make decisions in the best interest of their constituents, even if those decisions aren’t always the most popular. For instance, I would rely on expert input and long-term sustainability goals to guide my decisions on complex issues like environmental regulations or budget allocations.

What do you bring to the table in terms of both background and experience, and how would you prioritize different needs, made into a list? How would different needs and goals be addressed or achieved? I bring a potent combination of background in public service, experience as a veteran, and a commitment to community-driven solutions. My time in the military taught me discipline, leadership, and the importance of teamwork—skills that I will use to unite people and tackle tough issues. My background in working with diverse communities has given me a clear understanding of the challenges many Wisconsinites face, from economic hardship to healthcare access and educational inequality.
• Affordable Housing: Promote policies that increase affordable housing development, provide incentives for first-time homebuyers, and support rental assistance programs. Work with local governments to streamline zoning and permit processes to facilitate new construction.
• Affordable Healthcare: Expand Medicaid coverage, negotiate lower prescription drug prices, and enhance preventive care services to lower healthcare costs.
• Quality Public Education: Secure increased funding for public schools, especially in rural districts, support teachers with better pay, and invest in special education and mental health services for students.
• Economic Development: Invest in infrastructure, support small businesses with tax incentives, and create job training programs to equip workers with skills for high-demand industries, particularly in rural areas.
• Equality and Civil Rights: Promote policies that ensure equal opportunities regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, while working to reduce disparities in employment, healthcare, and education. Support laws protecting against discrimination and hate crimes.
• Environmental Protection: Support clean energy projects, enforce stricter regulations on pollution, and invest in the preservation of Wisconsin’s natural resources, ensuring clean air and water for future generations.
• Veteran Support: Ensure veterans have access to quality healthcare, mental health services, job placement programs, and housing assistance, while advocating for better transition services for those leaving the military.
• Rural Broadband: Collaborate with public and private sectors to secure funding for broadband infrastructure, ensuring equal access to internet services that will help businesses, schools, and healthcare in rural Wisconsin.

What else should people know before casting their ballot? I sat on the City Council of Stanley for 6 years. I strongly believe in giving back to the community by working with charities. I moved to Stanley after leaving the Army as a decorated two-tour Afghanistan/Iraq Veteran with a Bronze Star. I’ve seen many places, but Wisconsin has always been my favorite. I want my home to thrive and succeed. I realize not everyone has the same story, life experiences, and beliefs, but that is what makes us special. All I want is for people to have a happy, fulfilling life, and even if that is currently out of reach for many Wisconsinites, I hope to change that. I will bring my open mind, empathy, compassion, and humanity to the Wisconsin Assembly.

Name: Karen Hurd
Age: 66
Occupation: Nutritionist
Office Sought: WI Representative to the 69th Assembly District
Prior Elected Office(s): Representative to the WI 68th Assembly District (current), Fall Creek Village Trustee (2021-2024)
Are you from the area originally? I have lived in north central Wisconsin for the past 28 years. I was born in Texas and grew up in Missouri, then served in various duty stations across the U.S. while in the armed forces.

What about family? Married to husband Steve for 47 years. Five grown children, six grandchildren.

Just what drives you to seek office in this election cycle? I want to continue to serve the people of Wisconsin by lowering taxes; prohibiting illegal immigrants from invading our country; making government smaller; giving local control back to the towns, villages, and cities; making government fiscally responsible; reducing regulations; bringing down inflation; fixing the economy. I have seen the need for proven conservative leadership in our government.

What is the biggest problem you want to address while in office? The economy. Lowering taxes is one of the best ways to help the economy. The less taxes a person pays allows them more money to spend as they choose. That money will be spent on purchasing products or services, which then creates more demand for the product or service, which then stimulates the business to supply that demand, which means the business can grow—and compensate employees more/hire additional employees to facilitate that growth which then gives those employees more money in their pocket so that they can purchase products or services—and the circle repeats; thereby, creating a productive, efficient, and healthy economy.

What is/are the role(s) of an elected official with regard to their constituents? For instance, do you lean more towards a delegate view, a trusteeship view, or both? Can you give examples of this in action?
The role of an elected official is to represent their constituents, not their own personal beliefs. An example of this is my stance on the abortion issue. Personally, I am pro-life. However, my constituents overwhelmingly want to have rape, incest, and health-of-the-mother exceptions for abortion. That is why I co-sponsored legislation to allow for these exceptions and to take the abortion issue directly to the people of Wisconsin in the form of a binding referendum.

What do you bring to the table in terms of both background and experience,
My experience in local and state government, my work experience as a small business owner, as well as the time I spent in the United States Army. My ability to communicate both with constituents so that I might represent their thoughts on issues as well as fellow lawmakers in accomplishing my constituents’ desires. I hold a Master of Science degree in Biochemistry as well as a Master of Public Health degree.
and how would you prioritize different needs, made into a list? How would different needs and goals be addressed or achieved?
1 Fixing the economy by lowering taxes and reducing onerous regulations.
2 Stopping the flow of illegal immigrants, drugs, and human trafficking that is pouring into our country and state. I voted this last session and will continue to vote to send WI National Guard soldiers to help secure our border. I helped pass the constitutional amendment question that will be on November’s ballot that bans illegal immigrants from voting in our elections.
3 Reducing inflation by making government smaller and fiscally responsible.
4 Keeping boys out of girls’ sports, and stopping tax dollars from being used for gender transition surgeries and procedures. I voted for legislation to do both these things in the past session, and will continue to do so.
5 Giving local control back to the towns, villages, and cities through less state regulations, more shared revenue for the municipalities, and more general transportation aid for the local governmental units to fix roads as needed in their local municipalities.

What else should people know before casting their ballot?
I already have a proven record of conservative leadership in the state Assembly. I am a staunch advocate of the needs of my constituents whether that is an individual in need of help with a particular situation or whether that is in the broader realm of introducing legislation to address issues that concern my constituents. I care about the people. I love the people. I am committed to serve the people with all my energy and skill.
Name: Joshua Steven Kelley
Age: 42
Occupation: Currently I am a Carpenter but for the last 17 years I have been a stainless steel pipefitter.
Office Sought: Wisconsin 69th state assembly
Prior Elected Office(s): I am not a politician yet and believe that to be an asset to making sound decisions.

Are you from the area originally? What about family? Just what drives you to seek office in this election cycle? What is the biggest problem you want to address while in office? I was born and raised in Greenwood, WI and have lived there most all of my life.
My mother & father are Bev and Steven Kelley & live in Greenwood as well as with my sister Sarah Kelley and my brother Chris lives in Hoboken.
My grandparents were Donald & Charlotte Rusch, Doc & Shirly Arnoson all from Owen-Withee. I Have aunts and uncles that live in the area as well Barb & Gordy Finkelson, Bernard Rusch, Bill & Pam Rusch.
What drives me is the hard work ethic instilled in me by my family . Growing up on a dairy farm there was never a shortage of work to be done. That drive is what propelled me to be a champion wrestler for Loyal Greenwood in our community and even blessed me with the chance to participate at the state competition for our team. If there is hard work to be done you will be sure to find me there. And if no one else is going to step up to the plate for the people then I will just do so myself.
The biggest problems I see are some of the main concerns I’ve been hearing a lot about. The lack of action in our government. No one is getting anything done. Everyone is just content with trying to make the other side look bad. As an independent I would seek to bring both sides back to the table. The word compromise means you don’t get everything that you want. We can have differing opinions on how to solve problems. But we should all be agreed upon that we still have problems that need solutions. If we all can’t have a common discourse then we have all lost.

What is/are the role(s) of an elected official with regard to their constituents? For instance, do you lean more towards a delegate view, a trusteeship view, or both? Can you give examples of this in action? I lean toward a delegate view point. It is the representative’s duty to represent the people & their views not the other way around. put the people above the party or even one’s own beliefs. I have already been in touch with many leaders of the community. And will do all that is in my power to make sure their will is done not my own.

What do you bring to the table in terms of both background and experience, and how would you prioritize different needs, made into a list? How would different needs and goals be addressed or achieved? What I bring to the table is a wide array of life experience. I have traveled across this great land seen and done a great many things helped build some of the worlds largest commercial industries from cheese plants to breweries & distilleries. Whether you know it or not most people have eaten or used something that has flowed through my welds. I’ve worked on hundreds of plants across this great country building cheese plants milk, butter, some our biggest egg plant driers that make your protein powder that goes into thousands of different things usually being the guy hanging 30 feet in the air by a boot strap doing some of the most difficult sanitary in place welds known to man. I’ve worked hand in hand with FSA, the USDA and even go through the DEA to test all my products as well as a wide array of other government agencies. I know how the system operates and I can tell you first hand that it is broken and needs to be fixed. I believe my background in computer information systems gives me the right set of skills to do a complete overhaul on how our government’s agencies process information and talk to one another. If they can’t work with each other, how are they ever going to work for us.

What else should people know before casting their ballot? The people should know that the maps changed around me. I did not change for the maps had they not been redrawn I would have run for the 68th.
I did not have to buy a house and change my residency just to run for office like one of my opponents. I have and always will be from this community. I care about my neighbors and would give the very shirt off my back just to help someone out. I would also like to let the people know that I am just one person. I don’t have all the answers. There are a lot of problems out there and the only way we are going to fix them Is if we can all come together for the greater good.

State Assembly District 91
District 91 includes Edson and Wilson and will see Michele Magadance Skinner (Republican) face off with incumbent Jodi Emerson (Democratic) for State assembly.
Currently the District 91 incumbent, Emerson is 52, married, and a graduate of Eau Claire Memorial High School. She has been elected to the Assembly since 2018 and is a member of the Migrant Labor Council, Transportation Projects Commission and Women’s Council.

As for Magadance Skinner, she was born and raised in Wisconsin as part of a family of 10 children. Beginning her career as a journalist, she was the first female in her family to graduate college, her mom never completing high school due to work. Magadance Skinner’s prior experience in political office includes winning a seat on the Eau Claire County Board. She professes the desire to create a better community for everyone.