Assembly District 4 will see both Republican and Democratic Party primaries this August. Alexia Unertl and Jane Benson will meet in the Democratic primary.
The state Senate and Assembly races reflect new electoral maps — signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers. The maps were created to more evenly divide the legislative districts between Democrats and Republicans.
District 4 mostly covers the old 89th Assembly District — from Howard and Suamico in Brown County along the bay to Oconto County. It includes the municipalities of Oconto, Oconto Falls, Lena, Abrams, Little Suamico.
The winner will secure the Democratic party nomination and go on to face the winner of the Republican primary.
Candidates were asked to adhere to word limits. Answers were gently edited for grammar, style and accuracy.
Jane Benson
- Age: 68
- Occupation: Retired web development specialist
- Highest level of education: Bachelor of arts
- Campaign website: bensonforwisconsin.com
Alexia Unertl
Why are you running for state Assembly?
BENSON: I’m a longtime organizer/activist. I serve on the state-level Fair Courts-Fair Maps committee of the League of Women Voters. Working with the Fair Maps Coalition, I helped organize rallies and spoke publicly on the case before the Supreme Court, which finally freed us from unconstitutional, unfair voting maps!
The district needs people like me who believe in truly representative government.
I’m an active board member of the Northeast Wisconsin Clean Water Action Council, and advocate regularly for responsible water policies.
My people-centered actions and care for a healthy environment make me an excellent candidate for the 4thAssembly District.
UNERTL: As a working parent, I know the joys and challenges of raising a family in northeast Wisconsin. For the first time in over a decade, we have fair maps that offer us the opportunity to elect public servants who truly share our values and priorities. Voting and running for office are civic responsibilities we all share. I am committed to ensuring that our voices are heard and that the needs of District 4 are represented in Madison. By running for state Assembly, I will champion policies that prioritize Wisconsin families and work to build a stronger middle class.
What two issues do you feel most need to be addressed in state Legislature?
BENSON: Water and school funding. The east side of AD4 is the bay of Green Bay. The bay is the largest freshwater estuary in the world, incredibly rare and worth protecting. Making sure that drinking water is healthy is critical for all of us. Many homes in our more rural district use well water from groundwater. Other municipalities have water treatment plants. We face PFAS “forever chemical” water poisoning, CAFO waste contamination, NPS runoff from mega farms and emerging threats, like avian flu. Fishing, birding and boating are big economic drivers. Clean waters create good quality of life and help to draw new workers and tourism dollars here. Electing environmental supporters like me makes good business sense.
We must fund public schools consistently and fairly, and districts shouldn’t have to beg for money through referendums. Wisconsin currently reimburses about 33% for a public-school special education student. The general fund of public schools picks up the other 67%, reducing money available to run schools successfully. Wisconsin public school teacher pay has fallen to 38th in the nation. Costly money diversion to vouchers, our inadequate school funding formula, elevated costs, and uncertain revenue mean our school system needs attention and action.
UNERTL: Care does not have to be costly. Patients at all stages of life deserve to visit a doctor in their own community without worrying if they are in-network or can afford it. I support a public health care option that provides a cost-effective alternative to for-profit insurance. Initiatives like lowering the Medicare eligibility age and expanding eligibility to more low-income individuals will improve quality of lifelong term. However, the current failure to expand Medicaid impacts rural communities leaving them with limited options or the ongoing threat of hospital closures.
The health of our water directly affects the health of our citizens. As a homeowner reliant on a well, contamination of forever chemicals is a genuine concern for my family. Legislators must approve and implement emergency plans and procedures to respond to all contamination incidents in municipal water supplies and private wells. This includes a verified PFAS-free alternative supply until impurities are safely removed. If elected I will work with the Department of Natural Resources to help residents and farms secure the infrastructure upgrades needed to prevent, detect, and mitigate contamination of source water.
What will be your priority in the next two-year budget?
BENSON: Water would be my priority. The whole eastern border of the 4th Assembly District is the bay of Green Bay. The bay is the largest freshwater estuary in the world, formed by a watershed of rivers and tributaries feeding into the bay. The bay is in progress to become a National Estuarine Research Reserve, one of only 3 in Wisconsin.
As a legislator, I would strongly advocate for proper financial support for the Department of Natural Resources and make sure the public knows when the governor’s appointees are not formally approved — a chronic problem now.
We need to fund the DNR to examine how to minimize damage from PFAS “forever chemicals,” concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) waste and nonpoint source runoff from mega farms. The Duck Creek quarry of Assembly District 4 had a bird flu (avian flu) outbreak in early 2024. Avian flu can spread to dairy cows and humans. We need plans to address these existing and emerging threats.
I want to support avoidance of deadly blue-green algae blooms, wildlife die-offs and sickening our animals and people. Let’s make our waters pristine and the envy of the world!
UNERTL: A rural address shouldn't exclude anyone from the benefits of modern utilities. With the current budget surplus and expected increase in tax revenues currently in place, we are in a position to decrease the tax burden on the middle class while also improving the quality of life in our state. I am committed to making smart investments in high-speed internet infrastructure and will advocate for all communities in District 4 to secure fiber-optic cables and wireless towers to improve education, business, and daily life.
Another budgetary issue is the matter of school funding. Public schools rely heavily on local property taxes, creating disparities between districts that are more fortunate than others. This inequity not only threatens the future success of our students but also puts a strain on municipal budgets, leading to other services being sacrificed. Diverting funds from public schools has worsened resource shortages, especially in struggling districts facing budget deficits and potential school closures. Improving outcomes is crucial for all students, particularly those requiring accommodations, which depend on funding specialized educators, assistive technologies, and support services. Therefore, reforming the funding system is essential to ensure consistent resources for all schools, regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
To vote
To see what races are on your ballot, find your polling place and request an absentee ballot, go to myvote.wi.gov .
Alyssa N. Salcedo is a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: 4th Assembly District: Jane Benson and Alexia Unertl meet in the Democratic primary
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