Winnebago County voter guide: See what candidates say are their top 3 priorities as the Nov. 5 election nears

(This story was updated to add new information.)

OSHKOSH – The Nov. 5 election almost here, and Winnebago County voters may still be weighing options in several key state legislative races after Gov. Tony Evers' new electoral maps drew many senators into new districts.

In an effort to familiarize voters with these races, the Northwestern reached out to the candidates to get a sense of their priorities for the state and county.

Here's what they had to say.

What's on the ballot? Here's what's on the Winnebago County ballot for the Nov. 5 general election

U.S. Congressional District 6

Name: John Zarbano (Democrat)

Age: 74

Highest level of education: Master’s degree

Political or elected office experience: None

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

• Restoration and protection of women’s fundamental rights.
• Protection of Social Security and Medicare.
• Immigration control.

Name: Glenn Grothman (Republican)

Age: 69

Highest level of education: Juris Doctor

Political or elected office experience: Wisconsin State Assembly, Wisconsin State Senate, U.S. House of Representatives

What would be your top three priorities if elected? First, we desperately need to secure the border. An open border is driving up government costs for human services, medicine and housing all around the nation.

Second, we need to slow spending. From 2021-2024, the Biden-Harris Administration’s reckless spending has caused our national debt to increase from $28 trillion to $35 trillion. Most of this came from three bills (American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act). They themselves cost over $3 trillion. Combine this with increasing energy prices, and you have a higher cost of gas and housing. It feels as if Washington wants to hurt the middle class.

Third, we need to reform welfare programs. I was able to assist Gov. Tommy Thompson in his welfare reform in the 1990s. To do this on a federal level, we need to get rid of programs that have a marriage penalty and work disincentives. That way, we can get more people back to work, grow the economy and expand commerce, and take some pressure off the federal budget.

U.S. Congressional District 8

Name: Kristin Lyerly (Democrat)

Age: 54

Highest level of education: Medical school

What would be your top three priorities if elected? I’m running for Congress because I believe that everyone deserves freedom and opportunity, including the freedom to make decisions about your own body and the opportunity to live and work in a community where you can afford gas, groceries, and prescription drugs.

As an OB-GYN doctor, I meet hard-working people every day who are struggling to access essential health care and put food on their table. In Congress, I’ll work hard to create solutions to fix our immigration crisis, improve the cost of living, and protect reproductive rights on behalf of the people who raised me, my neighbors in northeast Wisconsin.

Senate District 18

Name: Kristin Alfeim (Democrat)

Age: 53

Highest level of education: High school diploma

What would be your top three priorities if elected? My top priority is kids. As the infrastructure and future of our communities, kids must be fed, housed, healthy and educated. Investing in our children is the best and most important investment we can make, and that’s why we have to start funding our public schools properly.

My second priority is one that weighs on the minds of many women, regardless of political affiliation: reproductive health care. We must ensure that the women of Wisconsin have access to safe abortions, and that the doctors performing them are not doing so at the risk of a felony conviction. But there is more to the picture than just abortion; we must empower women to make the family planning choices that are right for them by ensuring access to affordable contraception.

Last, but certainly not least, is health care. We are one of only 10 states that have yet to expand BadgerCare, even though doing so would save the state $1.7 billion in just two years. Regardless of what side of the aisle you’re on, or what your thoughts on Obamacare are, that’s just fiscally responsible, not to mention that it would help ease financial burdens on both consumers and health care providers.

Name: Anthony Phillips (Republican)

Age: 64

Highest level of education: M.D.

Political or elected office experience: None

What would be your top three priorities if elected? First, as a state senator, I’d combat inflation by limiting government spending and cutting taxes, allowing Wisconsinites to keep more of their hard-earned money. We need to look at ways to find efficiencies in government and cut down on wasteful spending.

State government would function better with less polarization, so my second priority would be working in a bipartisan manner for the good of our citizens to lower the cost of living, fight for clean water and soil, provide exceptional education opportunities for our youth, and ensure a business environment conducive to attracting entrepreneurs.

Third, as a physician, I’d seek out ways to improve health care availability and affordability in Wisconsin, without reducing the quality of care our citizens receive. I’d start by working with stakeholders to find efficiencies in the health care system, which will help reduce costs in the long run. I would also take a strong role in reviewing and enhancing the physician training and recruitment systems in our state, finding ways to encourage our medical students to stay in-state while also drawing in medical professionals from out-of-state, as we are in desperate need of health care workers throughout our systems.

Assembly District 39

Name: Chris Gordon (Democrat)

Age: 69

Highest level of education: Master’s degree

Political or elected office experience: Active member of Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Democratic Party of Marquette County, Environmental Caucus, Rural Caucus, Progressive Caucus.

What would be your top three priorities if elected? My top three priorities are all related to my commitment to best serve and advocate for rural Wisconsin. These priorities are:

• Healthy communities
• Healthy resources
• Healthy change

I will collaborate with all stakeholders for solutions to problems facing Wisconsin people and Wisconsin places. Applying experience and leadership, I will bring people together for the development of a model of school funding to ensure that every student has access to a world-class education regardless of ZIP code.

With a promise to our children and grandchildren, I will work with residents and economic partners to ensure that science, legislation, regulation and enforcement are elements of success for protecting our surface and groundwater.

I will also work for full implementation of Wisconsin’s Clean Energy Plan. I will work for the acceptance of federal Medicaid expansion resources that will provide significant benefit to rural Wisconsinites.

I am dedicated to the people and places of the 39th Assembly District. I am fully invested to bring energy, knowledge, experience, skills and faith to serve rural Wisconsin as a collaborator, spokesperson, advocate and leader for positive change.

Assembly District 53

Name: Duane J. Shukoski (Democrat)

Age: 63

Highest level of education: BBA in operations management

Political or elected office experience: Board of directors at Badger Globe Credit Union

What would be your top three priorities if elected? Every Wisconsinite deserves the freedom to make their own decisions regarding their reproductive health care. Anyone who needs an abortion should be able to access one safely, legally and free of interference from politicians. I will never vote to get in between patients and health care providers.

Every Wisconsinite deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care and medication. We need to build a healthier state for everyone with proposals to expand BadgerCare, lower prescription drug costs and protect access to care. Health care is a right — every Wisconsinite deserves access to affordable, accessible, quality health care. Medicaid expansion will lead to better health outcomes across Wisconsin, build financial security for low-income Wisconsinites and improve our state’s fiscal outlook.

Schools need fiscal certainty with built-in adjustments for rising costs. Increases in revenue limits, state aid and categorical aids including special education, English Language Learner and should closely reflect the cost of operations. I am committed to providing every kid with a world-class education at their local public school. Our public schools are at the heart of our communities. We have to make sure our K-12 schools have the resources they need to thrive.

Assembly District 54

Name: Lori Palmeri (Democrat)

Age: 57

Highest level of education: Master’s degree in urban planning

Political or elected office experience: 54th Assembly representative, Oshkosh mayor

What would be your top three priorities if elected? My top priorities when re-elected will be access to affordable housing, health care, strong public education and a clean environment.

Assembly District 55

Name: Kyle Kehoe (Democrat)

Age: 39

Highest level of education: Associate degree in criminal justice

Political or elected office experience: Planning and Zoning, Town of Algoma

What would be your top three priorities if elected? As a candidate for Wisconsin's 55th Assembly District, I'm focused on three key issues that matter to all of us. With more than 10 years of experience in real estate and a background in law enforcement, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges people face when it comes to housing and community needs.

First, I’m all about tackling affordable housing. As housing prices continue to climb, I’m pushing for smarter investments in infrastructure and development to bring down costs and make housing more affordable for everyone.

Second, I’m committed to protecting women’s reproductive rights. I strongly believe women should have the right to make their own health care decisions, and I’ll fight to ensure access to safe and affordable reproductive care in Wisconsin.

Finally, education is a huge priority for me. I’m pushing for better funding for K-12 schools and want to see early childhood education expanded. Every kid, no matter where they live, deserves a good education, and we need to make sure special education programs are fully funded, too.

Assembly District 57

Name: Ruth Caves (Democrat)

Age: 73

Highest level of education: Master's of science

Political or elected office experience: Waushara County Democrats chairperson

What would be your top three priorities if elected? I would support health care for all, including women's reproductive rights.

I would revoke Act 10. I would support public education, including increasing special education funding for public schools and eliminating vouchers for private schools.

Name: Dylan Testin (Independent)

Age: 29

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s degree

Political or elected office experience: None

What would be your top three priorities if elected? I would fight to lower the cost of living and reducing the current tax burden on Wisconsin citizens.

The cost of living has become absurd and out of control. We are currently taxed on virtually every action of living. This is not sustainable. Lowering income taxes and property taxes should be a priority for every single representative. Individual income taxes are responsible for 50% of the U.S. revenue, whereas corporate income taxes are only responsible for 10%.

I would protect our constitutional rights and preventing government overreach. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are working their hardest to take power away from the people and make sure it stays in the hands of the corrupt and crooked. Whether it be the First, Second or any other amendment in the Constitution, or our rights to privacy, the government is squeezing as much as they can out of normal people.

I would ensure our water supply and natural resources are always protected. Whether it be from PFAS contamination or the purchase of land by foreign countries, our land should always be our land and protected from any harmful actors.

Register of Deeds

Name: Christopher G. Larson (Democrat)

Age: 53

Highest level of education: Bachelor’s degree

Political or elected office experience: None

What would be your top three priorities if elected? I would have a meeting with the office staff to discuss everyone’s understanding of the mission of the Register of Deeds office. What is currently done to fulfill our obligation to the community and how we could do it better or more efficiently. Have discussions with staff one-on-one about what they enjoy about their jobs and what concerns they have. What suggestions do they have that would both enhance our service to the community and make their job more meaningful?

I would visit partner businesses such as title companies, surveyors and funeral homes to get a better sense of their in-office procedures and workflow. This will allow me to better understand processes from the submitter side of things such as electronic document recording and vital record entry through the Wisconsin State Vital Records system.

I would maintain a high level of awareness of property fraud. Ensure staff is promoting property fraud alert service. Communicate with counties that have experienced instances of property fraud to understand how fraud is likely to occur. Attend any available workshops and conferences addressing this issue to help minimize the threat to Winnebago County property owners.

Name: Susan M. Snyder (Republican)

Age: 59

Highest level of education: Bachelor's degree

Political or elected office experience: Town of Black Wolf town clerk

What would be your top three priorities if elected?

• Safeguard deeds and vital records.

Public records hold valuable information that, if compromised, can cause upset personal lives and cost government dearly. I will safeguard Winnebago County deeds and vital records with consistent focus, systematic review and the best possible technological monitoring.

• Relationships and customer service

Create and maintain an office environment that delivers cohesive, engaged, informed, top-notch customer service. Employee teamwork, training, recognition and empowerment also bring quality customer experience. A well-run records office strengthens service and community.

• Continuous quality improvement and transparency

As town clerk, I am a trained, experienced manager of Wisconsin government office operations, overseeing fair and secure elections, managing a fiscally responsible budget, processing taxes and more. I understand and incorporate best practices and have a solid track record of honest, respectful, clear, efficient management.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Winnebago County voter guide: See what candidates say are their top 3 priorities as the Nov. 5 election nears