Senate Candidates Promise Local Jobs

Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate candidates touted the importance of job creation at the Wisconsin Counties Association’s annual conference Monday in La Crosse.

Although vying for a seat at the federal level, Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Tommy Thompson say they will create jobs in Wisconsin. Both candidates are former county board members. They told a roomful of current supervisors that if elected to Washington, they will work with leaders at the county level.

Congresswoman Baldwin stressed improving manufacturing across the state. “We must invest in ‘Made in Wisconsin’ economy. And when we do, we’ll create jobs and an economy built to last, where both the middle class and business benefit from the shared prosperity.”

Former governor Thompson highlighted his six years with La Crosse-based Logistics Health Incorporated, where he formerly served as president and chair. “I was the 125th employee, and when I left and we sold to United Health Care, we had 950 employees. Over 700 individuals in La Crosse-area hired, by LHI.”

Tara Johnson is the La Crosse County Board Chair, and introduced Baldwin before her speech. She says the federal government needs to share responsibilities with local and state governments when it comes to creating jobs. “So if the federal government is setting a tone or passing laws that make it difficult for us at the local level, no matter what we try to do, it’s not going to happen.”

Johnson says job creation is challenging, so all levels of government have to work collectively.