Wausau-Area Incumbent Lawmakers Face Grassroots Challenges

Representatives from two adjacent central Wisconsin Assembly districts that are linked by geography, history and economics each face a challenge from a candidate waging a grassroots campaign.

Wausau’s 85th Assembly District is represented by a Democrat, Mandy Wright. She blames Wisconsin’s lagging job growth on the Walker administration, among other things.

“We spent the money that was projected as a surplus before it even came in the door. And that’s never responsible. That’s not what families do and it’s not what our government should have done,” said Wright.

Wright is facing a grassroots challenge from Republican Dave Heaton, who says government is not the answer.

“Small businesses get hit harder with regulatory burdens,” said Heaton. “There’s things we can do right now to streamline the regulatory process. There’s things we can do to help small businesses. Certainly we need to keep our taxes lower and be more competitive with other states.”

The 86th District stretches from the Wausau city boundaries to Marshfield. Incumbent Republican John Spiros said his party has done positive things since taking power.

“The unemployment rate is now the lowest since 2008,” said Spiros. “If you look at what we did from turning around a deficit to a positive, it’s impressive. So when you look at things, I’m looking at it from the standpoint that Wisconsin is going forward.”

Not so, said Spiro’s opponent, Democrat Nancy Stencil, who is also running a grassroots campaign.

“To make money, you need to spend money, and raising the minimum wage in itself is a job creator. People need a living wage. There is no reason on the face of this earth that people should be out there working 40 hours a week and still have to rely on food stamps,” said Stencil.

The candidates made their comments at a Wisconsin Public Radio sponsored debate in Wausau.