Having been in office for almost four years now, I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two different kinds of legislators in Madison.
On one hand, there are folks that put the time into building relationships, studying the issues, finding ways to have an impact on policy, and are willing to vote for progress even if it means compromising when needed. The other group is satisfied by simply voting with their party or consistently voting “no.” That way when they go back to their district they don’t have to explain why they compromised, nor can they be held accountable — for anything. To be clear, these legislators exist on both sides of the aisle. It is a lot easier to be in that second group of legislators, however, I believe you deserve better. That is why I am endorsing James Bolen for State Senate.
L/R: James Bolen; Romaine Quinn
I do not believe I have attended a single meeting during my four years representing the 75th Assembly District where Senator Bewley has not had something negative to say about Wisconsin (this doesn’t include the four years she served in the Assembly before I was elected). Whether it is roads, schools, or broadband – the sky is ever-falling, according to the Senator. I agree that we need to recognize our shortcomings but complaining is not enough, nor is it an accomplishment. A question you should all be asking yourselves is what has she actually done to improve her district? I think you will find that the answer will be “not much.”
Our most recent state budget is a perfect illustration. In the 25th senate district, our schools received well over $21 million dollars in new money that can be spent in the classroom. This money was partially targeted to low-spending and sparse districts and can be used to give raises to staff, hire more staff, maintain buildings, or other issues that local school boards wish to address. Some will argue that this is still not enough but why on earth would you walk away from $21 million dollars? Unfortunately, that is exactly what Senator Bewley did.
Last year both Senator Bewley and I attended a meeting at Heart Island in Rice Lake and listened as parents and grandparents told their heartbreaking stories of the daily struggles they faced raising disabled children that need long-term care and support. Many in the room had nowhere to turn as our counties were maxed out in their ability to help. I have no doubt the Senator cares for these families but when given an opportunity to vote for a budget that eliminated the waiting list for families not only here in Barron County, but also across the state, she again voted no.
When it comes to broadband, I believe there is “broad” consensus that we need to invest more. This last budget put over $35 million in broadband-related funding to expand access to underserved Wisconsinites across the state. I do believe Senator Bewley wants better access for folks but, again, she chose to vote no. The Senator should explain her no vote to the Schauf family in Barron, the homeowners along Lake Desair near Rice Lake, or the thousands of other businesses and homes that have or will yet be connected to the internet through this funding. How long can she say she is for something when at every turn she votes against it?
The easy way out for politicians, of course, is to simply say they “fought for” something. In a recent radio ad put out by Senator Bewley, she claims she “fought for” Fab lab funding and funding for rural hospitals. But as you now probably guessed, she voted against FAB lab funding for schools and against increased payments that specifically go towards rural and other hospitals that take higher numbers of Medicaid patients. Fighting for something doesn’t mean you just take your proverbial ball and go home when you don’t get what you want. Fighting for something means you actually sit down with people you disagree with to find common ground and make progress. That’s what we need in a Senator.
James Bolen is cut from the same cloth as you and I. He’s not a complainer, he’s a doer. James knows how hard it can be to carve out a living in northern Wisconsin while raising a family and running a business. What sets James Bolen apart is that he cares just as much about the success of his community as he does his family. James Bolen is the reason we passed a bill last session to help the Town of Cable reopen the Telemark Resort. Not only did Senator Bewley pass on being the lead on the bill in the Senate, but she also did not show up in person for one of the hearings. James Bolen has already accomplished more for you and northern Wisconsin and he wasn’t even in office -- yet!
If we want to see a change in investment for our schools, roads, and other needs that we care about, we need a seat at the table in our state senate. Right now, that chair is empty, and it should be filled with James Bolen.
Vote James Bolen on November 6th.
Paid for by Quinn for Assembly
Romaine Robert Quinn is a lifelong resident of the 75th Assembly District. If you'd like to know more about Romaine and his campaign, check out his official website, facebook page, or email him directly at quinnforassembly@gmail.com.
Last Update: Nov 07, 2018 1:00 am CST
