A View of the Valley

by Linda Schwanke I’ve now heard back from most, but not all, the local candidates running for trustee in the villages of the Valley. One candidate called me and it turned out my email went to his spam folder so he hadn’t seen it. If you’re a candidate and didn’t get a letter or email, and want to let people know what you think about being a trustee, give me a call and I’ll send them again right away. Better yet, here are the questions I asked this year: -Please provide a brief biography including information which you feel qualifies you for this office as well as why you are interested in local government. -How do you define the role of village trustee and what do you see as your primary responsibility to those who elect you? -What is your community currently doing right and what areas do you feel need improvement? -What do you see as the most pressing issues facing the village and what solutions do you propose to solve them? -Please give your opinion about the role of local government regarding the environment and public services. -What is your vision for the village in the coming years? If you’re a candidate for trustee in one of the villages in the Valley, take a few minutes to answer them so we – the voters, your constituents – know what you think. School board candidate questions this year are: -Please provide a brief biography including information which you feel qualifies you for this office as well as why you are interested in local government. -How do you define your role on the school board and what do you see as your primary responsibility to those who elect you? -What lessons have been learned because of the pandemic and how will that translate into action for the future? -What do you envision as major changes that will take place in the district in the next five years? -What are the most critical issues facing the residents of the school district and how do you propose to respond to them? -What do you believe are the most important values to keep schools healthy and safe? Each spring I send out questions to all our local candidates. I try, each year, to mold the questions just a little differently from previous years. I go back in my files to see if there are questions I haven’t asked in a while, I pay attention to local government and I read other newspapers to come up with questions I think we all need answers to. But if you have a question you’d like to see asked, let me know. I’d love to have your input.   On even years, there are three trustee seats up for election in our villages of Arena, Lone Rock, Plain and Spring Green. On odd years, three other trustee seats plus village president come up for election in the villages. As well, all the township offices of chair, supervisor, clerk and treasurer are voted on in the spring. There are judge positions and county elections to throw in there, too. Local referendums are on spring ballots, like the one the River Valley School District has on the April 5 ballot.  Referendums for school districts have become common in Wisconsin as the state funding formula hasn’t kept up with the times. It’s a tough situation. The economy is recovering but inflation is up and that effects all school districts including ours. When you are deciding whether to support it or not, keep in mind that the education our children get today will impact our world for all our tomorrows. If kids don’t learn all the things that schools teach, they won’t have the tools they need to survive in an increasingly complex world.  Stay in touch. My phone number is (608) 574-3159 – call or text me anytime. You can also email me at homenewseditor@newspubinc.com or write to me at the Home News, P.O. Box 39, Spring Green WI 53588.