By Press Times Staff

BROWN COUNTY – The Aug. 11 Democratic primary for State Senate District 30 will see two newcomers, Jonathon Hansen and Sandra Ewald, vie for a spot on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

The seat is being vacated by Sen. Dave Hansen, who will retire after holding it since 2000.

Jonathan is Dave’s nephew and has served on the De Pere Common Council since 2017.

He also served as his uncle’s campaign manager in 2016, and has been a legislative aide in the state capitol.

Most recently, Ewald was the president for the north region of Aurora Health Care, overseeing the operations of all clinics and hospitals in Northeast Wisconsin, including the Green Bay, Marinette and Manitowoc areas.

The Press Times emailed each candidate the same questions and gave them 100 words to respond to each.

District 30 covers parts of east De Pere, Ledgeview, Bellevue, Green Bay, Howard, Suamico and up to Marinette.

The winner will go on to face Republican Eric Wimberger Nov. 3.

Jonathon Hansen

Why are you running to represent District 30?

I am running to be a voice for those who are too often ignored in our politics.

I come from a working-class background, and, if elected, I will work tirelessly to represent all the hardworking residents of the district, not just the well-connected.

I am also proud of my record of accomplishments as an alderman on the De Pere Common Council, and believe that Madison could use more of how local government operates, with its focus on pragmatic solutions and addressing issues in nonpartisan ways.

I will bring that to Madison if I am elected.

Jonathon Hansen

How should the state fund public schools while dealing with the pandemic?

In school districts that move forward with some form of in-person learning, we should be investing in sending personal protective equipment to schools to ensure the safety of our students and teachers.

For school districts that elect to rely primarily on virtual learning, the state also needs to provide them the resources they need to be successful, particularly in terms of technological upgrades that may be needed.

This includes expanding broadband access to rural areas to ensure that students in every part of the state can receive the same learning opportunities.

Were the Safer at Home orders a good thing to come from the Evers’ administration? Why or why not?

Yes, the Safer at Home order helped flatten the curve while it was in effect, and since it was struck down, the Legislature has abdicated its responsibility to provide consistent guidelines to citizens and businesses.

Small businesses have been impacted by the lack of leadership at the state level, and this has forced local governments to fill the void.

As alderman, I pushed for the creation of a small business pandemic relief loan program, which has provided over 50 businesses in De Pere with a 0-percent, payment-deferred loan.

We need to extend these types of programs to the state level.

What’s the best way to encourage voter participation with people concerned about COVID-19?

I strongly encourage people to request absentee ballots if they do not feel comfortable going to the polls on Election Day.

The process is fairly simple and allows voters to still participate without risking their health.

For the Aug. 11 primary, absentee ballots can be requested through Aug. 6.

For people who do go to the polls on Election Day, I urge them to adhere to the CDC recommendations on social distancing and wearing a mask.

What is the best thing you can say about your primary opponent?

From prior experience, I know firsthand how challenging it is to run for public office, and I respect anyone who is willing to put themselves forward as a candidate.

I appreciate Ms. Ewald’s willingness to serve the community, especially during these difficult times.

Sandra Ewald

Why are you running to represent District 30?

I am concerned about the direction our state/country are heading.

We need dedicated individuals of high integrity to work tirelessly to end extreme partisanship and collaborate to solve the challenges Wisconsin faces.

I will be this person if you vote for me.

My 20-plus years as a senior executive in a large health care system have prepared me well to be a state senator.

My financial, analytical and persuasion skills will be valuable to the state government.

My top areas of focus include affordable access to health care, rebuilding our economy post-COVID-19, improved support for public education and addressing climate change.

Sandra Ewald

How should the state fund public schools while dealing with the pandemic?

Ideally, Wisconsin will receive significant dollars for public schools in the next federal package.

Given our budget is already facing revenue shortfalls, it’s unlikely we could redirect substantial funds from other programs into public education.

Absent federal aid to fund safe classroom instruction, virtual classrooms will likely have to be the norm for the fall 2020 semester.

If this is the case, some existing budget funds should be directed toward ensuring all students have the tools necessary to succeed in that model.

If schools are able to use a hybrid approach, at-risk children should be prioritized for classroom instruction.

Were the Safer at Home orders a good thing to come from the Evers administration. Why or why not?

Yes. Given the uncertainty around how the virus spread and the overwhelmed health systems in New York City, it was prudent to act to protect the citizens of Wisconsin.

People before profit is one of my core values.

What’s the best way to encourage voter participation with people concerned about COVID-19?

An easy absentee voting process that is highly publicized through various means such as media, churches and social networking sites like Facebook would be ideal.

For those who are concerned with using the post office, maximizing the length and hours of early in-person voting and utilizing scheduling to prevent clusters of people on-site would be a second strong alternative.

What is the best thing you can say about your primary opponent?

Jonathon Hansen is well spoken and sincere. He is well-liked and understands the state Democratic establishment.