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Nygren faces Rich in incumbent’s first primary since 2006

By Press Times Staff


NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – The Republican primary for the 89th Assembly District Aug. 11 features long-time incumbent John Nygren and political newcomer Andi Rich.

Nygren was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 and currently serves as the chair of the Committee of Finance and co-chair of the Joint Committee of Finance.

This is Nygren’s first primary since 2006, which he narrowly won by 37 votes.

Rich has run her own construction company and recently shifted to insurance adjusting.

Rich has said she is focused on ending corruption, spending tax dollars wisely, and protecting the environment.

The 89th Assembly district includes the third largest known PFAS contamination site in the nation and the worst contamination site in the state.

The surrounding area is subject to high cancer rates and types of cancers that have been directly linked to PFAS exposure.

The 89th District stretches from Marinette to parts of Howard and Suamico.

The primary winner will go on to face Democrat Karl Jaeger in the Nov. 3 general election.

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

John Nygren

Why are you running to represent District 89?

Wisconsin has seen significant growth and prosperity over the last eight years.

The tax burden is the lowest it has been in 50 years, state finances are the strongest in a generation and funding for public schools is at an all-time high.

The pandemic will create a more difficult landscape for the state.

I believe my experience guiding the state’s finances over the last eight years will be needed as we deal with the effects of the pandemic on the state’s finances and economy.

John Nygren

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

State funding for public schools has increased every year since 2012.

Investments in technology and expanding access to broadband internet will also be important as schools utilize virtual education to minimize risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Last year the Legislature increased funding for broadband expansion grants by $44 million.

In 2017, I helped create a program to help schools purchase tablets and other computing devices for students.

School districts reported that this program provided more equitable access to high quality education.

In the next budget, we should prioritize additional investments in similar programs so that no students are left behind.

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

I believe Gov. Tony Evers should have done more to work with the Legislature and Republicans to craft a plan that was constitutional and better fit Wisconsin’s different regions.

While Milwaukee or Dane counties had high concentrations of cases, more rural counties, like counties in the 89th Assembly District, had low rates of cases.

Unfortunately, Evers’ orders did not take into account the differences between regions of the state.

A regional approach would have provided necessary protections while not being unnecessarily hard on other parts of the state.

This would have also lessened the negative economic impacts of his orders.

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

Wisconsin’s early and absentee voting laws make voting absentee or early easy and convenient.

Voters concerned about COVID-19 should take advantage of these opportunities.

Voters may visit myvote.wi.gov to learn more information about early voting or to request an absentee ballot.

Local clerks and poll workers are also working hard to ensure poll locations are clean and safe for voters who choose to vote in person.

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

Andi has a lot of passion and energy and cares deeply about protecting Wisconsin’s natural resources.

As the only candidate for the 89th Assembly Districts that lives on well water within the PFAS contamination zone in the Town of Peshtigo, I share her passion and concern for clean water.

That is why I worked with Democrats and Republicans to pass legislation to stop the flow of PFAS into the environment and to provide access to clean water to residents who have been impacted by PFAS contamination.

Andi Rich

Why are you running to represent District 89?

As a small business owner, I have a personal responsibility to clients to do the best job possible with their interests in mind.

District 89 needs a voice whose priorities are the people, lands and waters of this area, and not the corporate money interests from outside the district.

The incumbent no longer demonstrates a commitment to this area unless it affects his personal interests.

His refusal to hold the polluters responsible, or help move regulation of PFAS levels to adoption is negligence.

We need this area to continue to grow jobs without sacrificing the environment to the highest bidder.

Andi Rich

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

Due to the immediate increased costs of implementing safety measures, compiled with past years of underfunding, we need to protect our school budgets in their entirety.

After a summer of seeing businesses temporarily close due to employee outbreaks, we should realize the importance of safety precautions, and spare no expense to take the steps necessary to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks within the schools.

Providing a safe educational environment is paramount to protecting students, teachers and parents, who all face the potential for immediate, inconvenient and difficult effects of two-week quarantine procedures as we return to classrooms this fall.

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

While there are components of the order I would change, having a statewide strategy is the appropriate way to address this pandemic.

Nygren and the Legislature submitted the governor’s executive order to the Supreme Court to be overturned. They had no plan to replace it. This was negligence.

Other countries are having success at controlling the virus, and reopening their economies, showing us that it can be done.

We need to make necessary, difficult decisions based on science to protect customers, employees and businesses.

The longer we allow the pandemic to continue, the longer we will endure these economic hardships.

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

Our right to vote is sacred, but so is our health.

The Wisconsin primary may have contributed to the spread of the virus.

The rules need to be based on scientific data and distributed early so that voters can know and understand their options.

The primary showed us that poll worker participation was far lower than normal, and we should use these weeks leading up to the election to determine safe, creative and efficient ways to cast our ballots, as well as prepare for the challenges that come with an increase in absentee voting.

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

His refusal to work for the people of our district has encouraged me to learn more about our government.

I am grateful for that education, and hope to use it to bring the full potential of positive representation back to the 89th district.

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