By Press Times Staff
BROWN COUNTY – After first being elected in 2014, Republican incumbent David Steffen now faces Democartic challenger Kathy Hinkuss to represent the 4th Assembly District.
Steffen, a graduate of Ashwaubenon High School, has previously served eight years on the Howard village board and the Brown County board of supervisors.
Hinkfuss, a West De Pere High School graduate, served as vice president of national service operations for Humana, and eventually was CEO of YMCA Greater Green Bay.
The Press Times emailed each candidate the same questions and gave them 100 words to respond to each.
The 4th Assembly District includes parts of Howard, Green Bay, Ashwaubenon and De Pere.
David Steffen
What’s the biggest issue in District 4?
COVID-19 and its impact on our families, jobs, economy and our schools is unquestionably the biggest issue.
However, while addressing the impact of COVID-19 is at the top of the list, elections are about choices.
I’ve worked hard as your representative to lower your tax burden and make smart investments in education and growing our local economy.
My opponent, Kathy Hinkfuss, is supported by liberal Madison special interest groups who want to raise taxes and defund police.
She has called for tax increases and believes there should be no restrictions on abortions.
I disagree and have a different approach.
What should be done on the state level to handle the COVID-19 pandemic?
COVID-19 has taken so much from all of us.
We need to put partisan politics aside and work collectively to stop its spread while at the same time protecting jobs and our economy, and getting kids back in school.
There are no easy answers.
It starts with everyone wearing masks (with or without a mandate).
Gov. Evers should accelerate the distribution of CARES Act funding (over $1 billion) to nursing homes, hospitals and schools.
He has full authority over these federal funds.
Finally, when we exit this crisis next year, we need to address the financial devastation it has caused.
How should state lawmakers regulate the use of force by police? Should uniform standards be implemented statewide?
First off, I want to be clear that I support our police officers.
They risk their lives every day to keep us safe.
It’s not fair to attribute the despicable actions of a few to all officers.
That said, there are ways we can support law enforcement while also bringing some needed reforms.
I authored legislation to increase police diversity.
I am also co-authoring new legislation that increases use-of-force training and requires independent, transparent misconduct investigations.
My opponent has instead supported the radical liberal notion of “re-aligning” (i.e. defunding) police that will leave us all less safe.
What changes should be made to the state funding formula for public school districts to place less of a burden on property taxpayers and to avoid referendums?
This session, I helped to successfully change the funding formula for low-revenue schools that negatively impacts many districts in our area.
This dramatic reform has been applauded around the state, especially the Howard-Suamico School District.
I also helped pass a budget that put a record amount of state dollars into education – which is the most important investment we can make.
Property taxes are too high already. I don’t support eliminating the options of referendums, which give citizens a direct say in spending and tax decisions.
How should lawmakers in Wisconsin work better together with less partisanship?
While bipartisanship is sadly uncommon in politics, it’s been the hallmark of my legislative career.
I’ve found pathways to principled compromise without compromising my principles.
Over 90 percent of the legislation I authored has been bipartisan – a political rarity.
This takes more effort, respect and openness than the alternative, but it delivers greater results for you.
Without bipartisanship, I wouldn’t have been able to deliver successes involving health care affordability and access, disability employment, the $17.7 million Lambeau Field sales tax refund, Titletown District, lead pipe replacement, criminal justice reform or the forthcoming downtown coal pile relocation project.
Kathy Hinkfuss
What’s the biggest issue in District 4?
Lack of response from our government regarding COVID-19.
I’ve spent a lot of time talking to my neighbors in District 4, and everyone is concerned about the pandemic.
Unfortunately, we’re not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.
In fact, Wisconsin is seeing a rise in cases.
But, instead of helping, the Republicans in power spend their time filing lawsuits on our dime.
That’s ridiculous.
We need real leadership to tackle COVID-19.
The sooner we address this crisis, the sooner we can get our kids back in school and our businesses back to full capacity.
What should be done on the state level to handle the COVID-19 pandemic?
To begin with, our Legislature needs to show up to work.
According to Politifact, Wisconsin’s Legislature has been among the least active in the entire nation since the pandemic began.
They have done nothing to address the situation and haven’t met since mid-April.
COVID-19 is a serious illness, and we need our leadership to address it like the crisis it is.
State government must help administer larger-scale testing, data collection and contact tracing.
We should listen to the experts and follow the science.
We can get this done with a Legislature that shows up and takes COVID-19 seriously.
How should state lawmakers regulate the use of force by police? Should uniform standards be implemented statewide?
In some aspects, policing is local.
However, best practices based on positive measurable results should be evaluated for statewide implementation.
Our communities, police and other experts can work cooperatively to determine these best practices and create a cohesive statewide plan.
Cooperation among our leadership will be critical, and we need to be sure we’re providing funding for any plan put in place. I don’t support defunding the police.
In fact, I support our law enforcement agencies and have seen first-hand their hard work to establish consistent standards of policing.
When the best practices are in place, they protect everyone.
What changes should be made to the state funding formula for public school districts to place less of a burden on property taxpayers and to avoid referendums?
In 2012, state aid to public schools was cut by more than $400 million, a terrible blow to our education system.
Since then, our teachers and educators have been playing catch-up – working harder with less resources.
Wisconsin ranked just 49th in the nation on per-pupil spending increase from 2011 to 2018.
We need to develop a plan to go back to the two-thirds funding method at the same time setting a per-pupil guaranteed amount for each student.
As a state we cannot continue to increase property taxes to offset decreases in state revenue.
How should lawmakers in Wisconsin work better together with less partisanship?
To make progress, we have to take the “Republican” and “Democrat” out of the equation.
We need to be focused on what’s important: the well-being and safety of our communities.
This is how I will operate as a state representative.
Another action we can take is to implement fair district maps.
Right now Wisconsin’s legislative districts are extremely gerrymandered, depriving the citizens of their right to fairly choose their representatives.
We can fix this with a fair and nonpartisan redistricting process that still respects the constitutional duty of the
Legislature to pass the final legislative and congressional maps.