County Board Candidate 

 

 

Andrea Richmond

 

1312 Cunningham St.

La Crosse, WI   54603

608-781-4174

 

December 7, 1945

 

Lived in La Crosse County – 40 Years

 

Family – Husband Jack, son Mike and daughter-in law Rita, two grandsons, Ryan and Riley and step-granddaughter Heather

 

Graduate of D.C.Everest High School- Schofield, WI

 

Retired – Purchasing Agent - LaCrosse Footwear Inc.

 

Elected Offices Held

 

·        County Board Supervisor – 4 years

·        La Crosse City Council – 8 years

 

 

Community Membership

      

Past Member of Boys and Girls Club

         Past Member of Board of Directors of Oktoberfest

 

 

 

 

A.   Why do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board?

 

   I enjoy the opportunity to serve in public service, and my committment to provide the experience and voice in resolving tax payer issues and resolve to hold the line on tax increases.

 

B.      What are the two most pressing issues facing La Crosse County and what do you think should be done about them?

 

The number one issue is taxes, with the rising cost of taxation on the local and state level, we need to look for ways to reduce not add , we talk about it, but nothing seems to get done about combining services, for example, a county wide assessor would at least have fairness in assessments.

Number two issue, continue to develop new business revenue sources, and completing the development of Park Plaza site in 2008.

 

1.    Do you support or oppose reducing the size of the county board by half?

The 2010 census results will dictate how we will reduce or increase our size of the board and the same for the city of La Crosse.

 

2.    With the switch to a county administrator four years ago, how satisfied are you with the county board’s new role as a board of directors that makes policy decisions rather than operational decisions?

 

Satisfied at the present time, but communication is the key, to all good business.

 

 

3.    How satisfied are you with the county administrator’s new contract?

Satisfied with the contract itself, although I feel for our area the salary should have been lower and more in line with other Wisconsin administrators.

 

4.    How satisfied are you with the proposed “smart growth” comprehensive plan?

Satisfied at this time.

 

5.    Do you support or oppose having the county board hold     a referendum before borrowing money for buildings or other capital projects?

It would certainly depend on the amount of money spent and what the project is. If there is money in surplus and in the undesignated funds it certainly should be up to the board to make that decision.

   

6.    Do you support or oppose La Crosse County being the

main developer of its vacant Lakeview Farm property in West Salem?

 

I am in full support if we can fulfill the needs of the community.

 

     7.  Do you support or oppose La Crosse County’s criminal justice philosophy, which includes finding alternatives to jail for offenders who are not a danger to the community?

         I support the plan, but with caution, we need to be absolutely sure they are not a danger to the community before they are released.

 

    

 

8.    Do you support or oppose spending more of the county’s budget reserves to reduce the property tax levy?

I support using a portion of the sales tax reserves to help off set any increases in the property tax levy.

 

9.    Do you support or oppose the state of Wisconsin’s use of a “property tax cap” which limits La Crosse County’s ability to raise property taxes by 2 percent or the percentage of new construction growth, in 2009?

I support the cap, we need to continually look for other alternatives instead of increasing our taxes. We talk about collaboration and need to strive for efficient means of streamlining government.

 

 

       10. Do you support or oppose the county’s plan for a 29.5        million jail expansion?

I supported this expansion plan and look forward to see the completion in 2009 to address the special program needs.