COUNTY BOARD CANDIDATE DATA SHEET

 

NAME: Jim Bloedorn

 

ADDRESS: 314 Ninth Street South, La Crosse

 

PHONE NUMBER: 796-2331

 

E-MAIL: jbloedorn@centurytel.net

 

AGE: 65

 

NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN LA CROSSE COUNTY: My grandparents met in La Crosse, married and raised their family here. My parents settled here after college. I was born and raised in La Crosse. I was gone for a time while in the military and lived for a time in Madison, but most of my life has been in La Crosse County.

 

FAMILY:    Married (Carol Petrowski), 2 daughters, two grand children.

  

EDUCATION:     Three Associate Degrees (computer related) from Western Technical College.

 

OCCUPATION (if retired, former occupation): Network and computer system support, Saint Mary’s University of MN (Winona). Retiring  February 29th 2008.

 

ELECTED OFFICES HELD (include years served): Seventh District City Council, elected in April 2005.

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Saint Joseph the Workman Cathedral

Washburn Neighborhood Association (Chair 2002 – 2003),

Life memberships in VFW, American Legion and Disabled American Veterans.

Member of Experimental Aircraft Association and active in the Young Eagles program providing airplane rides to area youth.

Board of Directors, Luxembourg/American Descendants Society

 

La Crosse County Board Candidate Questionnaire

 

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

As 7th District La Crosse City Council Member, I have fought vigorously for improvements previously ignored, including crosswalks and improvement of our sadly inadequate storm sewers. As a County Board member I will be an even stronger voice in making our district and all of La Crosse County a better place to live. My goals are to see La Crosse County grow and prosper, listening to and representing all residents in a fiscally responsible manner.

 

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

The two biggest issues facing County government in La Crosse are: First, the extreme jail costs, not just this phase but the total cost when all phases are completed as well as the Board possibly violating its own ordinance.  Second, there needs to be much more intergovernmental cooperation throughout the county and I will work diligently on that issue after I am elected.

 

The next several questions will ask your feelings about past and future actions by the county board. Please answer by putting an “X” next to the statement that most closely reflects your view. Then, please explain your reasons in writing

 

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

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: Please notice I have not selected any of the above. I do not believe that half, or any other percentage, can be arbitrarily selected at this point. The next census will be taken in 2010 and delivered in 2011. After that, we should reduce the size of the board in a manner consistent with providing equitable and logical representation throughout the county. The districts need to be sized in such a way as to be uniform with the city and other municipalities so as to not confuse voters as to which district they reside in at election time and eliminate multiple, confusing ballots at each polling place.

 

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?

 

Very satisfied

Satisfied

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

 

Reason: The information that has been provided to the public and the Board has been sometimes insufficient to understand all that has happened behind closed doors. I believe that there has been less transparency in the County Government and therefore less control by both the County Board and the voters since the switch has been made.

 

3. How satisfied are you with the county administrator's new four-year contract?

 

Very satisfied

Satisfied

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied      X

 

Reason: The average income for La Crosse County wage earners is 87% of the state average. Based on that, it would seem very fiscally irresponsible to pay our administrator 150% of the state average for similar positions, especially since his salary and benefit package is higher than all other Wisconsin county administrators, even those in much larger counties.

 

 4. How satisfied are you with the proposed “smart growth” comprehensive plan scheduled for county board approval in coming months?

 

Very satisfied

Satisfied

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

 

Reason: Since the plan is not yet in final draft, it is premature to comment on whether I am satisfied. Wedgewood Valley, however, would not have been developed under this plan. This leads me to believe that more work is needed on the plan.

 

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

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: I believe that there is always a need for public input with regard to how their tax dollars are spent. I do not believe that every capital expenditure requires a referendum. Perhaps a reasonable approach would be a ceiling. A referendum could then be required over that ceiling.

 

6. Do you support or oppose La Crosse County being the main developer of its vacant Lakeview Farm property in West Salem?

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: It would seem that any development of that area needs to be compatible with the health care facility. I believe that the County has been working on the planning for this property for approximately twenty years. Based on that effort, I would expect that a workable development plan can be close to fruition with the County as the main developer.

 

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?

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: I believe that alternatives to jail for those who do not present a danger to other citizens is appropriate. Our top priority, however, is to protect the community. The next priority is to reduce recidivism.

 

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

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason:  Generally I support it. There are several considerations, however. Both our healthy bond rating and sufficient reserves must be maintained.

 

 

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?

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: I don’t believe that “cap” would affect La Crosse County. The county does not currently hit that percentage because of other revenue sources such as sales tax.

 

 

10. Do you support or oppose the county's plans for a $29.5 million jail expansion?

 

Strongly Support

Support

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason: Although overcrowding has been cited as a reason for the jail expansion, I believe that we won’t stop at the $29.5 million figure. I rather expect that the true numbers will be the total cost proposed of close to $60 million rather than this first phase. I believe anything this large should certainly be on a referendum rather than simply done by the board.