COUNTY BOARD CANDIDATE DATA SHEET

NAME: Jacie Gamroth

ADDRESS: 503 14th Street N, La Crosse, WI 54601

PHONE NUMBER: 608-386-5698

AGE: 21

NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN LA CROSSE COUNTY: 18.5 years

FAMILY: Mother-Tammy Gamroth, Father-Tim Gamroth, Sister-Mallorie Gran

EDUCATION: 3rd Year student at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; Undergraduate in progress; Majoring in both Public Administration and Political Science with a Minor in Spanish

OCCUPATION (if retired, former occupation): Student at UW-L, District 5 Common Council Alderwoman and District 5 County Board Supervisor

ELECTED OFFICES HELD (include years served):

District 5 La Crosse County Board - 2.5 years

District 5 La Crosse Common Council - 1.5 years

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS:

UW-L Asian Latina African Native American Women of Color Student Organization (ALANA)

UW-L Native American Student Association

UW-L Vanguard (Tour Guide)

UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow's Community Council

NAACP - La Crosse Chapter

La Crosse County Board Candidate Questionnaire

A. Why do you want to serve on the La Crosse County Board? (Please limit this answer to 75 words so it will fit into a standard format.)

Living in La Crosse County for nearly my entire life and being a third-year student at UW-L, I have experiences as both a permanent resident and undergraduate. Serving on the County Board and Common Council, I also bring unity among the local government entities. Collaborative efforts on economic sustainability is just one of many issues both entities came together in 2007. I want to continue this collaboration and representation on the La Crosse County Board.

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?

1. Affordable Government for homeowners and renters alike. The main issue is lowering property taxes, whereas, a portion of my constituency owns their own homes and try to maintain high property values. Renters are affected just as well by property taxes through rental payments.

2. Collaboration among local government entities, and statewide. As we face the task of economic sustainability, the rising cost of healthcare, and generations graduating from college looking for jobs, we need to find the strength in numbers to come up with innovative programs and resources to efficiently provide services.

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 - X

Strongly Oppose

Reason: I oppose this for the simplicity of the statement. This statement does not specify when and how it would affect the wage of the Supervisors and when and how it will be achieved. 35 members cannot be mathematically cut in half, but if it were proportionally reduced, it would be best to wait until the 2010 census. This would ensure equal districts. The concern about doing it now, is losing important representation that is found in a larger, more diverse board. I would be concerned about losing the student voice. It is also proven that larger boards have lower taxes.

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 - X

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

Reason: For the terms that I have been on the County Board, I have found county board proceedings focusing on just policy rather than administration, to be more efficient. Having administration organized through a hired professional allows more time for Supervisors to connect with the public and deal with the politics. As a Public Administration major, I appreciate when government takes the opportunities to work as professionally as possible.

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

Very satisfied

Satisfied - X

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

Reason: Again, I appreciate the work of Public Administrators in general. Steve O'Malley has done a good job in organizing the County's budget. In 2007, he saved La Crosse County over $750,000 through the Lakeview Consortium. Those savings alone, easily out weigh his salary. Now, to keep an administrator that works that hard demands competitive wages and an appreciation for their work.

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

Very satisfied

Satisfied - X

No opinion

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

Reason: The plan is a forward-thinking and pro-active plan that considers the future of land use. Developments may start in a township or a village, however, if may sprawl to a school district and may need increased services. This plan considers the possibilities of other parties getting involved and finding ways to solve problems before they occur.

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 - X

Strongly Oppose

Reason: Currently, school districts are required to hold referendums for borrowing money and for capital projects. For La Crosse County, there are 35 supervisors, and many department heads that have input on borrowing money for buildings or other capital projects. This large number of people creates dialogue, that yes, includes conflicting arguments, and it is through these discussions that La Crosse County has been able to be the 3rd lowest taxing county in the state of Wisconsin in 2007. The public has to have faith in their representatives that they are doing what will benefit the entire county, and the county must listen to the demands of the citizens, but a referendum is not needed when there are many other channels of communication.

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 - X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason: I support La Crosse County being the main developer of its vacant Lakeview Farm property for several reasons. One is that it is county property, and secondly, the development of the property considers the future of its land use by creating more jobs and increasing the tax base.

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 - X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason: An overcrowding jail it costs the county more money, puts more responsibility on the jailers and jail employees, and the numbers only continue to increase. By taking those that are not a danger to the public outside of the jail, it saves the county money and provides more opportunities for those on Justice Sanctions to start getting their life back on track faster. This is a philosophy that is now leading other counties.

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

Strongly Support

Support - X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason: I support reducing the tax levy, but I still would be cognizant of the purpose of reserves. I would not want to exhaust reserves and end up spending it all at one time. There is no need to follow in the foot steps of the state and federal government when it comes to spending reserves, and I would mention that the reserves held do increase bond ratings.

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 - X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason: By limiting the County's ability to raise property taxes by 2%, it is the people that receive public services and the people that work for the county, that are the ones limited. Again, no one is in favor of raising property taxes, but we have to think of the benefits to those we are helping when we work together.

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

Strongly Support

Support - X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason: I support it because I voted for it, but so did the other 34 members of the La Crosse County Board. We must face the fact that jails are growing and overpopulating statewide. There is a new population that jails are taking in, and that is the mentally ill. If a person needs medical attention for a mental illness, but needs to be in a jail setting, someone has to step up to the plate, and this time it is the County. I also support the project for the programs that will be instituted. People incarcerated need not just sit in jail, but rather have the opportunities to become educated and active in their community. There was also no raise in taxes for residents in the county from this project.