COUNTY BOARD CANDIDATE DATA SHEET

 

NAME:   Tari Tovesn

 

ADDRESS:  3326 Leonard St., La Crosse

 

PHONE NUMBER:     608-788-7022

 

E-MAIL:    ttovsen@charter.net

 

AGE: 65

 

NUMBER OF YEARS LIVED IN LA CROSSE COUNTY:   Lived in La Crosse all my life

 

FAMILY:   Married 42 yrs. to my wife Janice. (3 children - have all moved out)

EDUCATION:  Graduate of Central High School, Classes/Seminars : State & Federal Laws Finance & Real Estate

 

OCCUPATION (if retired, former occupation):  Kwik Trip Inc. - Shift Leader

 

ELECTED OFFICES HELD (include years served): No Elected Offices Held

 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Co-organized 4 separate events, each one yielding thousands of dollars to UWL for their Musical Scholarship Program. Total to date: $50,000

 

 

La Crosse County Board Candidate Questionnaire

 

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

I love La Crosse. I've lived here all my life. But I am concerned about the economic growth in our area. Also, I would like to see a safer and healthier life style in our area, for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.

 

 

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 County Jail expansion. Also, The Lakeview Farm property development. My concerns are noted later in the questionnaire.

 

 

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 X

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

 

Reason:  Reducing the size of the County Board could be beneficial. But I think by cutting it in half, would be too extreme. To plan a reasonable reduction, and still keep our Districts representable, seems to make more sense.

 

 

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 X

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

Reason:  I would think that we need more information on how they make Policy decisions and how they are implemented.

 

 

 

 

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

Very satisfied

Satisfied

No opinion

Unsatisfied X

Very unsatisfied

 

Reason: It seems to me, that it would be in our best interest to avoid careless spending. We should be comfortable with keeping our salaried positions more in line with comparible Counties. And notably at higher positions, maybe we could avoid doubling the amount of the Avg. Annual Increase.

 

 

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 X

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

 

Reason:  The "Smart Growth" plan is important but I would reserve comment until the Final Plan is presented. But, I would hope that the plan would pay more attention to Rural Needs.

 

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 X

No opinion

Oppose

Strongly Oppose

Reason:  I am in favor of Referendums when it involves a large sum of money.

 

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:  Yes, It would be to our advantage to be the main developer. Whereas we could make it more compatable to the Lakeview  Health Center.

 

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:  I am in favor of alternatives to Jail. But on the same hand we need to be very careful with our screening process to avoid any possible unforseen mishap that could occur.

 

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:  Our budget reserves maintain a level that supports our Bond rating. And the excess reserves can be used to reduce our property taxes.

 

 

 

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:  The 2% cap should have little effect on County spending, because our budget goes up on average of 6-9% per year.

 

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 am in favor of the County's plan for Jail expansion, but this also calls for a Referendum because of the high dollar amount involved.