Plans to work across party lines was front and center during a virtual debate between the three candidates running for the Wisconsin State Assembly District 94 on Wednesday.
During the debate, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Rep. Steve Doyle, D-Onalaska, Kevin Hoyer, R-West Salem, and Leroy Brown, I-West Salem, were often asked about how they would work together to things done in a highly divisive state legislature if elected.
All made commitments to work together and put party politics aside for the betterment of the district — Doyle pointing to his record as the incumbent and recognition as one of the most bipartisan members of the legislature, while Hoyer, while running as a Republican, said his race is grassroots and dissolves party lines.
But both took to attacking each others records — both having served on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors — during the debate, often using time during unrelated questions to rebut a comment from the other.
For Brown, he said it was these encounters that inspired him to run as an Independent in the first place.
“It’s interesting to hear when my opponents in this race will describe their nonpartisan background in such a partisan framework,” he said during the debate. Brown said uniting society and bettering everyone’s lives was key to his race.

Doyle
At the forefront of the nonpartisan debates was how the three candidates planned to jump into a divided Madison, where the Republican leadership is constantly at odds with Democrat Gov. Tony Evers.
“I’m ready to go back tomorrow,” Doyle said about calling the legislature to session, Brown called it frustrating that they haven’t met in several months.
Hoyer didn’t specifically say the legislature needed to convene, but instead called on lawmakers to refrain from looking to party leadership when voting, blaming extremists on both sides for the divisiveness.
On the issue of Gov. Evers’ record as state leader, the candidates’ displayed a spectrum of views, from the mask mandate and indoor business capacity restriction to responses to violent protests.
“What do I tell the small businesses?,” Hoyer said of the most recent emergency order, which is temporarily paused by a judge as of Wednesday. Hoyer also called Evers’ response to the Kenosha protests “unconscionable” and too slow.
Brown said he supports the idea behind the mask mandate and other COVID restrictions, but questioned the legality behind them, and Doyle said he supports the executive orders the governor has made.
All three candidates denounced violent riots and looting, and said that creating an open dialogue with minority communities was key to bettering their lives and rooting out systemic racism.
When state lawmakers do reconvene again, all three candidates said getting a handle on the pandemic and its subsequent fallout was a top priority.
Fair maps
After the 2020 census is completed, the state legislature will have a chance to redraw districts around the state, a highly anticipated day for many who say maps have been unfairly drawn and gerrymandered.
Both Doyle and Brown said they would commit to a fair redistricting this time around, and that they would sign a pledge to do so.

Hoyer
But for Hoyer, he called the outcry for fairer maps “purely political,” adding, though, that he was open to the discussion.
“We have to face some reality here,” Hoyer said, adding that the efforts are pushed by political operatives and nationally-led political groups, and that non-partisan committees have a proven track record of being unproductive.
Schools and businesses during COVID-19
All candidates agreed more tools and support should be given to schools and businesses to sustain themselves during the pandemic, but varied on if they should remain open or not.
Largely, the candidates agreed that closures should be done based on location — that certain areas aren’t experiencing the pandemic with the same strength as others.

Leroy Brown
But for Hoyer, a push to keep places open was paramount, calling all businesses essential, and especially concerned about keeping schools virtual.
“Children learn by doing,” he said.
Brown advocated for more out-of-the-box ideas to keep kids learning and safe, and Doyle said he supports each local school district’s decision based on their COVID-19 conditions.
Agriculture and the environment
For the 94th Assembly District, all three candidates agreed, protecting the agriculture industry and the environment are hand-in-hand. All of them advocated for more support for local, small farmers to be better stewards of the land.
“Farmers are the frontline to environmental issues, and they need to be embraced, helped and nurtured along,” said Hoyer, a lifelong farmer in West Salem himself, who said groundwater protection was one of his top priorities.
Finding funding for small farmers to meet new environmental standards was critical for the candidates, as well as bettering farmer’s trade markets.
Advocating for more funding for roads, broadband and unemployment benefits were top-of-mind for all three candidates as well, as was healthcare, including advocating for a choice in coverage.
For more election coverage, visit LaCrosseTribune.com
Jim Falls, Wis.

My granddaughter Johana and I - Getting through COVID-19 pandemic - "We can do it!"
La Crescent, MInn.

This is my 3 year old son Julian. I like to get my kids their favorite color and/or character to make it a little more fun to wear.
Working at the Tomah VA serving our Veterans during this pandemic!

In My Family We all Wear Our Masks Cindy And Baby V

mask made by fellow West Salem High School chemistry teacher

La Crosse punk

"My band had some masks printed to add to our merchandise line-up! Zammek - La Crosse Punk"
Lace for a lady

Caring for the community

A retired state social worker and her daughter who is a public school teacher say, “wearing masks when out and about is a simple and loving thing to do for your community.”
A mask with bling

Fancy that - a mask with bling!
Dinner guests

Having dinner guests together at home. Left to right, Don Smith, Mary Rohrer, and Nancy Korn Smith. We asked our readers to show off their masks for all to see. Use a form at https://go.lacrossetribune.com/Photos and send photos our way. We’ll put them in galleries that we will share on social media, and we’ll publish some of them in our papers.
A Friendly smile

"I intended this to my likeness and a friendly everyday mask. I was disappointed when i received it. Frankly, it's ridiculous...so I'll give readers a good laugh."
October 6: GIrls WIAA Division 2 sectional golf

Aquinas’ Alexis Smith hits an approach shot at the WIAA Division 2 girls golf sectional at Drugan’s Castle Mound in Holmen.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska

The Onalaska dance team performs at halftime.
October 2: Edgar vs Onalaska

Masked spectators watch the game.
September 22: Aquinas vs Onalaska

JB Weiser makes a save for Aquinas.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas

Aquinas’ Lauren Kelsey, left, and Victoria Nolte attempt a block on Westby’s Macy Stellner.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas

Aquinas’ Victoria Nolte serves.
September 17: Westby vs Aquinas

The Westby tem celebrates a point won.
Holmen school lunches

Heather Mathwig, right, and Analise Smith with the Holmen School District Nutrition Department bag individual pizzas at Holmen Middle School.
Noodles & Company

Menche Evans cooks in the kitchen at the new Noodles & Company in Onalaska.
September 10: Dover-Eyota vs. La Crescent-Hokah

La Crescent-Hokah girls soccer head coach Jake Smith talks with player Olivia Meyer.
Onalaska Football

Onalaska head coach Tom Yashinsky runs football practice.
College during COVID

Western Technical College student Emery Thompson has his temperature taken by human resources department employee Jackie Kettner before entering the bookstore.
College during COVID

Face mask wearing students walk to and from classes on the first day of the fall semester on the UW-La Crosse campus.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland

Attendees give applause during the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative.
Vice President Pence at Dairyland

A woman in attendance for the "A Stronger America Workforce" event at Dairyland Power Cooperative with Vice President Mike Pence wears a patriotic facemask.
Scooping up smiles

Marty Diersen with the Sweet Shop hands a cone to Joy Benson, a member of Logan High School’s class of 1969, dressed as the children’s book character Raggedy Ann.