When: Tuesday, April 2nd, 2024; polls open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Find your voting location at myvote.wi. All absentee ballots must be requested by March 28th, 2024 and turned in no later than 8:00 p.m. on April 4th either by mail or dropped off in-person. In-Person absentee voting will start Tuesday, March 19th and end Friday, March 29th. If you plan to vote by mail, voters are strongly encourage to mail their ballots as soon as possible to ensure their ballot is received by the deadline.

What it’s about: There are 45 candidates running for the 29 seats this April.

The following 13 of County Board seats are uncontested. The answers for those candidates who completed the survey are shown below the list of candidates. Those marked with * did not respond.

District 1              Caleb Aichele*

District 5              Larry Hoekstra* (Incumbent)

District 6              Dane Zook (Incumbent)

District 7              Steve Chilson* (Incumbent)

District 8              Cory Sisk* (Incumbent)

District 9               Allen Myren* (Incumbent)

District 11              Michele Magadance Skinner*

District 12              Brett Geboy (Incumbent)

District 14              Kirk V. Dahl (Incumbent)

District 15              Nick Smiar (Incumbent)

District 19             Gerald Jerry Wilkie (Incumbent)

District 21             Mark Beckfield* (Incumbent)

District 26              Tami Schraufnagel (Incumbent)

Who can vote: The election is open to all eligible voters in the Eau Claire Area School District.

Where you vote and who is on your ballot:

Go to myvote.wi.gov
Enter your voting address to learn which races are on your ballot and where you vote.

Why this questionnaire: The Good Government Council (GGC) is a committee of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce dedicated to encouraging voter participation and providing members of the business community with non-biased information about candidates’ positions on important issues. Although the Chamber is active in policy issues, it is non-partisan and does not endorse political candidates.

Candidate Responses:

1. What are your background and qualifications for this position, and what value will you bring to the County Board personally?

Dane Zook (6)

I started my job careers as an Accountant and later worked in Sales.

Brett Geboy (12)

I have served a term on the county board already, have experience in working with the business community and worked for several non-profits in the area addressing community concerns.

Kirk Dahl (14)

I am a retired Emergency Room physician, and was medical director of Sacred Heart's ER for 22 years. I have been a county resident for 43 years. I served on the Parks and Forests Committee and Eau Claire's Waterways and Parks Commission. I chaired hundreds of meetings and am experienced in building consensus and resolving issues. My approach is to always seek the best solutions in a way that accommodates divergent views, in a conscientious way that does the least harm.

Nick Smiar (15)

I have served on the Eau Claire County Board for 12 years, 5 1/2 years as Chairperson, and I have served on four of the Standing Committees (Administration, Budget and Finance, Human Services, and Planning and Development) as well as on other county committees and on community non-profit boards (Western Dairyland, Bolton Refuge). I have prior experience in administration, budgeting, advocacy, and crisis communication and intervention. My doctorate is in social work, with an emphasis on social welfare policy; my MSW is in psychiatric social work. In my university experience I served as Department Chair and as Senator on the Faculty Senate.

Gerald "Jerry" Wilkie (19)

I'm a lifelong resident of ECCounty, growing up and raising my family in District 19. I graduated from Memorial and the U.W. Eau Claire. I’m a licensed advanced practice social worker with experience & training in fiscal management of not-for-profits. After 24 years,I retired as Executive Director of Bolton Refuge House.My wife Ruby is a retired nurse from Mayo Clinic.I have enjoyed the privilege of serving as a County Board Supervisor for the past 38 years.I'm currently the 2nd Vice Chair serving on the Administrative Committee and Chair of the Judiciary and Law Enforcement Committee. Over the years, I have served on almost all committees, boards, and commissions the county is involved with.I plan to continue serving & maintain my pledge to provide transparent & responsible leadership.I have demonstrated a deep concern for all the citizens and families of E.C County..I have shown years of compassion and fiscal responsibility in budgeting and expenditures 30 yrs on Finance & Budget.

Tami Schraufnagel (26)

I have served on the County Board for the past 18 years. Professionally I have been in marketing and communications. I was born in Eau Claire, attended UWEC in Marketing & Graphic Design, worked in Eau Claire & now work with my husband Bob maintaining our rentals, volunteering with our neighborhood, and managing the Forest St. Gardens. I have been a downtown advocate and volunteer since DECI was founded in 2002.

(District 26 includes Phoenix Park, the North River Fronts Neighborhood, Mount Simon, and East Madison St. to Dells Pond.)

2. What should the County’s role be in responding to the healthcare crisis created by the HSHS and Prevea closings?

Dane Zook (6)

Work with state and federal sources to assist in access and finances so larger burdens don’t exist.

Brett Geboy (12)

The news of HSHS Prevea closing was a huge blow to Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties, but I believe we are and will continue to collaborate with healthcare partners and others to address gaps in services and meet future community needs.

Kirk Dahl (14)

What we are seeing play out along this uncharted path is probably the most realistic approach. Leaders in the know have joined on multiple levels to creatively identify possible solutions. Offers have been made. Of major value is the ongoing effort by concerned parties to reposition key elements of the health care system. Existing facilities are investing in expanding their capabilities and repositiioning resources. What is evolving may not be sustainable, but it will help buffer the impending losses. The county has limited authority, finances, and relevant experience, but it is proactively positioning itself to deal with consequences, both predictable and unpredictable.

Nick Smiar (15)

The county, especially DHS and the City-County Health Department, can and does bring together various partners in government, both local and state, and the private sector, especially in health care, to coordinate a response and seek out resources to meet our critical health care needs in this crisis and ongoing. This process is under way and made more urgent by the earlier closure date just announced by HSHS hospital system. There are many moving parts in the problem, so our response must be agile and comprehensive as well as inclusive.

Gerald "Jerry" Wilkie (19)

The county’s role is to deliver services that protect public health,reduce the impact of loss of employment,promote county-wide economic development,and deal with budget issues caused by the closure of HSHS & Prevea, which could be accelerated by refugee resettlement.Fortunately, the Chamber has taken the lead in pulling all stakeholders together.This crisis requires everybody to develop collaborative plans to ensure quality health care remains in the Chippewa Valley, & the economy continues to provide citizens with a safe place to work and play. That begins with the first step of assessing the impact. I was on the Board when Uniroyal closed, and that was devastating. With the Uniroyal closure,we put aside our biases and stripes & found solutions focusing on our people's fundamental needs & fiscal impact.Yes,this is even worse with the threat of losing or rationing vital healthcare services & the fiscal impact on the county's budget.We are a strong community & can and will deal with it.

Tami Schraufnagel (26)

I think we all were (and still are) shocked by the news of the impending HSHS / Prevea closures. I'd like to thank the Eau Claire Chamber for their efforts to bring community leaders together to work with the newly formed Task Force. I believe the boots to the ground efforts so far have led to monetary investments from the state of Wisconsin that will help pay for expanded services for HSHS / Prevea patients. I see the County continuing to work with impacted departments throughout the community to identify needs and to work to fill those needs temporarily and then permanently as new and expanded partnerships are developed.

3. What is the County Board’s role in promoting economic development, business maintenance and commercial growth in the county?

Dane Zook (6)

Reduce and prevent overburden of rules and regulations that stifle growth.

Brett Geboy (12)

The county should be at the table in helping recruit and retain employers providing good paying job. I will help in forming an economic development committee that will focus on promoting economic development and be welcoming to interested businesses.

Kirk Dahl (14)

These are important goals in terms of the long-term vigor and health of the county. Identifying key elements of economic development business retention, and prioritizing relevant programs to address them, should be elements of our overall regional development plan and budget process. The county should continue to look for opportunities to promote such economic leadership.

Nick Smiar (15)

The County Board has the responsibility to ensure an environment conducive to the start-up and growth of business in the Chippewa Valley through physical infrastructure (roads, rail connections, broadband expansion, etc.), land use regulations, water conservation and use, reasonable taxation policies, and membership and participation in the Chamber of Commerce, i.e., establishing and maintaining a business friendly environment.

Gerald "Jerry" Wilkie (19)

Reasonable property tax & regulations attract people to work, play, & live in E.C. We must be good stewards of all our resources. Having a safe community to live and raise a family does not happen accidentally. We must continue to support our law enforcement, which is on the line protecting our community. Economic development & commercial growth happen if we maintain a safe & healthy community. The county should grant rezoning requests consistent with the town & county comprehensive plans, county farmland preservation, & county zoning ordinances. They are the rules of the road for developers. The board should not stray into areas that are not their purview. This happened with a development in the town of Washington.That only discourages developers from investing. The demand will drive investment where it is needed. The county’s role should be to aid the development in moving forward, not impede it.

Tami Schraufnagel (26)

County staff has worked closely with area cities, townships, villages as well as Eau Claire Economic Development, Western Wisconsin Regional Planning & Development, area incubation centers, Western Dairyland, the broadband task force and many other businesses to strengthen the county as well as municipalities in surrounding counties to help establish, expand, and maintain businesses throughout the Chippewa Valley. Unfortunately these relationships will get closer as we work to fill voids created by recent business closures/downsizing.

Our communities need to advocate the return of levee dollars to give us a better chance to provide services with this growth.

4. How and on which issues and services should Eau Claire County work more collaboratively with the municipalities in its jurisdiction?

Dane Zook (6)

Municipalities like their independence but we meet to try to help with our larger base of resources.

Brett Geboy (12)

The county and city of Eau Claire have a good history in working together to share services that reduce tax payer cost. We need to continue working towards collaboration with other municipalities and townships to best leverage tax payer dollars.

Kirk Dahl (14)

Eau Claire County actually functions quite well. Strong efforts are made to incorporate municipalities into the planning and development process. There will always be value in a conscientious effort to improve communication and transparency, but I have no doubt that all areas of the County are being heard. Broadband access, EMS services, highways, and other areas of concern are being addressed in a fair and considered manner, in my opinion.

Nick Smiar (15)

(1) Most recently, there has been a focus on EMS services and the county's role in supporting or possibly providing EMS services, especially to the towns. (2) We are close to county-wide coverage in broadband, also through the Broadband Committee's work with cities, villages, and towns, including the assignment of ARPA funds. (3) For some years now, the county has worked with municipalities on roads, water, and land use and planning. The County has already begun the Rural Partners Network, which reaches across seven counties to promote collaboration on issues common to communities in all seven counties.

Gerald "Jerry" Wilkie (19)

Council member Duax was the driving force to begin “The Joint Commission on Shared Services Initiatives. ”It made a difference & considered expanding its membership beyond E.C.Couny ,City, & School District..Duax passed away, & all 3 Administrators member left employment around the same time. The 3 governing bodies never took official action to disband, it quietly went away. The Refugee resettlement effort is a failure to communicate & collaborate. Welcoming refugees from awful circumstances worldwide is a worthwhile endeavor with rich historical protection embedded in America. The City Manager wasn't transparent causing division in the community. When Hmong allies in the Vietnam War had to flee & resettle in E.C. all governmental bodies & the public knew & participated. Hmong are colleagues neighbors, friends, family members, enriching & contributing to the community.

Tami Schraufnagel (26)

Invest in and protect - Clean Water, Clean Air, Environmental investments.
Improve accessibility to our communities through: Trails, Roadways, Public Transit, High speed rail...

5. What should the County’s role be through its DHS department in working with the City of Eau Claire and other municipalities on issues related to mental health and the unhoused population?

Dane Zook (6)

We need to insist that the state get more involved so the cost is spread further.

Brett Geboy (12)

DHS and the county have even bigger challenges with mental health, addiction and homelessness especially in light of the HSHS closings. We, again need to collaborate with agencies, municipalities and non-profits to fill in the gaps as best we can. We need to make sure we are using resources wisely on efforts and programs that actually help people attain wellness and stability.

Kirk Dahl (14)

DHS represents a huge portion of the county's budget and manpower needs. Homelessness and mental health issues are often connected. Shortages of mental health workers and of adequate low income housing are well-known issues being addressed but not yet resolved. The county has an ongoing obligation to look at these issues and establish its level of commitment to helping them be resolved. As with most county services, one has to strike a balance between worthy goals and available resources, and recalibrate that balance over time.

Nick Smiar (15)

The City-County Health Department and DHS focus on the availability, accessibility, and range of mental health services, especially now at the closure of the hospitals and Prevea clinics. This has been an ongoing concern for more than ten years, made even more critical by recent events. We have seen improvements in crisis intervention services. We look for a successful conclusion to recent work being done on EMS services in the county. The problem of the unhoused population cannot be separated from the broad range of problems with affordability and accessibility of housing as well as efforts to provide emergency shelter and transitional housing. The answer lies in coordination and collaboration. We have already engaged in this process.

Gerald "Jerry" Wilkie (19)

It doesn’t matter if those experiencing mental health, AODA, or homeless issues in municipalities or townships. If it is happening in E.C. County, DHS, with oversight from the DHS Board and the County Board, has the moral and mandated obligation to address it. That includes refugees after 90 days, and there will be a fiscal impact. In addition, we must add the healthcare closures as we attempt to determine the effect. Currently, it looks like DHS is coming in at $900,000 over budget for 2023. It's a big challenge, but the whole E.C. community has stepped up in the past to address whatever needs to be done, and we will do so again.

Tami Schraufnagel (26)

City/County staff as well as County Board members, City Council members, business advocates, community leaders, JONAH and more should be advocating state and federal funding to pay for underfunded mandated services we provide without reimbursement. We should also demand more taxpayer levee dollars that are paid into the state and not returned to the communities they are collected from.