Assembly District 91
Confirm your Assembly District (Wisconsin Legislature)
Register to vote, find your polling place, request an absentee ballot (MyVoteWI)
The Chamber's Election Page (Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce)
Candidates for Assembly District 91:
Rep. Jodi Emerson (Democrat - Incumbent)
Website
Social Media
Michele Skinner (Republican)
Website
Social Media
Good Government Council 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. Why are you running for this office, and what are the top three priorities you will emphasize if elected to the next session of the legislature?
Jodi Emerson
"For me, being in the Wisconsin Assembly is like all the other community service work I've done in my life, I'm doing it to make things better for more people. Whether volunteering at my kids' school years ago, helping out my neighborhood association, or volunteering for groups that serve marginalized groups, I serve my community because I want everyone to have better opportunities.
My top priorities in the coming session will be fighting for affordable and accessible healthcare (including mental healthcare and reproductive healthcare), making sure our colleges and universities are adequately funded and ready to tackle the questions of the future, and continuing to address the housing crisis in our state."
Michele Skinner
"I want to bring more resources from Madison to Western Wisconsin, as opposed to dollars that flow typically to Milwaukee and other large WI cities. Priorities 1) Access to healthcare 2) Access to affordable child care 3) Creating an optimum environment for business growth, which in turn will alleviate inflation and high prices."
2. Businesses today face several significant workforce challenges, with more jobs open than individuals available to fill them. Among these issues are demographics related to the size of the workforce; state support to recruit and retain employees to the area; housing supply and affordability; and a crisis in childcare availability for working parents. What legislature’s role in addressing these issues?
Jodi Emerson
"There are many ways the legislature can address these issues but it starts by making sure that Wisconsin is a place where people want to either move to or stay here and raise a family. That means making sure that we have the basic needs of people met so they want to live here. When people look at moving to an area, they look at how much a house/apartment costs, what the schools are like, and what is in an area that makes it fun to live. The legislature has a hand in each of those. I was proud to be the lead Democratic author of the transformational housing bills this last session that infused $535 million into a revolving loan program that helps all parts of the state get more workforce and senior housing. We need to make sure that we are fully funding our public education systems. And we need to make sure that we have great outdoor recreation options, parks, arts, and other festivals that make Wisconsin a great place to live and raise a family."
Michele Skinner
"Businesses, especially family/small businesses, are the backbone of Wisconsin, especially in rural Wisconsin. Local as well as state governments should be promoting these businesses. The formula should be, if tourism is thriving in our state, the small businesses should be thriving as well."
3. With the sudden closures of hospitals and clinics in the region, and ongoing concerns about the future of rural healthcare, what is the role of state government in assuring access and affordability of healthcare for our area? What will you do to assure sufficient funding in the 2025-27 state budget to address these concerns?
Jodi Emerson
"There is a healthcare crisis in this country. Unfortunately, it came to a head in the Chippewa Valley this year. In our country, healthcare is a business and there's not a lot the government can do to stop a business from closing. However, we can make sure that we are incentivizing healthcare providers to establish their practices in Wisconsin. We can offer student loan forgiveness programs to mental health providers, dentists, or doctors who establish their practice in rural areas of our state. We can offer more residency and fellowship programs for rural areas because studies show people tend to stay where they were either residents or fellows. We also need to work to make sure that insurance reimbursement rates are adequate for the services that are provided. At the state level, that would mean raising reimbursement rates for Medicaid. We can do this by accepting the federal incentive dollars given for expanding Medicaid. This would cover more people and bring in money for programs."
Michele Skinner
"When it comes to the role of the government, it's all about investing in rural hospitals. We need to prioritize rural Wisconsin when it comes to budget talks. Once I am elected, I am eager to work on a budget that will benefit my area and the rest of rural Wisconsin."
4. There is a concerning increase in polarization and lack of civility in politics today. What will you do to improve the tone of public discourse, and are you willing to pledge to work on a bipartisan basis in our regional delegation to advance Chippewa Valley priorities?
Jodi Emerson
"I have always worked on a bipartisan basis for the better of those I represent. I wouldn't have been able to pass any of the legislation I have passed without the support of both parties. I've worked with Democrats and Republicans to pass bills that support the mental health of our police and firefighters, invested millions of dollars in housing, and passed legislation protecting victims of human trafficking. Unfortunately, we have a tone set by some in leadership in Madison that unless a bill is exactly the way they want it, they will not support it. We have seen that with the funding of the hospital bills. Once the governor made changes, the majority party refused to release the money. We simply cannot keep up with this. We have to come together to work for the betterment of our community."
Michele Skinner
"My campaign message is that we must work together to get things done. I am already doing that on the Lake Altoona District Board and the Eau Claire County Board. I pledge to continue that bipartisanship in the legislature."
5. Why should a business person in the Chippewa Valley vote for you to represent them in the state legislature? What role should state government take in supporting a vibrant business economy in Wisconsin?
Jodi Emerson
"I work hard for the people I represent. This isn't a second job for me, it's not something that I do part-time. This is a job that I am dedicated to 100% of the time. My focus is on the communities I represent and I work day in and day out for what they need. I believe people should vote for me because they want someone with a proven track record of focusing on what's best for the people I represent. Businesses succeed when the people of the communities succeed. We can best address that at the state level by making sure that schools are strong, the water is clean, our roads are safe, and the needs of the communities we serve are addressed. People will live and work (and spend money in) areas that are thriving and forward-thinking. The Chippewa Valley is one of the fastest growing areas in the state and we are that way because we have public and private leaders who look towards tomorrow and reach for something more."
Michele Skinner
"My son owns a small business in Eau Claire, and I work for him on a fill-in basis. I understand the issues small business owners face because those same issues affect my family."
The Chamber's Business Advocacy Initiative:
Advocacy Principles
2024 Business Issues Agenda
Fall 2024 Election Resources
Where you vote and what is on your ballot:
Go to myvote.wi.gov
To register to vote, find your polling place, or request an absentee ballot.
Posted by Johnny Meagher Governmental Affairs Intern
Meagher@eauclairechamber.org