Q&A: Theresa Valencia challenges Rep. Jon Plumer in 42nd Assembly District, and they oppose each other on major issues

FOND DU LAC – In just over a month, voters will decide who takes the 42nd Assembly District seat.

Incumbent Republican Jon Plumer will face Democrat Theresa Valencia in the Nov. 8 election. Both are residents of Lodi.

The 42nd District covers a portion of south-central Wisconsin, including part of Fond du Lac County and the cities of Fox Lake and Lodi. Members of the Wisconsin Assembly serve a two-year term and are paid $53,000 annually.

Each candidate was provided a list of questions and was limited to a 100-word response. Answers have been lightly edited for style, grammar and length.

For more information on your polling location, how to register to vote and what's on your ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov.

Jon Plumer (incumbent)

• Age: 67

• Address: Lodi

• Occupation and highest education level: Retired route salesman; high school

• Relevant experience: Small business owner (2001-present), Lodi/Lake Wisconsin Chamber past president (three terms), Town of Lodi Board supervisor (two terms), Columbia County Board supervisor (two terms), state representative in District 42 (2018 - present), Board of Directors- Lake Wisconsin Alliance.

Theresa Valencia

• Age: 57

• Address: Lodi

• Occupation and highest education level: Skilled trades instructor, journey person tool and die Maker; bachelors of science in adult vocational, technical education.

• Relevant experience: Columbia County Board supervisor, teacher for over 20 years, previous small business owner.

Why are you running for office, and why are you the best candidate in this race?

Plumer: I have always run for public office to help others. My job as state representative is to be a resource for my constituents and represent them in the state Assembly. I have never run for any office with a predetermined agenda. I believe that my experience clearly makes me the better candidate for this office.

Valencia: I am running to create change in the Assembly. The current Republican majority is ignoring the will of the people. I want to restore balance and commit myself to listening and following through.

What is the most pressing issue facing Wisconsin, and how would you address it?

Plumer: Without question, inflation and crime top the list of issues affecting the citizens of Wisconsin. In regards to crime, we need to require our law enforcement and prosecutors in certain areas of the state to enforce existing state law. In regards to the former, the spike in prices is being caused by irresponsible spending policies in Washington.

Valencia: My other top issues are addressed in the questions below, so I will talk about one of my top issues. Caring for our veterans is top on my list. They have given their all for us and they deserve to be treated as such. Addressing their mental health concerns, homelessness and suicide should be our top concern.

Would you vote to repeal Wisconsin’s ban on abortions, or to add exemptions to the law (such as for rape and incest victims)?

Plumer: I will never apologize for respecting all human life. I also try not to commit to whether or not I would vote on a certain bill until I have read it. The Assembly Republicans have an all-inclusive tent with various opinions on this topic. Once we are back in session, it will be our job to debate the best way to move forward.

Valencia: Yes, I would vote to repeal the ban. A woman should have the right to choose what is done with her own body. We are not second-class citizens and should not be treated as such. I have five children; I would have six, but at 16 weeks the baby's heart stopped. I needed a procedure called an abortion. Without that procedure I could have died. No woman should be put at risk of death because a medical procedure is illegal.

Would you support policy initiatives to address the impact of climate change in Wisconsin?

Plumer: I have no doubt that our climate changes; how much impact we have on that change is still up for some debate. I am not interested in destroying our economy or any certain industries as a result. I see our country committing to tighter restrictions while other nations who are much greater polluters ignore our agreements and double down on their disregard for the environment. My wife and I have had adopted highways for years and have literally picked up hundreds of pounds of trash up off our ditches. I would prefer to see the folks who preach about climate change think globally and act locally by putting on some gloves and helping out.

Valencia: Yes, I would support policies to fight climate change. Moving toward solar and wind power and away from fossil fuels is a good start. Offering incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles and renewable energy could make them more affordable for more Wisconsinites.

How should state government help Wisconsin residents combat the effects of inflation?

Plumer: Other than continue our responsible fiscal budget policies, there is little state government can do about inflation. In the past two years, the federal government has spent money at an alarming rate, and continues to do so.

Valencia: The previous tax breaks for the wealthy should be repealed. Those funds should be used to assist with childcare costs. The surplus of funds could also be used to give rebates to our citizens. Small family farms could be supplemented and their products offered at lower costs for consumers.

What should Wisconsin do to protect the democratic process and ensure the integrity of its elections?

Plumer: We need to take a serious look at election integrity, not making it harder to vote, but making it harder to cheat. There were many instances in the past two statewide elections that require close examination. Out-of-state private funding to finance "get out the vote" efforts in strong Democrat counties would be one. We should require that all ballots be counted at each polling place rather than being sent to "central count" locations as well. Lastly, I would like to see the Wisconsin Elections Commission follow state statute to the letter. The people of Wisconsin have the right to know that their vote counts.

Valencia: Wisconsin historically has done a good job with election integrity. The million dollars wasted by Robin Vos to put doubt into the integrity of our elections turned up nothing. I do not understand how anyone can say they believe in democracy, then purposely cast doubt on free and fair elections. I also believe we should be working toward 100% participation, not trying to limit who can vote.

Are the public schools in the district properly funded?

Plumer: We spend an enormous amount of money on our schools. After Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle slashed public school spending in his final budget, we've been playing catch up ever since. In the current state budget, we were able to finally return K-12 funding to two-thirds funding, something our educators have been asking for since 2009.  I believe that there are some formula issues that could be tweaked, however.

Valencia: No, they are not. State funding used to cover the majority of costs; now, our district is dependent on referendums to fund our schools. Gov. (Tony) Evers is working on restoring the funding that was taken away as part of Scott Walker's largest school funding cuts in the history of our state. A state without a highly educated population will never have growth. We must invest in our children, K-12 schools, our technical colleges for skilled labor and our university systems to fill our skills gap.

What should state government do about gun violence and crime in Wisconsin?

Plumer: Crime in Wisconsin is out of control. We have counties in Wisconsin that are releasing violent criminals with little or no cash bail. Felons in possession of a firearm are rarely prosecuted. We have an epidemic of car thefts and people are afraid to go out for a run in suburban areas. Wisconsin needs a governor who will hold district attorneys accountable for prosecuting violent offenders. I'd also like to see our governor immediately stop releasing convicted criminals from our prison system before they've served their time.

Valencia: We need to invest in community policing, including additional training to build trust within the communities they serve, better pay for our officers, and recruiting strategies to get our young people interested in policing. We need funding for additional mental health crisis interventions and drug treatment programs. I do not believe the general public should be able to out-gun our police. For the safety of our police officers and of our citizens I believe assault rifles and high-capacity magazines should no longer be sold.

Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @daphlemke.

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: 42nd Assembly District incumbent, challenger address Wisconsin issues