Mary Hoeft announces candidacy for 7th Congressional District
On Monday, May 9, Rice Lake resident Mary Hoeft announced her candidacy for Congress in the 7th Congressional District. If Mary wins in the August 9th primary against three other candidates vying for the democratic nomination, she will oppose Sean Duffy in the November election. But, as Mary said, “If I am unable to get 2,000 nominations signatures by May 25, my name will not appear on the August 9 ballot.”
Mary Hoeft has taught Communication Arts and French at the University of Wisconsin-Barron County for 45 years. She was named a Wisconsin Idea Fellow, Wisconsin Teaching Scholar, Fulbright Scholar to Morocco and Outstanding Educator. Recently, she received the Chancellor’s Career Award for Teaching Excellence. Mary has taught in Nepal, bringing Western teaching practices to educators in Kathmandu and a remote Nepali village.
In the Rice Lake community, Mary served 6 years on the Rice Lake School Board, and was President of the Board of Directors of Barron County Restorative Justice Programs (BCRJP). She continues to volunteer with BCRJP as a Community Voice and Restorative Conference facilitator.
Mary has two children; a daughter Kelly who is a Madison Police Officer and a son Ryan, also a police officer, who died in 2001 while on duty in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
She is the proud grandmother of Ryan’s daughter Hannah, and Kelly’s sons Tacoma, Phoenix, and Rockton.
When asked why Mary decided to run for Congress, she responded: “It is time for me to do more than shake my head at the injustice imposed upon the middle class and working poor. Sean Duffy’s proud support of a Paul Ryan Budget that chips away at education, social security, and healthcare is shameful.”
Mary argues that Sean Duffy’s support of a Paul Ryan budget has made it impossible for many families to keep their heads above water. She said, “The citizens of the 7th Congressional District deserve better! I promise to work relentlessly in Washington to ensure that Middle Class America does not disappear.”
Mary has a long list of issues she feels strongly about; cellphone coverage, broadband internet, a livable minimum wage, strong support for public schools, jobs that stay in the United States, a clean environment, and regaining the middle class are just a few.
She said, “I will work tirelessly for the people of the 7th District. But first, I need to win. To win, I need more than 2,000 signatures within the next two weeks. I also need your financial support in order to run a viable campaign.”
Mary asks readers to go to her website www.maryhoeftforcongress.com to download nomination forms and to learn where to send donations.
