Dunn County Board candidate: Tom Gilbert

ELK MOUND — Incumbent Dunn County Board supervisor Tom Gilbert (District 25) will be on the April 2 ballot seeking his second term along with challenger Sue Suechting.

Gilbert, age 49, of Elk Mound, has two daughters, Abigail and Isabella.

The Colfax Messenger sent out a questionnaire to the candidates.

Here are Gilbert’s answers.

• What is your occupation?

Owner/Operator of the Gilbert Gun Exchange LLC in Elk Mound, Wisconsin.

• What is your educational background?

Graduated High School from Elk Mound, class of 1993. Attended UW-Stout and University of Wyoming.

• Why did you decide to run for re-election to the Dunn County Board?

I first entered into local politics over a decade ago by running for the Elk Mound Village Board, I felt that the middle-aged, working-class or small business owner, demographic, which makes up a large majority of tax payers, was not well represented in local, state, or federal government for that matter. After serving nine years on the Elk Mound Village Board, eventually becoming Board President, moving on to the County level seemed the logical progression. My reasons are still the same, now running for my second term as District 25 Dunn County Supervisor. I believe that taxation and representation need to go hand in hand.

• What do you believe to be the two biggest issues facing Dunn County?

The issues facing Dunn County are likely the same all the way up the government food chain, from local, to county, to state and federal government. A serious lack of fiscal responsibility creating unsurmountable debt which is being passed on to further generations. This first problem is directly related to the second, which is the main reason I decided to enter into the political arena. I feel that the majority of taxpayers, that middle aged, middle class, working, tax paying demographic, is not being represented by those in government. We often hear terms like legislator, lawmaker, supervisor or senator, forgetting that above all these are representatives. The most important duty of any elected official, after upholding the U.S. Constitution as it is written, is to the best of our ability, represent the majority of our constituency. There is a terrible disconnect between those paying the taxes, and those who are spending it. And spending it exponentially faster than it can be paid for, it is not logical or sustainable. Nor is it how the majority of us would handle our personal finances.

• How would you go about addressing those issues?

I believe the solution starts with taxpayer participation. Whether it’s as simple as paying attention and voting, or perhaps communicating with those in power. Go to board meetings, ask questions, write letters and if need be, choosing to “get in the ring” yourself and participate, because those you have trusted to represent you have fallen into the all too easy cycle of “spending other people’s money”, and are not representing you, the tax payer. The larger the scale of government becomes, the larger the dollar amount of budgets, the larger the constituency becomes, the harder it gets for the individual to be heard or to make a difference. I believe however, that county level government can still be directly impacted by the average tax payer. The people have a voice if they choose to use it, through voting, communication, and participation.

• Anything else you would like voters to know?

When it comes to local government, your voice can still be heard. “The squeaky wheel”, will in fact, “get the grease!”