7th District candidates meet at Hayward forum

Republican candidates for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District Jessie Ebben and Kevin Hermening were in Hayward this week for a candidate forum hosted by the Sawyer County Republican Party.

The forum, moderated by Sawyer County Record reporter Celia Hiorns, covered topics ranging from affordability and health care to housing and economic development.

Candidates respond to question on economic development

Kevin Hermening

When asked about economic development opportunities for the 7th District, Hermening said one challenge facing the district is keeping younger workers in the region. 

He pointed to apprenticeship and skilled trades programs as one way to keep young people in northern Wisconsin.

Drawing on his work as a Mosinee School Board member, he highlighted students pursuing welding apprenticeships while still in high school.

“They’re going to be right out of high school making $90,000 to $120,000 a year at a very young age with no student loan debt. We need more of that impact,” says Hermening.

Jessie Ebben

Ebben says that her focus is on lowering taxes, reducing regulations and keeping energy affordable to help attract employers and keep jobs in northern Wisconsin.

She pointed to recent job losses in communities across northern Wisconsin, including a paper mill closure in Price County and the loss of manufacturing jobs in western Wisconsin.

“We want the growth,” says Ebben. “We have to open the doors for it, get the government out of the way so not just businesses come in, but families can flourish with good jobs and stay here and be here.”

Candidates were also asked about rising health care costs

Kevin Hermening

Hermening criticized the Affordable Care Act, arguing that health care subsidies have not reduced costs and should go directly to consumers rather than insurance companies.

“It’s about choice, meaning the consumer choosing which health care provider, which facility they want to go to, and then they can shop with their pocketbook,” explains Hermening. “And that has not been happening since the Affordable Care Act,.

Jessie Ebben

Ebben also criticized the Affordable Care Act and says stronger enforcement of price transparency requirements could help lower costs.

“Health care is one of the few things that we actually go buy, and we don’t know the price of it until afterwards when we get the bill,” says Ebben.

Ebben and Hermening are among five Republicans running in the August 11 primary for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. The general election is November 3.