County Board elections spur student interest
Two current UW-Eau Claire students hope to win seats
Emily Hartwig
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: Campus News
Experience meets youth in this year's County Board elections for Districts 18 and 22, which encompass the UW-Eau Claire campus.
One Eau Claire student is matched up with an Eau Claire community member in both races.
Freshman Oakridge resident Elise Hallock, a philosophy and political science major, is running against Eau Claire resident Jim Dunning for the District 18 seat, which covers upper campus.
Hallock said she hopes to get students involved in local politics since they don't realize how much it really affects them.
"It's a traditionally held seat, and I feel it should stay in student hands," she said.
Hallock added that issues such as the Taxpayer Protection Act and the county jail expansion impact students, so they need a representative who understands their point of view.
Dunning cited his former position as an adjunct professor at Eau Claire, as well as his experience as an environmental specialist with Ho-Chunk Nation, tying their community to local and federal governments, as primary reasons why he should be elected to the District 18 seat.
He has lived in Eau Claire for nearly 18 years.
"I could provide continuity to the position," Dunning said, adding that students who fill County Board positions often graduate before their terms expire.
Dunning said he would hold listening sessions on campus and would work with student organizations so he could get a feel for where student opinion lies.
Expanding the county jail close to existing facilities is favorable, Dunning said, even though it may displace a few students.
New staff would have to be hired if the county was forced to relocate it to a different area, he said.
Other issues Dunning said he hopes to address if elected include initiatives to prevent crime rather than strictly punishing it.
Trae Dorn, a senior political science major living in Katherine Thomas Hall, is running against the incumbent, Sue Miller, for District 22.
One Eau Claire student is matched up with an Eau Claire community member in both races.
Freshman Oakridge resident Elise Hallock, a philosophy and political science major, is running against Eau Claire resident Jim Dunning for the District 18 seat, which covers upper campus.
Hallock said she hopes to get students involved in local politics since they don't realize how much it really affects them.
"It's a traditionally held seat, and I feel it should stay in student hands," she said.
Hallock added that issues such as the Taxpayer Protection Act and the county jail expansion impact students, so they need a representative who understands their point of view.
Dunning cited his former position as an adjunct professor at Eau Claire, as well as his experience as an environmental specialist with Ho-Chunk Nation, tying their community to local and federal governments, as primary reasons why he should be elected to the District 18 seat.
He has lived in Eau Claire for nearly 18 years.
"I could provide continuity to the position," Dunning said, adding that students who fill County Board positions often graduate before their terms expire.
Dunning said he would hold listening sessions on campus and would work with student organizations so he could get a feel for where student opinion lies.
Expanding the county jail close to existing facilities is favorable, Dunning said, even though it may displace a few students.
New staff would have to be hired if the county was forced to relocate it to a different area, he said.
Other issues Dunning said he hopes to address if elected include initiatives to prevent crime rather than strictly punishing it.
Trae Dorn, a senior political science major living in Katherine Thomas Hall, is running against the incumbent, Sue Miller, for District 22.