2020 National, State & Local Elections – Candidate Information
2020 Wisconsin Election Dates
- General & Presidential Election: November 3, 2020
President of the United States
President Donald Trump: link
Putting America’s First Peoples First
Joe Biden: link
State Senate District 2
Robert Cowles link
Representative to Assembly District 4
In advance of the 2020 November General Election, the Oneida Nation and its conduit, Voices For Oneida, invited Oneida-area state legislative candidates to share information about themselves and their campaigns with the enrolled members of the Oneida Nation. We received the following responses:
Kathy Hinkfuss (D-Green Bay), 4th Assembly District:
Question: What are your top issues for seeking election to the State Assembly and how do those issues affect tribal and non-tribal residents?
Answer: With decades of experience in the healthcare sector, both as a practicing nurse and a health insurance executive, I have the experience to deliver on affordable healthcare for all. Healthcare is my top issue. The COVID-19 pandemic is an area that I hope to provide real leadership on, especially at a time when leadership is lacking in our legislature. We need to provide proper PPE resources to our local communities to help curb the spread of the virus nationwide. In tribal communities, in particular, we need to provide guidance such as training for contact tracers, so they understand tribal language and culture to better communicate with tribal communities where COVID cases are rising quickly.
Question: If elected, how can you as a State Representative and the Oneida Nation work together to better all residents of the region?
Answer: One of the main reasons I jumped into this race was because I felt that our current representative was doing a poor job at representing all voices in our community. As a State Representative, I will govern by listening to the people impacted most by the issues before me. The Oneida Nation can expect a partner in me, one who will seek input on decisions I make that directly impact residents I represent.
Question: What do you see as the greatest challenges for economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer: The greatest threat to economic recovery during this COVID-19 crisis is inaction. The current state legislature has not met in over 175 days. Even the last time they met, they did not act quickly enough to secure all the federal funding they could to provide real economic relief. The legislature must act immediately to pass economic relief legislation and support our struggling economy.
Question: Wisconsin, local municipalities, and tribes are facing a crisis due to the opioid epidemic. This crisis requires solutions at all levels of government. What solutions are you proposing in your campaign for public office?
Answer: From the top on down, we must curb the proliferation of drug abuse and then provide our local communities with the resources, on the ground, to deal with the opioid epidemic. Preventing drug abuse starts with preventing the over-prescription of medications that could lead to opioid abuse. It also means providing the resources for mental health services to treat the root causes of addiction. Once the causes of addiction are addressed, we need to give communities the tools to carry out rehabilitation and respond to overdoses’ more immediate ramifications.
Question: How would you like to see the state better protect the environment and its natural resources?
Answer: I would like to see the state be a leader again in protecting our natural resources. This means working with polluters to prevent contamination in the first place. Most businesses are looking for a partner in protecting our environment. Particularly as this issue relates to tribal issues, I want to ensure that no agreement to protect sovereign land, water and the air is violated.
Question: How do you believe state laws can or should be changed to better protect the rights of people of color in Wisconsin?
Answer: We, as a state, must always work to prevent discrimination in all forms. Wisconsin has historically been a leader in curbing discrimination in state law, but there are areas to improve upon. There is no reason not to continue protecting the rights of all Wisconsinites. I will always stand up for protecting people of color in all aspects of life – from employment to the justice system.
State Rep. David Steffen (R-Green Bay), 4th Assembly District:
Question: What are your top issues for seeking re-election to the State Assembly and how do those issues affect tribal and non-tribal residents?
Answer: COVID-19 and its impact on our families, jobs, economy and schools is by far the biggest issue. As soon as the first cases were detected in Wisconsin, I have been working with Governor Evers, legislators of both parties, healthcare experts, residents, small businesses and community leaders, on responding to this global crisis. Listening and responding to the specific and collective challenges facing tribal residents and non-tribal residents has not only been the biggest issue, but also my top priority this year.
Question: If re-elected, how can you as a State Representative and the Oneida Nation work together to better all residents of the region?
Answer: The journey of joint progress requires all parties to listen, respect and collaborate. Thankfully, I believe the state government and the Oneida Nation have done an excellent job on this journey together. We must remain committed to this effort and this path.
Question: What do you see as the greatest challenges for economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer: We will lose up to 40% of all hospitality jobs and employers as a result of this pandemic. This impacts the Oneida Nation especially hard. I am already working on legislation to assist our hospitality industry.
Question: Wisconsin, local municipalities and tribes are facing a crisis due to the opioid epidemic. This crisis requires solutions at all levels of government. What solutions are you proposing in your campaign for public office?
Answer: Over the last two terms, I co-authored over 20 opioid addiction initiatives in collaboration with Rep. John Nygren. While Wisconsin is recognized as the #1 state in terms of opioid addiction responsiveness, this fight is far from over. It is my intention to have the ENTIRE opioid manufacturer class action lawsuit settlement (about $1 billion) dedicated to substance abuse efforts in Wisconsin, including all Tribal Lands.
Question: How would you like to see the state better protect the environment and its natural resources?
Answer: As a life-long conservationist, environmental protection has always been a very personal priority for me. Our very first legislative action should be to pass the entire Clean Water Taskforce package (about 10-12 pieces of legislation) before January 1, 2021. We have the resources in the current budget to do some fantastic things for our environment, but if we punt this to next year, we may have issues getting the votes and money to finish this important initiative.
Question: How do you believe state laws can or should be changed to better protect the rights of people of color in Wisconsin?
Answer: The legal rights of people of color are clearly protected by state and federal law. However, is state law and state initiatives fully protecting and promoting people of color? That is a bit different but perhaps a more appropriate question. My first bill next session has already been drafted (with Rep. John Macco), and it expands minority police recruiting options in Wisconsin. I also would like to explore real solutions to the multi-generational poverty that exists in various geographic pockets of our state. We need to find a way to give these residents a pathway to prosperity and independence.
Representative to Assembly District 5
Jim Stieneke link
Voices For Oneida
In advance of the 2020 November General Election, the Oneida Nation and its conduit, Voices For Oneida, invited Oneida-area state legislative candidates to share information about themselves and their campaigns with the enrolled members of the Oneida Nation. We received the following responses:
Kathy Hinkfuss (D-Green Bay), 4th Assembly District:
Question: What are your top issues for seeking election to the State Assembly and how do those issues affect tribal and non-tribal residents?
Answer: With decades of experience in the healthcare sector, both as a practicing nurse and a health insurance executive, I have the experience to deliver on affordable healthcare for all. Healthcare is my top issue. The COVID-19 pandemic is an area that I hope to provide real leadership on, especially at a time when leadership is lacking in our legislature. We need to provide proper PPE resources to our local communities to help curb the spread of the virus nationwide. In tribal communities, in particular, we need to provide guidance such as training for contact tracers, so they understand tribal language and culture to better communicate with tribal communities where COVID cases are rising quickly.
Question: If elected, how can you as a State Representative and the Oneida Nation work together to better all residents of the region?
Answer: One of the main reasons I jumped into this race was because I felt that our current representative was doing a poor job at representing all voices in our community. As a State Representative, I will govern by listening to the people impacted most by the issues before me. The Oneida Nation can expect a partner in me, one who will seek input on decisions I make that directly impact residents I represent.
Question: What do you see as the greatest challenges for economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer: The greatest threat to economic recovery during this COVID-19 crisis is inaction. The current state legislature has not met in over 175 days. Even the last time they met, they did not act quickly enough to secure all the federal funding they could to provide real economic relief. The legislature must act immediately to pass economic relief legislation and support our struggling economy.
Question: Wisconsin, local municipalities, and tribes are facing a crisis due to the opioid epidemic. This crisis requires solutions at all levels of government. What solutions are you proposing in your campaign for public office?
Answer: From the top on down, we must curb the proliferation of drug abuse and then provide our local communities with the resources, on the ground, to deal with the opioid epidemic. Preventing drug abuse starts with preventing the over-prescription of medications that could lead to opioid abuse. It also means providing the resources for mental health services to treat the root causes of addiction. Once the causes of addiction are addressed, we need to give communities the tools to carry out rehabilitation and respond to overdoses’ more immediate ramifications.
Question: How would you like to see the state better protect the environment and its natural resources?
Answer: I would like to see the state be a leader again in protecting our natural resources. This means working with polluters to prevent contamination in the first place. Most businesses are looking for a partner in protecting our environment. Particularly as this issue relates to tribal issues, I want to ensure that no agreement to protect sovereign land, water and the air is violated.
Question: How do you believe state laws can or should be changed to better protect the rights of people of color in Wisconsin?
Answer: We, as a state, must always work to prevent discrimination in all forms. Wisconsin has historically been a leader in curbing discrimination in state law, but there are areas to improve upon. There is no reason not to continue protecting the rights of all Wisconsinites. I will always stand up for protecting people of color in all aspects of life – from employment to the justice system.
State Rep. David Steffen (R-Green Bay), 4th Assembly District:
Question: What are your top issues for seeking re-election to the State Assembly and how do those issues affect tribal and non-tribal residents?
Answer: COVID-19 and its impact on our families, jobs, economy and schools is by far the biggest issue. As soon as the first cases were detected in Wisconsin, I have been working with Governor Evers, legislators of both parties, healthcare experts, residents, small businesses and community leaders, on responding to this global crisis. Listening and responding to the specific and collective challenges facing tribal residents and non-tribal residents has not only been the biggest issue, but also my top priority this year.
Question: If re-elected, how can you as a State Representative and the Oneida Nation work together to better all residents of the region?
Answer: The journey of joint progress requires all parties to listen, respect and collaborate. Thankfully, I believe the state government and the Oneida Nation have done an excellent job on this journey together. We must remain committed to this effort and this path.
Question: What do you see as the greatest challenges for economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer: We will lose up to 40% of all hospitality jobs and employers as a result of this pandemic. This impacts the Oneida Nation especially hard. I am already working on legislation to assist our hospitality industry.
Question: Wisconsin, local municipalities and tribes are facing a crisis due to the opioid epidemic. This crisis requires solutions at all levels of government. What solutions are you proposing in your campaign for public office?
Answer: Over the last two terms, I co-authored over 20 opioid addiction initiatives in collaboration with Rep. John Nygren. While Wisconsin is recognized as the #1 state in terms of opioid addiction responsiveness, this fight is far from over. It is my intention to have the ENTIRE opioid manufacturer class action lawsuit settlement (about $1 billion) dedicated to substance abuse efforts in Wisconsin, including all Tribal Lands.
Question: How would you like to see the state better protect the environment and its natural resources?
Answer: As a life-long conservationist, environmental protection has always been a very personal priority for me. Our very first legislative action should be to pass the entire Clean Water Taskforce package (about 10-12 pieces of legislation) before January 1, 2021. We have the resources in the current budget to do some fantastic things for our environment, but if we punt this to next year, we may have issues getting the votes and money to finish this important initiative.
Question: How do you believe state laws can or should be changed to better protect the rights of people of color in Wisconsin?
Answer: The legal rights of people of color are clearly protected by state and federal law. However, is state law and state initiatives fully protecting and promoting people of color? That is a bit different but perhaps a more appropriate question. My first bill next session has already been drafted (with Rep. John Macco), and it expands minority police recruiting options in Wisconsin. I also would like to explore real solutions to the multi-generational poverty that exists in various geographic pockets of our state. We need to find a way to give these residents a pathway to prosperity and independence.
