October 8, 2018 | 2:38 p.m. | www.wxow.com
La Crosse, WI (WXOW) – An informal debate took place between the candidates for Wisconsin’s 3rd District Congress at the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce. Democratic Representative Ron Kind and his Republican opponent Steve Toft discussed issues at the monthly Forum event, the theme for the month entitled “Come Meet People Who Impact You Federally”.
Kind and Toft both offered up their ideas on how government can work in a more efficient manner. Time was shared between the two men, both being respectful and cooperative over the course of the event. Each also spoke to what they were hearing from within the district.
“Some of the big issues that I’ve heard across the district concern agriculture. Tariffs are hurting our farmers, I’m a farmer, I have soybeans that I’ve yet to pick. You know, we really need to work out a trade agreement with China and to be able to have a fair market,” Toft stated.
Kind shared what he was hearing district wide, a concern about the rise of partisanship.
“There’s a lot of people here who are independent, they tend to look at the individual candidate before party labels. I think we need more of that these days. Democracy by definition requires some compromise, some cooperation, working hard to find common ground that effects all of us,” he said.
The cost of healthcare and education also topics of discussion. The event concluded with a question and answer session and closed with a handshake.
Election day is November 6.
