Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
7th Congressional District candidate Kirk Bangstad (D-Stevens Point) made a stop in Merrill last Wednesday, as part of a 26 county tour of the state which kicked off Tuesday.
“We are reaching out to people in all 26 counties to ask for voter feedback,” he said.
“We want to know and show people what is really happening up here. There is a lot of poverty and suffering due to policies of exclusion and divisiveness as opposed to unity and support.”
Below is Bangstad’s candidate profile as well as a message he has for voters:
Name:
Kirk Bangstad
Age:
38
Wife:
Elizabeth
Hometown:
Stevens Point, WI
Professional Background:
Technolgy consultant-15 Years- Formulate marketing strategies for various companies including Google, Cisco.
Education:
Graduate of Stevens Point Area High School
Harvard University-Bachelors Degree in Government Studies
Pursued studies in vocal performance and music at Northwestern University
Political Experience:
Field Organizer- former WI Governor Jim Doyle Campaign
Deputy Policy Director- Anthony Weiner- Mayor of NYC
Why I’m running:
“I’ve been a democrat for a long time.”
“In a nutshell, democrats believe ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and the main mantra of republicans is ‘pick yourself up by your boot straps and be responsible for your life.’ Each are respectable goals, but sometimes the balance gets tipped too far.”
“We have a situation today with rising inequality, where those on the bottom rung can’t climb up. So I think we need the balance to shift and start thinking about how we as a village can lift those folks up to a higher rung, so they can become contributing members of society”
Reason for running:
“This area has been represented very well by both parties over the years. David Obey (D-Wausau) and Melvin Laird (R-Marshfield. Both will go down in history as tremendous leaders.
“For the last six years congressman Sean Duffy (R-Hayward) has consistently voted to either shut down government or progress an idealistic agenda which is not bi-partisan nor is it responsible leadership.”
“I care more about getting things done in congress than closing down government based on idealistic dogma and that’s why I’m running for office.
What I can bring to the 7th Congressional Seat:
“I have spent my career as a tech-man for some of the nation’s largest companies.”
“I have managed staff and met deadlines, therefore I understand what it means to negotiate and get things done on a deadline. I feel many politicians these days don’t understand the art of negotiation to get things done.”
“I would imagine a majority of people in Lincoln County want to see a state congress get things done, opposed to bickering and throwing tantrums.”
Bangstad is running opposed to Duffy in the November 2016 election