TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Former Merrill resident, Democrat Richard “Dick” Ausman, self-described as “a small business owner, parent, and a former UW-Madison Marching Band bass drummer,” has launched a campaign for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, running against incumbent Congressman Tom Tiffany.
The 7th Congressional District is Wisconsin’s largest district by land mass and includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn, and Wood Counties.
“We are all Badgers/Wisconsinites – Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and whoever – and no matter if you live on a farm or in a city apartment, everyone deserves to have someone in Washington who’s looking out for them, and that’s why I’m running,” Ausman said in a press release.
“I support the Democratic Party values that our economy should work for everyone, health care is right, and we must strengthen and defend our democracy, but my upbringing taught me the value of a dollar, and my career in business taught me to be cautious when spending that dollar, so I will be a careful steward of American taxpayers’ money and ensure that the 7th Congressional District gets their fair share,” he said.
Ausman was born and raised in Merrill. His father died when he was seven years old and his mother, with six children, had no insurance or savings. Ausman said he remembers vividly the white boxes of food they would pick up at the County building. And he remembers his mom baked bread that he would deliver to families in the neighborhood, and she rented a bedroom in their house to a student attending the nursing college to supplant her earnings. Her values are the core of who Ausman became, he said: “Tell the truth, be kind, give your all to your family and work, and everyone is welcome at my table.”
A graduate from UW-Madison, a business man, and a publishing company executive, Ausman is married with two daughters.