I grew up in the 36th district, on the south side of Rib Mountain on Fern Lane. I was raised here with my six younger brothers from elementary school through graduation from Wausau West high school. My parents, as well as two of my brothers and their families also live in the 36th district. I have another brother living in Wausau, and another in Weston with his family – the two outliers live in Green Bay and Stevens Point for those keeping track. I have deep roots in Rib Mountain and have always considered it home.
My youngest brother putting in the work on backyard rink c. early ‘90s
You have to love the “Doc Hockey” part. Some little kid started calling him that at the games
A common sight in the neighborhood growing up was us playing street hockey in the summer (usually with friends) and on our backyard rink in the winter. People still often mention that to me. We all played youth hockey and for Wausau West. While I am sure a few of my more talented brothers still rank on the team’s career scoring list, the family’s West Hockey MVP has to go my dad, who volunteered as team doctor over the 20-year span while at least one of us was playing for the team. …Of course, overall MVP though goes to our mom for raising 7 boys.
Add to that the ski hill, golf course, the countless hours spent hiking and exploring Rib Mountain – which fostered in me a great love for the outdoors – and it was a great place to grow up and raise a family. This is something that is still true today and I am committed to making sure it stays so.
After high school I moved out West with a couple friends for a little adventure and to experience more of the world on my own. Needing to pay the bills, I started working as a bus boy right after our arrival and then worked my way up to better things.
Living in the Northern California Sierras was a great experience for someone who loves skiing and the outdoors. After a few years though it was time to move on. I did well enough at the local community college (LTCC) to be accepted into a number of universities and decided to earn a degree. The final choice came down to UCLA and UW-Madison. While the glitz of Los Angeles was tempting (at least in those days), I will always be a Badger at heart and love Wisconsin, so returned home to finish school.
The annual family Thanksgiving football games with just the brothers; usually a grudge match.
Through my college years and after it was routine to travel home to Marathon County to visit family on weekends and during holidays. Even while living in Madison, I still had a strong connection to the area and was back frequently. One of the great family traditions has been our annual Thanksgiving Football game. Over the years we’ve played too many games to count, usually the 2 oldest and 2 youngest brothers vs. the 3 middle brothers, but often times with friends and girlfriends (later wives and kids). The tradition has waned in recent years, however every Thanksgiving we still talk about getting back out there and of past glories.
At UW-Madison I worked my way through school while earning a bachelor’s degree, double majoring in Political Science and History. I had always been a history buff who spent many hours at the library growing up reading history and gaining a great love of such knowledge. However, it was in college that I first began to get politically active and started working in that field to make a difference. The person who inspired me politically most in those early days was the great Tommy Thompson.
The games with the girls and others; much nicer.
After graduation I continued to work in the political arena in various roles including campaigns and organizing. Based in the Madison area, over the years I’ve worked in different regions in Wisconsin and have travelled all across the state. I have greatly enjoyed working with grassroots activists here in Wisconsin, meeting so many people and hearing their stories and points of view. I’ve learned to have a great deal of respect for people, even those I don’t see eye to eye with or agree with on every issue. I found you can usually find some sort of common ground when you respect others enough to try and seek it.
After the pandemic I decided it was time to move home to Rib Mountain to be closer to family and wanted to live in an area with people who share my values.
Tommy Thompson, an incredibly innovative governor who revitalized the state’s economy. He was a great inspiration to me.
I currently work at the State Capitol as a Legislative Aide. This, combined with my education and the other political work has given me a great deal of insight into the process and function of government, as well as a firsthand understanding of issues at the state level which effect Marathon County. In addition, the State Representative I work for – whom I admire greatly and have learned a lot from – represents Wausau and much of the surrounding area here in Marathon County. I am frequently part of meetings and work on local concerns with constituents, businesses, community organizations, and government representatives from Marathon County while at the Capitol. This has all prepared me well to serve on the County Board.
While in college I decided as part of my life plan that I would finish my final working years teaching as a way to give back before I retire. I still plan to do this – more than ever now seeing the strain on our education system and the need for teachers. I currently have a substitute teacher license and will look to gain experience when I can. I then plan to move into teaching full-time after I leave working for the State Legislature in a few years.
