Petri calls himself a “low-key” legislator who likes to do his work in a non-pushy manner, but who has gained a lot of experience in government. “People are just going to have to decide if they feel it’s worthwhile that people have a track record as a representative or if it’s more important to them to give someone (else) a chance to learn on the job,”
Incumbent congressman faces two challengers in 6th District
By Bob Petrie
By Bob Petrie
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, who has represented Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District since the Carter administration, is getting competition from two first-time political hopefuls as he seeks to return for a 14th term in office.
Petri, 64, a Republican, is being challenged by Democrat Jef Hall, 31, a program specialist from Oshkosh, and Carol Ann Rittenhouse, 71, a Wisconsin Green Party candidate from the Village of Franklin, north of Plymouth.
The 6th District cuts a wide swath across east-central Wisconsin. Besides Sheboygan County, it also covers Calumet, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Manitowoc, Marquette, Waushara, Winnebago and portions of Adams and Jefferson counties.
Election Day is Tuesday.
[Excerpt]
Tom Petri
Petri, who defeated Tommy Thompson, the future Wisconsin governor, in the Republican primary en route to his first trip to Congress in 1979, figures he’s doing again what he has always done: apply to the public to keep his job another two years.
After running unopposed in 2002, Petri said he has enjoyed being on the campaign trail again.
“Competition is good, and it’s a healthy part of the process,” Petri said. “If you think you’re doing a good job and you would like to talk about it and no one else is running, you feel kind of left out.”
Petri calls himself a “low-key” legislator who likes to do his work in a non-pushy manner, but who has gained a lot of experience in government.
“People are just going to have to decide if they feel it’s worthwhile that people have a track record as a representative or if it’s more important to them to give someone (else) a chance to learn on the job,” he said.
Petri chairs the House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, and says he has worked to improve Wisconsin’s share of federal transportation dollars to where the state is close to getting $1 returned in funding for every $1 in taxes it sends to Washington.
“It always is a challenge, but it’s important to get out there and fight to make sure Wisconsin doesn’t get shortchanged,” he said.
Petri said he believes Wisconsin needs to do whatever it can to increase its economic competitiveness and exports. He said exports from the state rose by 7.5 percent last year, to $11.5 billion.
“It’s very important to ramp up our exports,” he said, noting state successes such as Kohler plumbing products and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
On the Iraq war, Petri said he supports speeding up the training and equipping and the “transition of Iraqis taking care of Iraqis.”
“It’s not the best thing to try to have people who don’t know the language or customs to be policing the streets of the towns,” Petri said.
Petri supports President Bush’s plan for health care savings accounts for people who need health insurance.
Locally, Petri said he regularly visits with district constituents.
“I certainly make a determined effort to attend as many community events and town meetings, and hold office hours,” he said.
