Election 2024: Assembly District 29

Name: Terry Schoonover

How many years have you lived in the district? Seven

Family: I was born in Marshfield and grew up in nearby Loyal. I’m the oldest of nine siblings. My wife Renee and I have three children and three grandchildren.

Educational background: I graduated from Loyal High School, then went on to get an Associate of Electronics Engineering Technology degree at Phoenix College in Arizona. I earned my bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in international management, both at St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minn.

Present occupation: I retired in 2017 after a 20-year career at Mayo Clinic as an emergency management coordinator, where I collaborated with local and state law enforcement, area fire departments, EMS, public health, health care professionals, and elected officials on emergency preparedness planning.

Other community involvement: I was an American Red Cross board member for three years, deployed in 2017 for three weeks to Florida in response to Hurricane Irma, have been a lifelong blood donor, an election poll worker in my town of Belvidere, and this past year a Voter Education Facilitator.

Why are you running for office? Three years ago, I made my first foray into Wisconsin politics with the Fair Maps statewide initiative, an attempt to replace Wisconsin’s gerrymandered legislative maps (the worst in the country) with a fairer version. I ended up testifying in a senate committee in Madison. In March of this year, those fairer maps became law. It’s easy to be discouraged by the political climate we find ourselves in, but with some effort we can make a difference.

Please state what you feel are the significant issues facing the area at this time and in the future: School funding and road maintenance. I have been to many county, city, village, town board and school board meetings in the last seven months. A common concern and frustration is the lack of support from the state. I find it baffling that our current legislature continues to provide less than half-measures while sitting on a $3.5 billion surplus. They need to attend more local meetings to understand the scope of the problems.

If elected, what are your goals, and what areas would you like to see the legislature work on?  Many of our problems go unaddressed because of legislative gridlock. Our state legislature is one of the least productive in the US. We need to end gerrymandered legislative maps by creating an Independent Nonpartisan Redistricting Commission. It works in Iowa.

My WisEye candidate interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMnUGpvbH9g) best describes the priorities I would focus on. I’m hoping my opponent interviews as well so voters can hear about his legislative record of the last eight years.

Name:  Treig E. Pronschinske

How many years have you lived in the district? I have lived in Wisconsin my whole life.  I have lived in the assembly district for 24 years.

Family:   I have been married to my wife Becky for 25 years and we have one child Rachael who is now an adult.

Educational background:   Graduate of Chippewa Valley Technical College in construction management

Present occupation: Residential contractor, beef herd farmer, current state legislator, majority sergeant of arms and sporting heritage chairman.

Other community involvement: Former Mondovi volunteer fireman, member of Gilmanton Community Club, former Big Brothers & Big Sisters, former Mondovi Ambulance Commissioner, former mayor of Mondovi and former Mondovi youth baseball association president

Why are you running for office? I’m running for office to continue to be a strong voice for rural Wisconsin.  I have delivered results in Madison by securing additional funding for roads and public schools while working to keep taxes low.  I made a promise to the people of the district that I would look out for our rural communities and I have delivered on that promise. As the cost of living continues to increase, I believe there is still more work to be done to make life more affordable for the middle class.

Please state what you feel are the significant issues facing the area at this time and in the future. There are always many issues that are significant. Most important is the cost of living. The cost of food, energy, and household items continue to get more expensive. This is harming our middle class and especially seniors on a fixed income. Another issue is workforce development. I believe we need to work to create more opportunities for our young people to develop the skills necessary to grow our economy and their wages — without drowning in debt.

If elected, what are your goals, and what areas would you like to see the legislature work on?  If reelected, my number one goal is to be an effective legislator who works to make life better for residents of western Wisconsin. To me, this means working to lower taxes to combat the rising cost of living and investing in workforce development, rural infrastructure, and our schools.

Assembly District 29 represents the Trempealeau County towns of Arcadia, Burnside, Chimney Rock, Dodge, Hale, Lincoln, Pigeon, Preston and Trempealeau; villages of Pigeon Falls and Trempealeau; cities of Arcadia, Blair, Independence and Whitehall.