The GOP candidates in the 33rd Assembly District are looking to fill the shoes of Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, the longest-serving Assembly speaker in the history of the state.

Walworth County Board Chair Rick Stacey is up against Union Grove Village President Steve Wicklund in the race to represent the southeastern Wisconsin district that includes parts of Walworth and Racine counties. Vos is not running for reelection and has not endorsed either candidate.

The winner of the GOP primary will go on to face the winner of the Democratic primary – either retired teacher Rick Bailey or Maria Elena Bisabarros, who co-owns a meat processing company. 

The two Republicans agree that one of their top priorities should be providing property tax relief for their constituents; however, their plans to provide that relief differ.

Stacey said the state needs to look for ways to reduce costs across state departments and that there could be “multi-millions of dollars” in waste. 

“I think we need to go in, and we need to find where the waste is, and some of the different bureaucracies we have in Madison. … I just think we need to cut that so we can find some relief for the average person,” Stacey said.

He pointed to his past efforts to make Walworth County debt-free as evidence that cutting certain costs can work. 

Meanwhile, Wicklund said he’d like to explore ways of alternative funding for police, fire and EMS services.

“There are models out there that I believe are workable as far as shared services and communities working together and tapping into the innovation funds. But I think we need to find a way to pull those types of expenses off of the property tax levies,” Wicklund said.

Additionally, the two agree that local communities should have the final say on whether to host a data center development. Stacey said he would consider supporting a statewide moratorium while Wicklund is against statewide action.

Stacey, who has a background as a pumpkin farmer and in agritourism, said the state needs to focus on removing “red tape” for farmers. Stacey said that includes types of conditional use permits and finding ways to remove administrative obstacles for multi-generational farmers.

“I think my main thing is running on common sense and trying to make it better for middle-class people, the working people,” Stacey said.

Wicklund has owned his own electrical business since 2004 and is a union contractor. He said he’d like to see the removal of emissions testing requirements in southeastern Wisconsin and a reconsideration of statewide standards for wastewater treatment.

“I think there needs to be a balance between economic feasibility and environmental responsibility. Right now, I think it’s like it’s a little tipped,” Wicklund said.