Return to Green County
After four years in Oman, I “retired” back to my Green County roots. Much of Green County and Monroe are the same. We still have the most attractive courthouse square in the nation. The cheese is as good as it ever was. The brewery is still operating. The great traditional Swiss yodeling and polka music is being carried on by talented artists and musicians. The Cheese Days celebration in Monroe and the Wilhelm Tell pageant in New Glarus still exist.

But as the nation has changed over the decades, there are changes and challenges in Green County as well. People are questioning the future of the county—-what will it look like down the road? How can we make this region a better place to live, with economic opportunity for those who choose to remain, and for those people who would like to live here and be a part of this region? What are the prospects and opportunities?

Since returning, I have been impressed with the tremendous number of public-spirited citizens in both private and public enterprises that are working for the improvement of this region. These include members of school boards, county and village and town boards, museum curators, members of art and theater groups, organizations such as Monroe Mainstreet, chambers of commerce, service clubs, historical associations, Future Forward! Green County, and dozens more. And surely, we must include those members of enterprises such as The Swiss Colony and the Monroe Hospital and Clinic who have contributed so much, both through their organizations and as private citizens. There always have been active, public-spirited citizens around here, but it’s almost as if there has been a renaissance and a renewal of activity regarding planning for the future of this region.

Since returning, I have been fortunate to have been involved in some of these efforts. Less than six months back here, I found myself on the Monroe School Board. Not too long after that, it was the SmartGrowth Committee of Town of Monroe and appointment by the governor to the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. The point I’m driving at is that with all the energetic efforts of so many citizens, both natives who are part and parcel of our traditional culture and transplants who bring energy, talent and skills to staff our public and private enterprises, it is hard not to get caught up in their enthusiasm and to want to contribute to the well-being of this region. (At left, John, pictured with Schwyzerörgeli player, John Wegmueller, at the Turner Hall of Monroe.)

It is thus that many people have suggested that with the combination of roots in ths region and the experience I have gained, both as an economist and in administration at various places throughout the nation and the world, they believe me to be in a unique position to represent this region in the Wisconsin Legislature.

As an economist I have long had an interest in politics and public policy, and as I mentioned earlier, it is politics and public policy that affect so many aspects of how people live, including their economic welfare and educational opportunities of the region.

It has been a long road to get to this point in my career, and I never thought I would be in position to run for elective office. But I am enthused and energized by the tremendous efforts by so many people devoted to making this a better place in which to live.

It would be an honor and priviledge to contribute through representing this region in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Click on a chapter title to read more...
Growing Up in Green County
From Farm Boy to Marine
Education: Fulfillment of "The Epiphany"
Influences of the 1960s
My Career: University of Minnesota
My Career: New Mexico State University & Sultan Qaboos University in Oman
Bush's War in the Middle East
Return to Green County