Republican Kent Koebke is challenging Democratic incumbent Andy Jorgensen for the 37th Assembly District seat in the Nov. 4 election. Both are from Fort Atkinson.

Andy Jorgensen

Age: 41

Address: 1424 Endl Blvd., Fort Atkinson

Family: Married to Toni; three children: Jens, 11; Myles, 9; and Camryn, 6

Current job: On leave from position at General Motors plant in Janesville to represent the people of the 37th Assembly district; formerly radio personality "Andy Arbuckle" on WFAW and former worker on Jorgensen family farm

Political experience: Elected to Assembly in 2006; have served on four legislative committees: Agriculture, Rural Affairs, Consumer Protection and Personal Privacy, and Biofuels and Sustainable Energy

Other public service: Current board member for Respite Care Association of Wisconsin, volunteer for Jefferson County Literacy Council, member of Jefferson County Labor Council and Rock County Labor Coalition, member of and Sunday School teacher for Trinity Lutheran Church, former Cub Scout leader for Pack 137, former member of Fort Atkinson FFA Alumni, former executive chair for Fort Fest, Inc.

Education: Graduated from Omro High School in 1986. Graduated from Brown Institute (Minn.) in 1987

Kent Koebke

Age: 56

Address: 551 Milwaukee Ave. E., Fort Atkinson

Family: Married to Dianna for 24 years; son Karl in graduate school at UW-Milwaukee; son William attending UW-Whitewater

Current job: Career and academic adviser at Madison Area Technical College-Watertown, Retired Marine colonel (on active duty 1974-2001)

Political experience: President, Fort Atkinson School Board, 2007-present (elected to board in 2005)

Other public service: First United Methodist Church of Fort Atkinson: Chairman, Finance Committee; small group co-leader, Sunday School teacher. Treasurer, Fort Atkinson Disabled American Veterans Chapter 39. Boy Scout Eagle Project Leader. Volunteer in Mission participant at two locations in Wisconsin and three in the U.S. Hosted several foreign exchange students.

Education: Bachelor's in political science from UW-Whitewater; master's in education from East Carolina University; master's in strategic intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College

What will be your first piece of legislation?

Jorgensen: The cost of health care, gas, and even a loaf of bread — virtually everything is more expensive now than it was a year ago. But those costs are going up faster than our income, and families are hurting. My first priority in the next term will be improving our economic outlook. I will work to create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil by supporting investments in the promising field of renewable resources. I will push for tax fairness and to support training programs that keep Wisconsin workers competitive in a global economy.

Koebke: It seems that with each passing day, our local economy heads further in the wrong direction and we need to get it headed back on the right track. If elected, my first priority will be to work together with legislators — Republicans and Democrats — on a job-retention, job-creation and regulatory reform proposal that includes incentives for hometown companies to keep their operations and good-paying jobs here, tax breaks for companies that reinvest their profits in promising young in-state companies and local entrepreneurs, tax cuts for families and small businesses, and relief from burdensome regulations that drive jobs and businesses out of Wisconsin.

What changes, if any, would you make to the way the state funds public schools?

Jorgensen: It's vital we continue to support our top-notch public education system. It benefits our kids and makes Wisconsin an even more attractive place for businesses to grow. I support the state's commitment to fund two-thirds of school costs but believe we should also re-evaluate our financing formula. We must find a way to stop our current cycle of divisive referendums. By closing corporate tax loopholes, we can have low property taxes and great schools.

Koebke: As the President of the Fort Atkinson School Board, I am quite familiar with the challenges local public school districts face with the state funding formula. Eliminating and/or reducing unfunded state mandates, allowing districts the flexibility to best meet the needs of the local students and a closer link between the existing spending controls (revenue limits and the QEO) would be helpful.

Do you support continuing property tax levy limits on counties and municipalities? What changes would you make, if any?

Jorgensen: I think it's important we take a look at the way the state and local governments work together. Funding for county and municipal government has not increased with the rate of mandates given them. This puts important projects and services at risk. I know that we can do better, and I think it's time we found a solution.

Koebke: In these tough economic times, homeowners are struggling just to pay the monthly mortgage and should not have to dig deeper into their pockets to pay more in property taxes. The existing spending controls help keep property taxes in check while we work toward fundamental reform that brings our state and local tax burden in line with our families' ability to pay.

What can the state do to expand access to health care while keeping it affordable?

Jorgensen: With studies showing that nearly a half-million Wisconsinites have no health insurance, increasing access to affordable health care must be one of our top priorities. I supported the expansion of the BadgerCare program so that all Wisconsin kids are covered when they need to see a doctor. I also support legislation to require insurance companies to cover the needs of kids with autism and hearing deficiencies. Ultimately, I believe part the solution to our health care dilemma lies in providing subsidies for small businesses to offer affordable health care to their employees. We should also create buy-in programs for those who are self-employed.

Koebke: The key to making health care more affordable is to put families and patients, not politicians, in charge of their own health care. Unlike those who believe it's time to turn over your health care to the politicians and bureaucrats in Madison, I believe it's time for individuals and families to know the cost of their care and where they can go to get the highest quality of care. That's why I support open disclosure of health care cost and quality information. We need a health care system that takes full advantage of existing information technology to reduce costs and medical errors. And we need to make sure that small businesses and families have choices to get the best care at the best price.

The future of the state's economy depends on…

Jorgensen: The future of the state's economy depends on the creation of new, good-paying jobs through investments in emerging industries like the manufacturing of renewable fuels.

Koebke: a well-trained and highly educated workforce; business diversity that recognizes Wisconsin is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in manufacturing, agriculture and biotechnology; entrepreneurs and small businesses with access to venture capital who will help create more good-paying jobs; and a state government that shows restraint in its spending, reduces taxes and puts an end to senseless bureaucratic red tape.