Democrat Frank Urban of Dousman is taking on incumbent Republican Rep. Steve Nass of Whitewater for the 31st Assembly District seat. The election is Nov. 4.

Steve Nass

Age: 56

Address: N8330 Jackson Road, Whitewater

Family: Single; daughter, Ashleigh

Current job: Owner of rental property business and legislator

Political experience: Elected to Assembly since 1990; Whitewater City Council, 1977-1981

Other public service: Retired member of the Wisconsin Air National Guard (33 years), member of American Legion, member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kiwanis.

Education: B.S. UW-Whitewater (1978); Master's of education in school business management, UW-Whitewater (1990).

Web site: none

Frank E. Urban

Age: 73

Address: W277 Northey Road, Dousman

Family: Married 40 years; two sons, three grandchildren

Current job: Retired registered nurse, 50 years' experience

Political experience: None

Other public service: Volunteer, YMCA inclusive program; nursing volunteer, Rock River Health Clinic.

Education: Three-year RN diploma program in New York; bachelor's in political science at UW-Milwaukee; graduate credits toward health care administration at Cardinal Stritch University.

Web site: www.frankurban08.com

What will be your first piece of legislation?

Nass: I will re-introduce my proposal for a 4 percent, 4-year resident tuition and fee cap in the University of Wisconsin System. This proposal passed the Assembly in June 2007 as part of the state budget process. However, Gov. Doyle threatened to veto the provision by request of System administrators and it was kept out of the final version of the budget. The fight to control the cost of public higher education in this state is vital for middle-class families that can't afford average annual tuition and fee increases of more than 9 percent.

Urban: As a longtime health care giver and prospective legislator, two passions of mine are to promote affordable health care and — equally important — to bring about a new school-funding system for our Wisconsin schools. Our schools are the engine that drives our economy and stabilizes the infrastructure of our society.

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

Nass: I support the state continuing to fund two-thirds of public school operations as long as the revenue limit and QEO are also continued. The two-thirds commitment has worked in holding down school district property tax levies and provided a reasonable level of increasing state dollars for our public schools. While many want to make major changes in the school aid distribution formula, such a proposal would require a massive increase in state funding. The state already allocates 40 percent of all tax revenues toward K-12 school districts. Just maintaining the two-thirds commitment will be a difficult fight in the Legislature, since the state is facing a structural deficit nearing $2 billion and growing by the day.

Urban: Wisconsin needs a new funding formula that provides all school districts with enough resources so all children can achieve the state's high academic standards. While holding the line on property taxes, there must be a comprehensive tax reform in which those who use Wisconsin's public services (corporate or human) pay their fair share for those services. In the meantime, we must work with communities all over the state to help citizens gain the knowledge to make them valuable partners to form policy on school funding.

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

Nass: Absolutely. These tax levy limits must be continued for at least the next two budget years. The homeowners of this state are already struggling to survive the national financial turmoil. They should not be asked to pay dramatically more to finance local governments. Common sense in these economic times mandates that local officials tighten the belt on spending and, if necessary, delay expenditures until the economy improves. State and local governments must operate in the same manner as most families: Prioritize and control spending.

Urban: Under Wisconsin's approach to school finance, state aid and local property taxes are "joined at the hip." Each district must live within a state-imposed (or voter-approved) revenue limit. Under that cap, the more state aid increases, the less school taxes can rise, and vice versa. This system should be replaced with comprehensive reform applied fairly to all citizens and corporations while protecting property taxes.

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

Nass: The state needs to adopt both tax and health care policies that encourage competition in the health care industry. By increasing the number of providers in Wisconsin offering medical care it will help control costs by increasing the supply of practitioners. The state also needs to expand tax credits and deductions for insurance premiums and medical expenses. If people prioritize access to quality health care, then government-run health care is the biggest threat to both access and quality. Government-run health care can't be fiscally managed without the use of rationing-of-care rules. Rationing of care would require bureaucrats in Madison to decide who is eligible for what care and at what cost.

Urban: It is difficult to describe an exact working model, but (the state could explore) a system that would provide affordable health insurance through health networks that submit bids to a public-private trust involving employers, employees and those uninsured.

The future of the state's economy depends on:

Nass: The future of the state's economy depends on government getting out of the way and allowing the individual Wisconsin citizen to take risks and prosper. This state thrives on the development and expansion of small businesses. Whether as employer or employee, the people of Wisconsin are best able to take advantage of opportunity and drive our economy forward. Because state and local governments sometime are more hindrance than help, it has been the entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens that has driven the Wisconsin economy forward. Government has a role in providing educational opportunities, but it is still the individual that must be given the full credit for utilizing the tools available to move forward. The people of Wisconsin don't wait for government; they want government out of the way as develop the best life possible for their families.

Urban: Education.