Spring Break
Hixson bids for second term
Nass seeks reelection in 31st Assembly District
Victoria Vlisides
Issue date: 10/29/08 Section: News
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"I really do stand for the working people," Hixson said. "I want to strengthen the middle-class. In a lot of ways, I feel like the middle class is under assault."
Helping students pay for college is one of Hixson's main platforms. He introduced a piece of legislation called the "Syllabus for Success" that included a package of policies and implementations aimed to lessen the burden of college costs.
Hixson was an associate professor of advertising at UW-Whitewater and served three years on the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate.
In the plan, every tuition increase would result in a financial aid increase, dollar for dollar.
"What's happened over time is tuition has kept going up and up, and financial aid has not kept up with it, which means students or their families has to handle more of that burden of cost," Hixson said.
The "syllabus" includes a student health care co-op because many students lose coverage from their parents after college or cannot afford health care.
Towns served two terms in the state legislature, from 2003 to 2007. She said the district is "an area that has really different needs" because of the range of rural to urban environments.
"The main reason I am running again is because I think Wisconsin needs to work on being a friendlier place for employers and businesses," Towns said. "I think right now the economy in Wisconsin is the number one issue we need to be dealing with."
Re-election is a priority to Towns in order to ensure the 43rd districts' needs are represented.
"I worked very hard for the people of Rock and Walworth Counties during my tenure in office and am proud of what was accomplished," Towns said.
In the 31st district, the Democratic Party is seeking to oust longtime assembly member, Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater.
He is being challenged by Frank Urban, D-Dousman, for the 31st district seat. Nass has held his position in the state legislature since 1990. Nass had previously been on the Whitewater City Council from 1977 to 1981.
Nass, a former UW-Whitewater student, is planning on re-introducing a proposal to cap tuition and fee cap on public universities. He feels that the cap, set at 4 percent per year will better allow low-income families to afford college when rises in tuition could reach up to 9 percent per year.
Competition in the health care industry is a must to help families struggling to pay for health care Nass said. He supports McCain's health care plan and believes that the more insurance providers offering plans, the lower the costs to the average citizen will be.
To cure Wisconsin's economic woes Nass believes the government should step out of the way. Small business growth is important to fixing the economy and he believes small-business owners should have economic freedom to expand.
Urban, a former nurse, is strongly pursuing a fix to the current health care system. Urban believes the new health care system should involve a public-private trust involving employers, employees and those without health insurance.
Education is important to Urban who said he believes a strong education system will promote economic growth and stability in the state. He is a supporter of overhauling the way state aid for schools is acquired through taxes.
Urban has never run for public office, while Nass is seeking his tenth consecutive term in the 31st district seat.
Kim Hixson
Age: 51
Education: Ph.D. in journalism from Southern Illinois University; Master's degree in Professional Writing and a Bachelor's degree in Communication and English from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; Associate's degree in Broadcasting from Chattanooga State
History: State Assembly 2006-Present; two-term Whitewater Common Council member
Debi Towns
Age: 52
Education: Bachelor's degrees from Cardinal Stritch College; Master's degree from UW-Whitewater
History: State Assembly 2002-2006
Steve Nass
Age: 56
Education: Bachelor's degree from UW-Whitewater; Master's of education in school business management degree from UW-Whitewater
History: Whitewater Common Council 1977-1981; State Assembly 1990- Present
Frank Urban
Age: 73
Education: Bachelor's degree in Political Science from UW-Milwaukee; Nursing Degree
History: None
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Mark
posted 10/28/08 @ 11:44 PM CST
Go Debi!
I'm voting for Debi Towns on Tuesday - no doubt. The rest of the campus can go for Obama all they want but we need Debi Towns back in Madison even more. (Continued…)
Andrew
posted 10/28/08 @ 11:51 PM CST
It doesn't get mentioned in the story, but Debi Towns was a professor at UWW more recently than Kim Hixson - she taught a class this summer on education. (Continued…)
Cody Horlacher
posted 10/28/08 @ 11:59 PM CST
If Kim Hixson was so "concerned" with helping students he would have voted for the tuition freeze at 4%. Instead we're stuck paying back his "generous" financial aid package. (Continued…)
Ian
posted 10/29/08 @ 11:45 AM CST
There are significant differences between Kim Hixson and Debi Towns on almost every issue. When it comes to saving students money, Kim Hixson has a significantly better plan which includes matching dollar for dollar, financial aid with tuition. (Continued…)
Max T.
posted 10/29/08 @ 12:57 PM CST
CORRECTION... Mrs. Towns is by NO MEANS a professor on campus. Teaching one summer class at one point in time does not make you a professor. I believe she had a title along the lines of "adjunct instructor", which is usually only on a temporary basis. (Continued…)
Justin O'Rourke
posted 10/29/08 @ 2:39 PM CST
Mark, you are as much of a comedian as Rush Limbaugh. The fact is that the Republicans have screwed up Madison just as much as Bush has screwed up Washington. (Continued…)
Natha
posted 10/31/08 @ 8:49 AM CST
Because of your dumb comment Justin, Im voting straight Republican.
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