Editor’s note: information below has been provided by a political candidate announcing his intention to run for office. Other candidates wishing to run for political office will have equal opportunity to announce their intentions.
Walt Christensen has announced his candidacy for the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors District 30.
In his announcement, Christensen wrote that he is running as an incumbent. District 30 includes Wards 4, 5 and 6 in Koshkonong and the Town of Sumner.
The district is west of County Highway K, north around Lake Koshkonong to the Dane County line, Christensen wrote.
Christensen has been a county board supervisor for 12 years and has served on numerous committees, according to the announcement.
He currently serves on six committee, including Land and Water Conservation, Parks, Lake Ripley Management District Board, Wisconsin Counties Utility Tax Board plus Blue Spring and Lower Spring Lake District Boards.
“I recently tallied my meeting attendance for 2021 through January of 2022. I attended 68 assigned meetings and 47 meetings with other committees and entities, like town boards, Traffic Safety Commission etc. I am stating this not to brag, but to assure you that a vote for me will not result in buyer’s remorse,” Christensen stated in his announcement.
Offering examples of his work on the county board and approach to governance, he said: “Some years ago I made the motion, in a joint committee meeting, to postpone site selection for the highway shop project for six months. I did so because I felt putting an industrial operation on our farm was inappropriate and a financial error. This 500+ acre parcel has about 350 acres of rented farmland. It is highly valued and brings in a bit less than $1M every three rental cycles. Within a few weeks the former Countryside Home site came up for sale. We bought it for much less than we sold it for several years earlier, and the asbestos was cleaned up. As a result, the County repurposed a brownfield site and continues to own and benefit from our county farm.
He continued: “In 2020, I advocated for restoring funds for a water resources specialist position at Land and Water Dept. That position is now filled and that department is moving toward surveying wells and groundwater for quality and quantity. In conversations with residents, I learned of their awareness of water issues and also when they came to meetings to support this funding.
“In spite of state-imposed revenue limits, Jefferson County has kept balanced budget, and maintained a high level of service in all departments, but notably Highway, Health and Human Services, Parks and wherever our dedicated, customer service-oriented staff meets the public.”
Christensen noted that issues can sometimes have “real impact” on constituents and “serious debate” in required to find a solution.
“Hard feelings can be unavoidable. For these difficult issues, I work to be prepared for the meeting and so I can clearly explain my vote. Often, I do not state my leaning on a vote until all discussion is over because it is possible that a new bit of information could be persuasive,” he wrote, adding: “A number of resident surveys have shown a strong interest in keeping out rural traditions. As a result, I have been outspoken in support of protecting our rural resources while allowing prudent development.”
When considering a situation, Christensen wrote: “First, I consider how any proposal will affect county residents and I ask questions that they might have. This is important because many people have jobs, kids and other duties, or even shyness, that prevent them from attending and speaking at meetings. Second, ‘beware of unexamined assumptions’ is what I learned at my college graduation and I think should be applied frequently. Third, my dad’s dictum, ‘you will be judged by what you did with what you were given.’ Finally, understanding the system is critical to problem solving. These are some of my guiding principles.”
According to the announcement, Christensen was born in Montana, but has lived mostly in southeast Wisconsin. He attended Catholic schools in Racine and holds a bachelor’s degree in art from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
In 1969, he wrote, he volunteered for the draft and, “predictably, spent two years active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed at the Nevada Test Site.”
Professionally he wrote, his “main occupation” was that of mechanic at Ford dealerships and he also is an inventor of tools and other products for which he has been issued a patent.
Christensen is 72, retired, and enjoys such hobbies as restoring land with native plantings, and restoring antique vehicles. He also enjoys camping “in the mountain west,” according to the announcement.
“I am lucky to have a girlfriend, a bunch of friends and VA health care. I was first elected a Koshkonong Town Board Supervisor in 1997 to 2001 and elected again in 2017 for a total of nine years, which dovetails nicely with my county work,” Christensen wrote.
“Please vote for me to be your continuing Jefferson County Board Supervisor, District 30, on April 5,” he added.
Walt Christensen
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