What's Coming Up For This Month Leading into Spring Dunn County?!?
The Spring Primary Election is Feb. 18th! For Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Finally! Refugee Resettlement is on the Dunn County Board of Supervisors Agenda
I do not know about you, my Dunn County neighbors, but it has been a zany month of February. I have been plagued with a nasty flu lasting a little over two weeks!! Trying to get back into the swing of things has been challenging. So, my goal is to get out for some much needed sunshine and head to the polls to vote tomorrow, February 18th for Department of Public Instructions. There are three candidates on the ballot vying a spot for the Spring Election on April 1st, 2025. Only two candidates will advance to the Spring Election ballot. The three candidates are Jeff Wright, Brittany Kinser and Jill Underly. I will give you each of the candidates website so you can do your own research and make an informed decision heading to the polls.
https://www.jeffwrightforwisconsin.com/
Apparently, Jeff Wright is not a big fan for school choice nor the state voucher program while Brittany Kinser is a big advocate for school choice and the state voucher program in which the parents decide what school will best meet the educational needs of the child. From Jill Underly’s campaign website not sure where she stands as far as school choice goes. With that, I thought I would inform you that 2025-2026 Open Enrollment in Wisconsin is currently taking online applications until April 28th. Open Enrollment gives guardians and parents the option to send their children to any public school district in Wisconsin. Ok, so back to Spring Primary Election Day! So, you want to vote but you do not know where to go and vote. Well, to find out where your polling place is to vote, you can go on myvote.wi and click on Find My Polling Place to plug in your address to find where to go to vote. This will be the only race on the ballot. No referendums to deal with for the Spring Primary Election. BUT, come April 1st Spring Election, there will be a referendum on the ballot. On my next blog I will cover the upcoming referendum which will be on the topic of requirement of a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin to be amended in our constitution. It is currently state law in Wisconsin.
Well, I am actually quite surprised that the topic of Refugee Resettlement landed on the page of the Dunn County Board of Supervisors Agenda for Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 in room 54 at the Dunn County Government Center which commences at 7 pm.
11. Items Placed at the Request of the Chair: Report from Health & Human Services Regarding Refugee Resettlement
I know this topic has been hanging over our heads in Dunn County since the fall of 2023. Since Trump took office he has placed an executive order suspending refugee admissions and freezing spending that aids refugees in their first three months here in the Untied States. Also with the crackdown of abuse of taxpayer funds from USAID which includes NGO’s to fund UN refugee programs. Which is quite interesting, meaning the taxpayers are funding the entire process of the refugee program, from the first three months to when the NGO withdraws ties from the refugees and hands over the financial responsibilities to the county and taxpayers of the county. My concern has been in the past to ensure we have the resources to support refugees in the county by implementing a study before placing refugees in the region. We have been crying to the rooftops about a housing crisis in Dunn County, not to mention lack of emergency shelter for our homeless population. How are we going to properly take care of refugees if we have issues taking care of our own neighbors in Dunn County. It will be interesting what will be discussed on Wednesday night on the Refugee Resettlement issue.
From One Dunn County Neighbor to Another - Stay warm and healthy!
Laurie J. Christianson