Politics & Government

60th District Candidate Kluessendorf Seeks Changes to Business Climate to Boost Economy

Rik Kluessendorf one of nine candidates running for 60th Assembly District.

  • Editor's Note: This is one article in a series of profiles on the candidates running for the 60th Assembly District.

Rik Kluessendorf is running for the 60th Assembly District spot in hopes of making Wisconsin a better place for small business.

"I have spoken with business owners throughout the district, and the most common complaints were taxes, fuel and supply costs, labor costs, regulations and fees and health care costs," he said. "These restrictions have recently caused the state to suffer a net loss of 1 percent of its small businesses per year. With the loss of these businesses, we lose employers, we lose jobs and we lose consumer spending power."

Kluessendorf is one of nine candidates vying for the 60th District position, and one of seven Republicans. The primary election for the spot is Tuesday; the top Republican and top Democrat candidate will move on to a general election on May 3. The 60th Assembly District seat has been empty since Mark Gottlieb left to become transportation secretary for Gov. Scott Walker.

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Boosting the business climate in Wisconsin will boost the economy, Kluessendorf said, making it an essential change in the state.

"Wisconsin has been ranked as 43rd in a 2010 list of states friendliest for business by Forbes," he said. "Specifically, this is because of regulations such as the minimum mark-up law, the exemptions from judgment statute, our corporate income tax rate, the statutes of limitations in place and a host of other issues that make it expensive or risky to run a small business."

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When it comes to the Budget Repair Bill, Kluessendorf said it comes down to not being able to afford everything anymore.

"There are wonderful luxuries that we have been enjoying that we simply can not afford," he said. "The most expensive luxury we have had has been our protection of public employees from the horrors of the private sector recession.

"Gov. Walker took on the heavy lifting of balancing the state budget.  It has cuts, to be sure, and none of us should be happy about those cuts.  But the cuts are necessary and reasonable cuts when the alternative is finding $3.6 billion somewhere else. ... When it comes down to it, this is probably the most responsible way to address the deficit that we have."

Rik Kluessendorf
"My main goal, once elected, is to address the oppressive regulations that restrict small businesses from growing and succeeding."
Educational/professional background:  Graduated from Port Washington High School in 1994, graduated with a bachelors of arts in history from Berry College in Rome, GA., graduated with a juris doctor degree from Marquette University Law School in 2007, has been working as a solo-practice attorney since 2007
Political background:  None prior
Family: Married
Age:  34
Address: Port Washington

Patch will have more coverage on candidates leading up to the elections. Check this article to find out more information about who will be on the ballot, as well as find links to other candidates' profiles.


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