Election Preview: Wisconsin 60th State Assembly District

Republican incumbent state Rep. Duey Stroebel doesn't shy away from the Scott Walker reforms. He embraces them.

Running for re-election in the 60th Assembly District against Democratic challenger Perry Duman, Stroebel said Act 10 and other measures were necessary.

"We need to continue the good things that got done in the last session," he told Patch. "There’s a lot more to be done. I think we need to continue to create a business friendly environment in this state so businesses here can thrive and businesses that are not here will continue moving here."

His opponent, Duman, did not return a call for comment made through the number on his campaign website. That website contains only a picture and contact information. Duman previously ran for Port Washington mayor.

He has a campaign Facebook page, but it contains little information and he last used it to thank supporters for signing his nomination papers. The site says Duman lives in Port Washington, and he describes himself as "very liberal." Duman did not attend a recent debate forum that included the race. His Twitter site hasn't been updated since April.

Stroebel has served in the state Assembly since May 2011. He said that lowering the state's tax burden and creating jobs are among his chief concerns.

As for Act 10, the controversial bill restricting collective bargaining in Wisconsin, Stroebel said he prior services on the Cedarburg School Board helped shape his opinion on the new law.

"I've seen what collective bargaining did to the education of our kids," he said. "The priority of teachers is to teach our kids, not to be an employment agency for educational professionals. My school district was paying in the neighborhood of $1 million more for health insurance coverage with no ability to change it until Act 10 came into place. Think what we can do for that $1 million."

Stroebel said that out in the district, people are mostly concerned about jobs and economy. Stroebel is a real estate investor, developer, and manager in addition to legislator.

Stroebel said that one of his key focuses upon re-election would be to create more efficiency in government.

The 60th District has new boundaries this year in the wake of redistricting prompted by population shifts in the 2010 census. The district includes Port Washington and Saukville.

Wisconsin state representatives serve two-year terms and earn $49,943 annually. They also receive a per diem of $88 per day for each day they work in Madison.

Candidate profiles

• Republican Duey Stroebel (incumbent)
• Democrat Perry Duman (Did not respond to questionnaire)