SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A former member of the state Assembly wants to earn his seat back. Democrat Terry Van Akkeren, speaking on WHBL's Sheboygan’s Morning News on Friday, says the decision by 26th District Assemblyman Mike Endsley to step down this fall was part of the reason he wanted the seat he held for eight years. The other is to mend the current divide in Madison, and make sure elected officials are serving the people of their district and not just the party they represent and the special interests.
If elected, Van Akkeren says a top priority for him is to address funding cuts made for public and higher education, which he says has hindered the state’s job climate. He said his past experience in local and state government taught him that when you talk to businesses and manufacturers, you make sure they can continue operations by helping to train the workers they need.
Van Akkeren faces Republican Terry Katsma on Tuesday.