Steve Wicklund
RepublicanQ1 America has a growing artificial intelligence (AI) industry, supporting cutting edge innovation and reshaping businesses, but raising concerns about education, ownership, and security. Application of AI technology has increased the demand placed on data centers, controversial for their resource use (such as water and land) and raising utility costs. What are your policy positions in regards to data centers and AI? What sources of evidence informed these positions?
Artificial intelligence is already improving manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and small business, and Wisconsin should position itself to benefit from that innovation. Government’s role is to encourage responsible growth while protecting taxpayers and local communities.
I support data centers when they are located responsibly, use existing infrastructure whenever possible, pay the full cost of the utilities they require, and create measurable economic benefits. I do not support forcing projects into communities over local objections or allowing utility costs to be shifted onto Wisconsin families and businesses. Productive farmland, water resources, and grid reliability must all be considered before approval.
State policy should encourage AI research, workforce training, and cybersecurity while protecting personal privacy and critical infrastructure. Wisconsin’s technical colleges and universities should play a leading role in preparing workers for AI-related careers.
My views are informed by discussions with local governments, utility providers, economic development professionals, manufacturers, and the practical experience of balancing growth with responsible planning as a Village President.
KEYWORDS: Innovation, Local Control, Responsible Growth
Q2 Making the US competitive in the bioeconomy (using technology applied to renewable biological resources to produce food, energy and industrial goods) requires innovation and investments in business, academia and government. Please describe policies you will support, if any, that relate to workforce development in Wisconsin’s strengths such as agriculture, biotechnology, and energy; and explain their rationale.
Wisconsin’s greatest strength is its skilled workforce. As a business owner who employs electricians and apprentices, I understand firsthand that our biggest challenge isn’t finding work—it’s finding qualified people.
I support expanding apprenticeship programs, strengthening technical colleges, and creating stronger partnerships between employers, schools, and workforce development organizations. Careers in manufacturing, agriculture, biotechnology, construction, and energy should be promoted alongside four-year college pathways.
Government should reduce unnecessary regulations that make it harder for businesses to hire and grow while encouraging investment in infrastructure, broadband, and reliable energy that supports private-sector job creation. I also support policies that keep taxes competitive so Wisconsin businesses can expand rather than relocate.
The goal should be simple: prepare Wisconsin workers for high-paying careers, help employers fill critical positions, and keep our state’s economy competitive without growing government.
KEYWORDS: Apprenticeships, Skilled Workforce, Economic Growth
Q3 Wisconsin’s public K-12 education systems have seen a significant decline in the past two decades, with more than 600 public schools closing and statewide student enrollment dropping 7%. These impacts have been especially pronounced in Wisconsin’s many rural counties, where opportunities for STEM education are already fewer. What policies, if any, would you support to improve K-12 education for students across Wisconsin?
Every child deserves access to a high-quality education regardless of where they live. Wisconsin should fully honor its commitment to fund education while addressing the special education funding gap that places increasing pressure on local property taxpayers.
I support giving parents meaningful educational choices while ensuring public schools have the resources to succeed. We should expand career and technical education, apprenticeships, STEM programs, and partnerships with local employers so students graduate prepared for college, skilled trades, military service, or the workforce.
Rural schools face unique challenges from declining enrollment, so state policies should provide flexibility rather than one-size-fits-all mandates. Decisions are best made by local school boards, parents, and educators who understand their communities.
As a business owner, I know employers need graduates with strong academic skills, practical experience, and a solid work ethic. Education should focus on preparing students for success in life while maintaining high academic standards.
KEYWORDS: School Choice, Workforce Development, Local Control
Q5 If elected, in what capacities would you refer to scientists when you are deciding how to vote on a policy?
I believe science is an essential tool for making good public policy, but it should never be treated as unquestionable. History reminds us that scientific understanding evolves. During my lifetime, I’ve heard predictions of global cooling, imminent resource depletion, and other forecasts that never materialized as expected. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that even experts can disagree and that recommendations can change as new evidence emerges.
That’s why I believe lawmakers should rely on transparent data, peer-reviewed research, open debate, and experts who are willing to challenge one another—not simply accept the prevailing narrative. Good policy weighs scientific evidence alongside economic impacts, constitutional rights, practical experience, and the needs of Wisconsin families.
Science is strongest when it welcomes questions, tests assumptions, and adjusts to new evidence. That’s the approach I’ll bring to the Legislature.
KEYWORDS: Scientific Integrity, Transparency, Critical Thinking
Q7 Wisconsin has faced an increasing number of infectious disease outbreaks in recent years, for instance with rising numbers of measles and avian influenza cases that threaten human health and agricultural industry, respectively. What policies, if any, would you support to manage the burden of infectious disease in the state and respond to future outbreaks?
Protecting public health is a core responsibility of government, but public trust is just as important. Wisconsin should invest in disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, emergency preparedness, and strong coordination between local health departments, healthcare providers, veterinarians, and agricultural producers so outbreaks can be identified and addressed quickly.
Public health decisions should be based on the best available evidence while recognizing that scientific understanding evolves. Officials should communicate honestly about what is known, what remains uncertain, and adjust recommendations as new information becomes available. Transparency builds trust.
I support targeted, evidence-based responses that protect vulnerable populations while respecting constitutional rights and individual freedoms whenever possible. Our goal should be to safeguard both public health and Wisconsin’s economy through preparation, accurate information, and practical decision-making—not fear or politics.”
KEYWORDS: Preparedness, Transparency, Evidence-Based