John Rindy
Semi-retired
Democrat
Potosi
Elected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
The voters of AD 49 should elect me because I will protect the Driftless from data center development, I will fight to adequately fund our public schools, demand property tax relief, and legalize cannabis. The voters should also vote for me because I am not a career politician unlike my opponent. If elected, I will propose term limits for all levels of government representation. Additionally, I am an environmentalist who will protect our water, land, air, state parks and nature preserves.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The top issue in AD 49 is the development of a data center in Cassville. I would propose a bill limiting the development of data centers to non-agricultural land. Agricultural land would remain agricultural for generations to come. The Driftless Region has a unique ecosystem with plants, insects, birds, and animals found only in the Driftless. We must protect Wisconsin from billionaire follies that benefit a few people at the expense of many and the loss of natural resources.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
We need to reform the committee chair power. In the Legislature, committee chairs possess total unilateral control over their committees. They decide whether bills receive public hearings or votes. Implement a "Manning" rule: Create a procedural mechanism where a supermajority or a significant percentage of committee members can force a hearing on a bill, preventing popular bipartisan measures from being quietly pocketed by a single chairperson. Mandate hearings for broadly co-sponsored bills: Require that any bill achieving a minimum threshold of bipartisan co-sponsorship (e.g., 20% of members from both parties) automatically triggers a public committee hearing. Additionally, moderating extraordinary and special sessions would streamline the legislative process. Implementing standardized notice times and enforced subject matter limits during these sessions would improve our current system.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
The first cheesehead hat was a couch cushion with holes burnt into it.