Frank Kostka
Retired
Republican
Ashland (Kelly Township)
Elected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
I was born and raised in Ashland and served 20 years in the Air Force. My time in the service took me across the country but I always felt Ashland was my home and spent most of my vacations here. My northern Wisconsin values attracted me to come back home to Ashland where I opened a small business. I feel the leadership and problem-solving experience I developed in the military would be an asset representing northern Wisconsin in Madison. As a business owner, I listened to customers complaining about housing, taxes, utility costs, lack of jobs and government spending, but all I could do was share their concerns. As a representative I would continue to listen to our citizens’ concerns and voice them in Madison.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
The big concerns in the district are high taxes, energy costs and job opportunities. I would encourage our legislature to be fiscally responsible and thereby reduce the tax burden. Support the development and improvements of our energy infrastructure. Job opportunities in Northern Wisconsin have always been lacking, that’s one of the reasons I left the area to join the military. Many of our jobs up north are service oriented, but it’s hard to raise a family or buy a house with only that income. I would promote the benefits of our area to encourage businesses with good paying jobs to move up north and at the same time support existing companies to expand.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Wisconsin is eighth highest in the country on property taxes, so we’re being overtaxed. This is exemplified by the current $1.8 billion budget surplus, and they are debating how to spend it or to refund it back to the people they took it from. If I had a personal budget and end up with extra money, I would put it in my savings account and not find some frivolous way to spend it, but I guess that’s just me and my conservative values. For me if the state has more money than budgeted for, it should be returned to the taxpayers. I would be fiscally responsible in evaluating funding programs that are necessary to run our state.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
I love our Wisconsin state flag because it describes the strength and history of our state. But some items on the flag that were significant to our economy in the past are no longer viable due to political unpopularity. For example, the crossed pick and shovel for mining and a pyramid of pig lead, symbolizing abundance and mineral wealth are almost non-existent today.