Longer interview with Jason Church below.
Four candidates are seeking the empty 7th Congressional seat vacated by the resignation of Sean Duffy. WXPR is reaching out to each balloted candidate for an interview.
Today we hear from Jason Church, a Republican. Church is originally from Menomonie in Dunn county. He played football at UW-LaCrosse and was in ROTC. After graduation, he went into the Army as an officer. He was a platoon leader in Afghanistan. On August 23, 2012 he was critically injured when an bomb went off and lost both legs below the knee.
While recovering in Washington, D.C., he met Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson and later worked for Johnson. He came back to Wisconsin and now lives in Hudson and has again worked for Johnson.
He listed some of the key issues, including immigration, trade and the impeachment of President Trump...
"...The immigration system is broken right now. We need to build a wall down there...also I'd like to prioritize with the President on working on some trade deals. I know what China has done in the past two decades since they were admitted into the World Trade Organization has been just taking advantage of our system. Myself included not only supported the president in the general election but in the primary election as well. I've stood with President Trump..."
Church says he supports preserving the woodlands, but he says there has to be a balance so business innovation can occur. He says an example, the Clean Water Act has been interpreted by judges broadly and now covers rules that Congress never intended.
He says China is the greatest geo-political threat to the United States. He says what is being done in Hong Kong as an example. He advocates for more resources for the military.
The primary election is February 18. Church is challenged by longtime Northwoods legislator Tom Tiffany and the Democrats will narrow the race between Trisha Zunker of Wausau and Lawrence Dale of Eagle River.
The election to fill the seat is May 12, 2020.
