The La Crosse mayor primary: Voting, campaign finance numbers, absentee numbers with city clerk Nikki Elsen. Before that, WIZM's Brad Williams talked the 10-year anniversary of Act 10 and Scott Walker getting his car rocked by La Crosse protesters (something that's been disputed).

The La Crosse mayor primary: Voting, campaign finance numbers, absentee numbers with city clerk Nikki Elsen. Before that, WIZM's Brad Williams talked the 10-year anniversary of Act 10 and Scott Walker getting his car rocked by La Crosse protesters (something that's been disputed).

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

Finalists for La Crosse mayor

Q1: PFAS

Q2: Protecting water

Q3: Cyber attacks at UW-L, UW-EC

Q4: Protecting women's against the USSC

Q5: Protecting LGBTQ given USSC makeup.

Q6: Reigning in US Supreme Court

Q7: Van Orden lies on Medicaid.

Q8: Ensure Medicaid is helping communities

Q9: How to make healthcare affordable

Q10: Restoring SNAP, making it work better

Q11: Supporting and expanding social security

Q12: Regulations on camera systems like Flock

Q13: What to do with ICE

Q14: Citizenship for undocumented immigrants

Q15: How to create affordable housing

Q16: Helping seniors with housing

Q17: What to do about Iran conflict

Q18: US relationship with Israel

Q19: Resolving Israel-Palestine conflict

Q20: Would you restore USAID?

Q21: Making decisions

Garcia word on DVO

Final statements

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night.

Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half. 

The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP.

Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed.

Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years.

"President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,” Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. “And so every two years would allow a more — though there's probably still be some holes — but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way." 

Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench.

"Creating a code of ethics for justices,” Cooke said. “II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting — or that they're ruling on cases."

The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin.

Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction.

"Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,” Cooke said, “is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there."

Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels.

"But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,” Berge said. “And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for — if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding — but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions."

While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums — one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night.
Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half.&nbsp;
The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP.
Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed.
Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years.
"President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,&rdquo; Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. &ldquo;And so every two years would allow a more &mdash; though there's probably still be some holes &mdash; but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way."&nbsp;
Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench.
"Creating a code of ethics for justices,&rdquo; Cooke said. &ldquo;II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting &mdash; or that they're ruling on cases."
The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin.
Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction.
"Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,&rdquo; Cooke said, &ldquo;is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there."
Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels.
"But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,&rdquo; Berge said. &ldquo;And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for &mdash; if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding &mdash; but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions."
While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums &mdash; one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.

US House candidates Cooke and Berge debate in La Crosse

US House candidate Emily Berge in studio, discussing the issues she’s hearing from the people around Wisconsin’s 3rd District — healthcare, money in politics, the price of gas, and healthcare (again).

We started the show, though, discussing party “infighting” — this trigger word political parties use to call out the other side, and how maybe this “infighting” isn’t such a terrible thing vs. an entire party being unified on everything.

After that, we talked about how, traveling the district, Berge hears complaints about healthcare and money in politics a lot.

Berge talks about her ideas on how to resolve those issues, like Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United, plus having representatives that are ready to fight for those ideals. Berge also talks about the money in her race and how she was asked not to run.

Lastly, we discussed gas prices and the war, where Berge talks about the need to focus and prioritize on issues back home vs. things like a war with Iran.

US House candidate Emily Berge in studio, discussing the issues she&rsquo;s hearing from the people around Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd District &mdash; healthcare, money in politics, the price of gas, and healthcare (again).
We started the show, though, discussing party &ldquo;infighting&rdquo; &mdash; this trigger word political parties use to call out the other side, and how maybe this &ldquo;infighting&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t such a terrible thing vs. an entire party being unified on everything.
After that, we talked about how, traveling the district, Berge hears complaints about healthcare and money in politics a lot.
Berge talks about her ideas on how to resolve those issues, like Medicare-for-All and ending Citizens United, plus having representatives that are ready to fight for those ideals. Berge also talks about the money in her race and how she was asked not to run.
Lastly, we discussed gas prices and the war, where Berge talks about the need to focus and prioritize on issues back home vs. things like a war with Iran.

Emily Berge, running for Wisconsin's 3rd US House District, on healthcare, money in politics, prioritizing issues at home

A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area.

It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when River Point District, downtown, had interest from Costco, and was rehashed this week with the La Crosse County Board chair, as well as Jason Spangler's As I See It. 

Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L.

That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school — plus can people even read my cursive.

After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year.

A day after a conversation about creating a county committee on data centers, UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky joined and toyed with the idea of also having a committee for bringing Costco to the area.
It's a matter that was discussed years ago, when <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2024/06/26/la-crosses-river-point-district-could-have-possibly-had-a-costco-and-basically-just-a-costco/">River Point District, downtown, had interest</a> from Costco, and was rehashed <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/05/15/no-ban-but-a-plan-la-crosse-county-board-chair-tryggestad-on-data-centers/">this week with the La Crosse County Board chair</a>, as well as Jason Spangler's <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2026/05/15/opinion-la-crosse-needs-a-costco/">As I See It</a>.&nbsp;
Aside from that, however, Chergosky helped break down the gerrymandering wars that could come to Wisconsin. But, also, does the general public know what gerrymandering means? We asked Chergosky if this term is familiar with his new students at UW-L.
That actually led to a whole other discussion about student knowledge, cheating with A.I., how students take notes (notebook, or computer?) and the benefits of teaching cursive in grade school &mdash; plus can people even read my cursive.
After that, more state politics, including back to being pro rigging the voting maps as a way to win the Wisconsin governor election, plus how a $2.5 billion deal between three retiring politicians failed, and what it says about looking ahead to the makeup of state government next year.

Finalists for La Crosse mayor

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