Getting a firsthand look at local manufacturing, Derrick Van Orden and Dan Kapanke visited Ted Mannstedt & Son in La Crosse.

Both Van Orden and Kapanke hope to earn seats in the upcoming November election. Van Orden is challenging Congressman Ron Kind for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Because Wisconsin State Senator Jennifer Shilling resigned before the election, Dan Kapanke will face Brad Pfaff, the former secretary-designee for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, to represent the Wisconsin Senate 32nd District.

Kapanke and his wife own a seed company in southwest Wisconsin. Being an area businessman, he was interested to learn from Ted Mannstedt & Son and see how their business has weathered multiple storms from tariffs to trade wars. Kapanke said the company is staying busy fabricating steel for projects around the globe. Locally in La Crosse, they are providing materials for the renovation of the La Crosse Center.

“While they are really busy right now, they have several projects in the hopper that kind of have been put on hold right now,” Kapanke said. “It is the uncertainty of COVID and people don’t know if they should invest money now or if they should wait until we get out of this.”

In terms of trade wars, Van Orden said it was time for someone to hold China responsible.

“China has been abusing our economy since they were opened in the 70s,” Van Orden said. “They’ve stolen trillions of dollars worth of intellectual property. Yes, there is an issue right now. People are feeling it with these tariffs that have been put in place by the Trump administration, but you have to look at the long-term goal.”

Both Van Orden and Kapanke spoke of supporting businesses and job growth. They believed other key issues for the election will include the pandemic and use of force by police.