Candidate Profile: Marc Ciske For State Assembly District 82

The 2020 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of other state and federal races.

Marc Adam Ciske, a Greendale resident is running for State Assembly District 82.

Age: 39
Party affiliation: Independent
Family:Elise Ciske, 32 wife
Maggie, 15 daughter
Piper, 10 daughter
Stella, 4 daughter
Rowan, 2 daughter
Occupation:Union Steamfitter (UA Local 601), 3 years
Previous elected experience:n/a
Family members in government:No
Campaign website: n/a

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The Corona Virus (Covid-19) is currently the most pressing issue. I intend to allow people to decide what’s best for themselves. I do respect the mask mandate and the effort being put forth by the governor, but I do not feel that it is right for the government to interfere with our rights and freedoms. As well as the impact on our communities and economy, which will have long lasting effects both monetarily and mentally.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The difference between myself and the other two candidates is that I am not a politician. I am in this race for others that are fed up with how our state is being run. I also am not toeing the line for a party agenda. Unlike the other two candidates, I am not being spoon-fed talking points from my party because I don’t have one. All my points are true bipartisan, as I am the only true bipartisan candidate.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
Accomplishments that qualify me for this position are, I am a normal person. I came from giving my children hand me down Christmas gifts and not knowing if I would be able to pay my rent because my job was so unstable; to owning a home in a great community and restarting my life with the help of my wife. I know what hard work really is and how much drive it takes to meet goals. I understand the hardships of life and have the compassion to breakthrough and make something out of nothing.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?
I believe the government, in this situation, should just take a few steps back and allow businesses the opportunity to run how they see fit. A lot of small business are struggling to the point of closing their doors, what business does the government have to stop these business owners and their employees from earning a living, quite simply none. If you want to bolster the economy stop shutting it down.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?
Being of Mexican descent, I can empathize with the injustices felt by persons of color. I believe starting the conversation is the first step and coming up with proper education to allow learning on how to help better understand the situation and foster a solution.

As far as police reform, I believe more money should be allocated to our police departments for education and resources they need to handle our current social climate. In addition I also believe that more funds should be allocated to social services and community behavioral health organizations so that they can also be properly trained and funded to be involved in choosing the correct actions to help deescalate situations that do sometimes have an unfortunate ending.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
-Offer a real bipartisan candidate, who can relate to the “average” constituent in the 82nd district
-Revamping of the state Shared Revenue Program
-Term limits for all elected officials on the state level
-Repealing Act 10
-Reinstate Prevailing Wage Laws
-Support of our law enforcement officers and provide funding for more personal, training and education
-Support for the 2nd Amendment rights
-Livable Family Wage

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I started this campaign after I was at an event for retired and impoverished veterans called Heat For Heroes where I was introduced to Ken Skowranski. After I had introduced myself I had asked him who he exactly was, he told me he was the assemblyman for the 82nd district. I said: “Great, where is that?”, I wasn’t very aware of what assembly districts were at the time. He told me that his district was Greendale, Franklin, and parts of Greenfield. I said that I lived in Greendale and then I said: “Hey real quick, now that older families are moving out and younger families are moving in, what are your plans to help with these younger families and the difference in their needs like schools and such?” He said: “Well I sit on the board for the VA.” I said: “great but that doesn’t answer my question” He gave me the run a round for about 5 minutes and then exited promptly when you saw a chance. Ken Skowronski could have avoid me as an opponent if he would have just answered my question or had given me a quick “I don’t know let me get back to you”. This led me to the thought that walking away is how a lot of politicians answer questions because either they don’t know or their parties are not in agreement with he answer to the question so they are just better off walking away instead of looking for a good answer. I will always try and give a good answer and if I don’t have one at the time I will say: “I don’t know, let me get back to you”, and then you will be able to find my answer later on using Facebook or another medium.