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Volume 7, Issue 24, Oct 28, 2024
 Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, Eau Claire, Wis. 
Published the first business day of each week
Business Advocate Past Issues
Public Meetings Calendar
Chamber Events Calendar
The Chamber's Advocacy Principles
The Chamber's 2024 Business Issues Agenda
"Talking Po!nt" Podcast
How to become a Chamber investor
Contact: Scott Rogers, VP Governmental Affairs
rogers@eauclairechamber.org
Chamber Business Hours: Mon-Thu 7:30a-5:00p, Friday 7:30a-1:30p

In this issue:
 • In-person early voting available through Friday
 • Who do you want to represent you in the State Assembly?
 • City, County budget deliberations
 • Food for thought
 • Mark your calendar
Note on article links: A subscription is required for those marked with "$"
Publications known to have article limits or other access restrictions for non-subscribers are marked with "+"

Tomorrow. Last chance to register...
What's on your November ballot?   
   Attend this engaging session to get a fuller understanding of what's at stake in the November 5th election. It's a non-partisan review of what you'll find when you enter the voting booth, including state and federal offices and state referendum issues. This event is presented by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Business Advocacy Initiative, the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Wisconsin, and Young Professionals of the Chippewa Valley.
•  Tuesday, Oct 29, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
    Chamber offices, WNB Conference Room 101 N. Farwell St., Eau Claire
    Click here for details and to register 

Election resources: Click here for our elections page
 Sit-down video interviews with local Assembly candidates

Eggs & Issues: Election Analysis with the Marquette Poll's Charles Franklin
   Join us for this special opportunity to hear the post-election analysis of what Wisconsin voters decided when they went to the polls on November 5. Charles Franklin, nationally recognized government scholar and pollster, has been director of the Marquette Law School Poll since its inception in 2012, and has become widely regarded as the definitive source for information concerning public opinion in Wisconsin.
• Friday, Nov 15, 7:00-8:30 a.m., CVTC Business Education Center
    Click here for details and to register

Also for your calendar...
• Economic Outlook Luncheon - Tuesday, Nov 12
• Eggs & Issues: Election Analysis Charles Franklin - Friday, Nov 15
• 2024 Business Solutions Summit - Wednesday, Nov 20

In-person early voting now through Friday
Eau Claire has street detours to accommodate volume
    Local voters who want to avoid lines on Election Day or otherwise want to cast their ballots early can take advantage of in-person early voting weekdays now through Friday, Nov 1. You must vote in the municipality in which you reside.
   In the City of Eau Claire, residents can utilize the City's drive-thru, walk-thru voting in the parking lot behind City Hall on Dewey Street, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Due to a large expected turnout, some traffic detours will be in place during drive-thru voting hours: Dewey Street will be one-way from Galloway Street to Grand Avenue. Voters should approach Dewey St. from the north using Wisconsin St., Putnam, and Galloway, Voters will exit the parking lot onto Grand Ave. East. NON-VOTING traffic will DETOUR around Dewey Street using Grand Ave. E., Farwell St., and Madison Street.
   In Altoona, early voting will be at City Hall weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and in the Town of Washington at the Town Municipal Building, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. click the link below for more information and other municipalities:
Early Voting and Absentee Ballot Information (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)

Election day and mail-in absentee voting information
   Election day is Tuesday, November 5. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may also cast absentee ballots by mail, or in person at their municipal election office on weekdays between October 22 and November 1.
   To find your polling place, request an absentee ballot by mail, or see what's on your ballot, click on the following link: MyVoteWI (MyVoteWI)

Who do you want to represent you in the State Assembly?
   If you're tired of the negative ads and mailers, but want to compare candidates on the ballot in your State Assembly district, learn why they're running and - in their own words - what their priorities would be if elected. We conducted concise, 5-7 minute sit -down interviews with all 12 major party candidates in the six key Chippewa Valley-area Assembly districts (67, 68, 69, 91, 92, and 93). All 12 of them also completed the Chamber's written Good Government Council candidate questionnaire about economic issues.
Click here to confirm your Assembly district and access the videos and questionnaires
or if you already know your Assembly district:
District 67 - Rep. Dave Armstrong (R), Jeff Foster (D)
District 68 - Rep. Rob Summerfield (R), Richard Pulcher (D)
District 69 - Rep. Karen Hurd (R), Roger Halls (D)
District 91 - Rep. Jodi Emerson (D), Michele Skinner (R)
District 92 - Rep. Clint Moses (R), Joe Plouff (D)
District 93 - Christian Phelps (D), James Rolbiecki (R)

The Eau Claire Chamber does not endorse candidates, but provides resources and information to help investors and the public learn about candidates and their positions on issues.

Your vote counts!
   Local voters in Wisconsin have outsized influence with the upcoming November 5 election. It's a critical state in the race for President, control of Congress and the US Senate, and all-new districts portend a potential shake up of the state legislature. Additionally, there are two state constitutional amendments on the ballot, and the Eau Claire Area School District (ECASD) is asking voters to approve an four year operational referendum.

"Talking Po!nt" Podcast features John Frank
   Seasoned political observer John Frank talks with VP Governmental Affairs Scott Rogers about the key races on the ballot on November 5 and how your vote will have a big impact not only locally but nationally. Learn what's at stake statewide and in local legislative districts. Click here to listen (32:11)

WEAU political analyst John Frank breaks down 2024 races 12 days before election day (WEAU 13 News)

What else is on your ballot...

ECASD referendum seeks $18 million per year for four years
   The Eau Claire Area School District is seeking a four year, $18 million annual operating referendum on the November 5 ballot. ECASD says the proceeds would be deployed to ensure "High quality, research based reading instruction and stability of educational programs; Behavioral and mental health resources; Safe school environments; and Appropriate staff-to-student ratios to ensure academic, social, and emotional success for our students."
More information:
Referendum information page (ECASD)
Referendum FAQs (ECASD)
E.C. School District Seeks Budget Fix With Referendum (Volume One)

November ballot question aims to amend Wisconsin Constitution to clarify only U.S. Citizens may vote in elections
   The Wisconsin Legislature has placed a question on the ballot that aims to amend the state’s constitution as follows:
   Text: The question on ballots will read, “Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide of local referendum?”
   The authors maintain their primary goal is to prevent any ambiguity in how voting rights are applied in Wisconsin.
   Click here to read a full explanation of this amendment by John Jacobson, Director of Public Affairs, Ruder Ware LLSC

Federal offices
US President: Democrat Kamala Harris vs. Republican Donald Trump
US Senate: Incumbent Democrat Tammy Baldwin vs. Republican Eric Hovde
3rd District Congress: Incumbent Republican Derrick Van Orden vs. Democrat Rebecca Cooke

Eau Claire County Constitutional offices
The following offices are on the ballot, but the candidates are all incumbents and unopposed:
Eau Claire County District Attorney: Peter J. Rindal (Democratic)
Eau Claire County Clerk: Sue McDonald (Democratic)
Eau Claire County Treasurer: Glenda Lyons (Democratic)
Eau Claire County Register of Deeds: Tina Pommier (Democratic)

Eau Claire Zoning code rewrite process continues with Oct 28 meeting
   The City's Zoning Policy Advisory Committee (ZPAC), comprised of the City Council and Plan Commission members, will hold its next meeting on Monday, Oct 28, 4:00-6:00 p.m., at the LE Phillips Memorial Public Library. The Committee will discuss proposed Chapter 8 access & mobility and Chapter 10 subdivision standards. The City is currently working on a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.
More information:
Zoning Policy Advisory Committee
• Monday, Oct 28, 4 p.m. Meeting information
   Link to draft codes (City of Eau Claire)
   Project website (City of Eau Claire)

City of Eau Claire, Eau Claire County budget processes underway
Proposed 2025 operating budget (City of Eau Claire)
2025 proposed fee schedule (City of Eau Claire)
2025 County Budget information (Eau Claire County)
Online form for budget input (Eau Claire County)
News release - budget process (Eau Claire County)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Altoona Board of Education
• Monday, Oct 28, 6:30 p.m. Meeting information

Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, Oct 28, 7 p.m. Meeting information

Altoona City Council
• Wednesday, Oct 30, 6 p.m. Meeting information

More news stories...

Minnesota Wire Named E.C. Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year (Volume One)

City of Eau Claire looks to reach out to homeless through Street Ambassador Program (Leader-Telegram $)
Our View: Pilot street ambassador program worth a try in Eau Claire (Leader-Telegram editorial $)

EC County fund balance may be getting too low, warns supervisor (Leader-Telegram $)

Federal Reserve bank president speaks on interest rates, state of the economy (Leader-Telegram $)

Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Launches National Civics Bee® (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)