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Volume 7, Issue 25, Nov 4, 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

Note: Because of the importance of this week's election, this issue of the Business Advocate is going to all Chamber investors. If you don't already receive this newsletter each week but would like to become a subscriber, it's available free of charge to all Chamber investors. Log into your info hub and select it, or simply reply via email and we'll add you to the list. 

In this issue:
 • Election Day voting information
 • Who do you want to represent you in the State Assembly? Unbiased candidate
    information for all six Chippewa Valley districts
 • Final polls show tight Wisconsin races
 • Wisconsin passenger rail projects move forward
 • Take the Eau Claire Transit Survey
 • Local student to compete in DC at National Civics Bee
 • 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 "+"

Election Day, Tuesday, November 5
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter ID is required. If needed, you can register at your polling place on Election Day with proof of address. To see what’s on your ballot, find your polling place, and other voter info, click this link: myvote.wi.gov

Your vote counts!
   Local voters in Wisconsin have outsized influence with this year's 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 is a state constitutional amendment and the Eau Claire Area School District (ECASD) is asking voters to approve a four year operational referendum.  
Click here for our full elections page
Sit-down video interviews with local Assembly candidates 

After the election...
Eggs & Issues: Election Analysis with the
Marquette Poll's Charles Franklin
   Join us for a special opportunity to hear the post-election analysis of what Wisconsin voters decided when they went to the polls on November 5. Dr. 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: Holiday Legislative Breakfast - Friday, Dec 20

Who do you want to represent you in the State Assembly
Unbiased candidate information for Chippewa Valley area districts
   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 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.

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
 • Appropriate staff-to-student ratios to ensure academic, social, and emotional success for students
More information:
Referendum information page (ECASD)
Referendum FAQs (ECASD)
E.C. School District Seeks Budget Fix With Referendum (Volume One)

Wisconsin Constitutional Amendment
   The Wisconsin Legislature has placed a question on the ballot that aims to amend the state’s constitution as follows:
   “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.
More information:
Click here to read a full explanation of this amendment by John Jacobson, Director of Public Affairs, Ruder Ware LLSC

What else is on your ballot...

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)

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

Chamber hosts events with federal candidates
   Over the past several weeks, the Chamber hosted separate events for candidates for federal offices, including 3rd District Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden on October 1, Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke on October 11, and Republican US Senate Candidate Eric Hovde on October 28. Democratic US Senator Tammy Baldwin met with the Chamber on May 30.
More information:
Van Orden Speaks at Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce Breakfast (WEAU 13 News)
Van Orden discusses farm bill, dock workers strike, and impact on farmers (Leader-Telegram $)
Rebecca Cooke meets with Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce (WEAU 13 News)
Cooke meets with Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce (Leader-Telegram $)
Rep. Van Orden & Rebecca Cooke Visit Eau Claire Chamber (Eau Claire Chamber)
Eric Hovde Visits the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce (Eau Claire Chamber)
Sen. Baldwin meets with area business leaders (Leader-Telegram $)
Senator Baldwin meets with business leaders in Eau Claire (WQOW News 18)

Election-related news...

Final Marquette Law School Poll before Election Day finds Harris supported by 50% of likely Wisconsin voters, Trump by 49% (Marquette Law School Poll)
Marquette poll puts Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a dead heat in Wisconsin (Journal-Sentinel +)
Analysis: Breaking down the final Marquette poll of Wisconsin for the 2024 campaign (Dan Shafer, The Recombobulation Area)
Echelon Insights Poll: Trump and Harris at 48-48 (Echelon Insights)
Marist Poll: Harris +2 Points Against Trump in Wisconsin (Marist Poll)

Harris holds 'Get out the Vote' rally in Madison with star-power performances (CBS 58)
Trump rallies in Green Bay with longtime Packers quarterback Brett Favre (Fox 11 News)
Trump, Harris cap frenetic Wisconsin campaigns with competing, massive Milwaukee rallies (WPR)

$12 mil & counting: The most expensive race in the history of western Wisconsin (WQOW News 18)

What’s on the Ballot event (WEAU 13 News)

What to expect when you’re expecting election results in Wisconsin (WPR)
Bipartisan WI leaders discuss election security (Leader-Telegram $)

With new maps at play here's how the Wisconsin Legislature could look after the election (Wisconsin State Journal +)

Wisconsin passenger rail projects move forward
   As Wisconsin's newest passenger train service racks up strong ridership, other planned passenger rail expansions also got good news this past week. The Borealis, launched in May as a second train between St. Paul, La Crosse, Milwaukee, and Chicago in addition to the long-distance Empire Builder, carried over 100,000 passengers in less that six months, well beyond projections.
   Locally, the Chippewa-St. Croix Passenger Rail Commission announced its selection of a consultant for the first phase study of planned passenger train service between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities via Menomonie and Hudson. A team of HDR and HNTB will undertake the work known as "Scoping" that will prepare the corridor for the next phase of planning for ridership, schedules, stations, capital improvements, and other steps necessary to start service.
   The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) also announced an award of $73 million to WisDOT and Amtrak for infrastructure improvements in the Milwaukee area that will facilitate increased train service between Chicago and Milwaukee. WisDOT officials have described the Chicago-Milwaukee "Hiawatha" corridor as the key "trunk" that will lead to train extensions to places like Eau Claire, Madison, the Fox Cities, and Green Bay.
More information:
Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission selects HDR Engineering, Inc., to lead scoping for the Eau Claire to Twin Cities Passenger Rail Project. (Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission)
Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission selects consultant to begin planning for new Eau Claire - Twin Cities Passenger Train (West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition)
Consultants hired for scoping of Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger rail proposal (Trains +)
Gov. Evers, Sen. Baldwin Celebrate $72.8 Million Federal Infrastructure Grant for Muskego Yard Project to Strengthen Freight, Passenger Rail Services in Wisconsin (Office of the Governor)
Wisconsin to receive nearly $73M in federal funds to support freight, passenger rail (WPR)
100,000 rides in less than 6 months: Why riders are digging the Amtrak Borealis (MPR)

You're invited: City of Eau Claire survey on transit needs 
   The City of Eau Claire has begun a Multimodal and On-Demand Transit Feasibility Study to explore how a range of potential service alternatives, including both traditional bus and on-demand/microtransit service, could improve the coverage and quality of local public transportation. You can help by answering a few questions in a short, 3-minute survey about how you prefer to get around Eau Claire. Click here to take the survey
More information:
You can help shape the future of Eau Claire Transit by taking a survey (WQOW News 18)
Can Microtransit and Regular Buses Live in Harmony? (Bloomberg CityLab)

Local student to compete in DC at National Civics Bee Nov 12
   The local DeLong Middle School student who won the first Wisconsin Civics Been earlier this year will be in Washington, DC, next week to compete in the National Civics Bee.
   Rya Mousavi of Eau Claire will represent Wisconsin at the November 12 event, which is organized by the Civic Trust and supported by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation. The National Civics Bee is an annual competition that inspires young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. It's designed as a nonpartisan initiative to enhance civic literacy, skills, and participation.
   Next week's event will be streamed online for those who wish to watch. See the link below for details and to register.
2025 Civics Bee competition now open
   The Eau Claire Chamber is one of the regional hosts sites for the 2025 Wisconsin Civics Bee. Middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to take part in the first-round of civics essay competition. The competition begins with a 750-word civics essay where students are asked to identify a community issue and propose how they could help improve it. In each region, the top 20 essays will be selected to advance to a live event on April 12. The portal for essay submissions is now open, with a deadline of February 4, 2025. Click here for details.
More information:
National Civics Bee and registration information for November 12 (US Chamber Foundation)
Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce Launches 2025 National Civics Bee® (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
DeLong Student Wins First-Ever Wisconsin Civics Bee (Volume One)

Meeting this week...
Full public meetings schedule

Eau Claire Plan Commission
2024 Work Program
• Monday, Nov 4, 6 p.m. Agenda Packet

Eau Claire Board of Education
• Monday, Nov 4, 7 p.m. Meeting information

Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors
• Wednesday, Nov 6, 7 p.m. Meeting information
   2025 County Budget information (Eau Claire County)
   Online form for budget input (Eau Claire County)
   News release - budget process (Eau Claire County)

City of Eau Claire News Updates (including weekly City Manager's Update)