LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR'S
ELECTIONS, THE OPEN SEAT IN THE
3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN
WESTERN WISCONSIN IS EXPECTED TO
BE A NAIL-BITER.
IT'S A DISTRICT THAT INCUMBENT
AND RETIRING DEMOCRATIC RON KIND
NARROWLY WON.
THE FIELD IS FILLING UP FOR
DEMOCRATS LOOKING TO REPLACE
KIND.
LAST MONTH WE INTERVIEWED BRAD
PFAFF.
TONIGHT WE HEAR FROM REBECCA
COOKE, A BOARD MEMBER OF WEDC.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS APPOINTED
COOKE TO THAT POSITION IN 2019.
SHE ALSO OWNS A HOME GOODS STORE
IN EAU CLAIRE AND FOUNDED A
NONPROFIT GRANT PROGRAM FOR
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
REBECCA COOKE JOINS US NOW FROM
EAU CLAIRE.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO WHY DO YOU WANT TO
REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE
3rd IN WASHINGTON?
>> YEAH.
YOU KNOW, I'M A DOER.
I'VE PROVEN THAT TIME AND AGAIN
AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL IN MY
HOMETOWN THROUGH SUPPORTING
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND
ADVOCATING FOR FOLKS I MET
ACROSS THE KITCHEN TABLE AND THE
BOARDROOM.
CAREER POLITICIANS HAVE LEFT US
BEHIND.
WASHINGTON CAN'T SOLVE
EVERYTHING.
I THINK WE HERE IN WEST CENTRAL
WISCONSIN HAVE THE SMARTS AND
COMMON SENSE TO SOLVE A LOT OF
THESE CHALLENGES.
I'LL TAKE THE VALUES I LEARNED
GROWING UP ON A DAIRY FARM NOT
TO GIVE UP WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH
AND FIGHT FOR OUR VALUES IN THE
HALLS OF CONGRESS.
>> SO YOU'VE JUST TOUCHED ON
THIS, BUT YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND
YOUR SEAT AT THE TABLE AS A
POLITICAL NEWCOMER.
>> RIGHT.
>> THIS STRIKES YOU AS A
POSITIVE.
>> YEAH.
I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE
DUE FOR FRESH LEADERSHIP AND I
THINK FRESH FACES.
I MIGHT BE NEW TO RUNNING FOR
POLITICAL OFFICE, BUT I'M NOT
NEW TO SERVING MY COMMUNITY.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT IN THE WORK
THAT I'VE BEEN DOING AT THE
GRASSROOTS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
LEVEL FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND SO I THINK -- I THINK THAT
WE'RE TIRED OF KIND OF THE SAME
OLD CAREER POLITICIAN POLITICS
THAT WE'VE SEEN AND WANT TO SEE
A CONGRESS THAT'S MORE
REFLECTIVE OF EVERYDAY AMERICA
AND FOLKS STEPPING OFF THE
SIDELINES TO SERVE THEIR
COMMUNITY.
>> WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
>> SURE.
YOU KNOW, THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING
TO BE RUN ON A LOT OF KITCHEN
TABLE ISSUES, THINGS THAT
EVERYDAY WISCONSINITES CARE
ABOUT, HAVING ACCESS TO
AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, ENSURING
OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE
RESOURCE NORESOURCES IN THE CLAY
NEED TO THRIVE.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
BROADBAND, HAVING CONNECTIVITY
TO MARKETPLACES AND FROM A
TELEHEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
SO KIDS AREN'T DOING THEIR
HOMEWORK IN A McDONALDS
PARKING LOT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PROMISE IN THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
I THINK THE OTHER PIECE IS JOB
CREATION AND HAVING -- BUILDING
A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY IN THE
DISTRICT AND HAVING EMPLOYERS
THAT WANT TO INVEST IN THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF WORKERS HERE.
>> THE ANNOUNCED AND
TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN IN
THIS RACE CAME CLOSE TO BEATING
THE INCUMBENT IN THE LAST
ELECTION.
WHAT KIND OF HEADWINDS DOES THAT
POSE FOR YOU IN A DISTRICT
TRENDING RIGHT?
>> WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BRING
IT BACK HOME IN TERMS OF
CONNECTING WITH FOLKS IN RURAL
COMMUNITIES.
YOU SAW MORE FOLKS COMING OUT
FOR TRUMP BECAUSE TRUMP WAS
SHOWING UP IN THOSE COMMUNITIES.
I THINK AS DEMOCRATS WE NEED TO
BE CONNECTING WITH FOLKS NOT
JUST WHEN IT'S AN ELECTION YEAR
AND WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT, BUT
ALL THE TIME.
IT'S A DISTRICT THAT IS STARTING
TO STEER MORE RIGHT AND WE NEED
TO BRING IT BACK TO VALUES THAT
ARE CENTRAL TO THE WAY WE LIVE
OUR EVERYDAY LIVES HERE IN
WISCONSIN.
SO I THINK RUNNING A CAMPAIGN
THAT'S VERY VALUE-CENTRIC IN A
BIG TENT THAT OPENS EVERYBODY
FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IS
WHAT I INTEND TO DO.
>> THE PRESIDENT JUST SIGNED THE
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND NOW THE
SOCIAL PART IS MAKING ITS WAY
THROUGH CONGRESS.
WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF SUPPORT
FOR THESE TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS
OF SPENDING?
>> YOU KNOW, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF
ANYTHING THAT, YOU KNOW, HELPS
WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR REGION
OUT, YOU KNOW, FROM MEDICARE
EXPANSION TO PAID LEAVE, EASING
THE BURDEN OF CHILD CARE AND
PRE-K FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.
I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR ANYTHING
THAT EASES THE BURDEN OF WHAT
THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE
BEEN LIKE FOR WORKING FAMILIES
IN OUR REGION.
>> ALL RIGHT.
REBECCA COOKE, WE LEAVE IT
THERE.
THANKS VERY MUCH.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.