>> TURNING TO WESTERN WISCONSIN
AND THE RACE TO REPLACE RETIRING
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RON KIND, IN
OUR CONTINUING SERIES OF
INTERVIEWS WE SIT DOWN NOW WITH
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE DEB
MCGRATH, DAUGHTER OF FORMER U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE AL BALDUS.
SHE IS A FORMER OFFICER IN THE
ARMY WHO ALSO WORKED IN THE CIA.
DEB MCGRATH JOINS US NOW FROM
MENOMONIE AND THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU.
>> WHY DO YOU WANT TO REPRESENT
THE PEOPLE OF THE 3rd DISTRICT
IN WASHINGTON?
>> THE STAKES OF THIS RACE ARE
SO HIGH.
AFTER 25 YEARS OF WORKING BOTH
IN THE ARMY AND IN THE CIA, I
KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO
SOLVE PROBLEMS.
AND AS A WIFE AND MOTHER, I
UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT
FAMILIES ARE FACING ACROSS
WESTERN AND CENTRAL WISCONSIN.
I GREW UP HERE IN MENOMONIE AND
IT'S A PLACE I'VE ALWAYS CALLED
HOME.
AND MY FATHER, AL BALDUS, WAS A
CHAMPION FOR PEOPLE, LISTENING
TO THEM AND FIGHTING
SELF-INTEREST.
SO I WILL BE A CHAMPION FOR
THOSE PEOPLE IN WESTERN
WISCONSIN.
>> DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOUR PAST
EXPERIENCE READIES YOU FOR A
ROLE IN CONGRESS.
>> WELL, FREDERICA, THIS IS --
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT
WORKING FOR OUR COUNTRY IS THAT
WE PUT OUR COUNTRY ABOVE
POLITICS AND WE WORK TOGETHER
AND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER TO GET
JOBS DONE.
AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN HARD TO
EVERYBODY'S IDEAS SO THAT YOU
CAN GET TO THE BEST OUTCOME.
I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
ATTRIBUTE THAT MY SERVICE HAS
BROUGHT TO ME.
>> YOU SAID THAT THE STAKES ARE
HIGH IN THIS RACE.
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES YOU'D LIKE TO ADDRESS IN
YOUR DISTRICT?
>> FREDERICA, THERE ARE REAL
THREATS RIGHT NOW TO OUR
DEMOCRACY, TO OUR NATION,
ECONOMY AND FAMILIES.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT
WE CAN WORK ON, WE CAN WORK ON
THE CHILD CARE.
WE CAN WORK ON PRE-K.
WE CAN WORK ON MAKING SURE WE
GET BETTER ACCESSIBILITY TO
HEALTH CARE FOR FOLKS IN RURAL
AREAS.
I THINK THE BROADBAND IS GOING
TO BE -- IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR
KIDS TO BE ABLE TO DO HOMEWORK
IN THEIR HOMES INSTEAD OF
PARKING LOTS AND OF COURSE FOR
FARMERS TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR
-- TO GET THEIR PRODUCT TO
MARKET.
SO I THINK THAT THERE IS SO MANY
ISSUES FACING US, FREDERICA.
>> THE TRUMP-ENDORSED REPUBLICAN
IN THIS RACE IS HIMSELF A FORMER
NAVY SEAL.
HE TOO TOOK AN OATH TO OUR
COUNTRY, SOMETHING YOU SPEAK
ABOUT.
HOW ARE YOU DIFFERENT?
>> I WORK WITH A HANDSHAKE
INSTEAD OF A FIST.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE
AND LISTEN TO THEM TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS.
WHEN I LOOK AT THIS GREAT
COUNTRY, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE
WORK TOGETHER, WE WILL
ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.
I AM NO STRANGER TO BEING THE
FIRST IN ANY CHALLENGE.
FOR INSTANCE, I WAS THE FIRST
WOMAN, WAS THE ONLY WOMAN IN MY
AIRBORNE TRAINING CLASS AND
SERGEANTS WOULD HAVE LOVED TO
HAVE MADE ME QUIT.
I LED MY EXAMPLE.
I NEVER GAVE UP.
AND I WAS THE FIRST ONE OUT OF
THE PLANE.
THAT IS THE ATTITUDE THAT I
BRING TO THIS RACE.
>> WHAT IN YOUR BELIEF WILL MOST
HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE 3rd
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?
>> I BELIEVE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING
AT THE MEASURES THAT ARE BEING
FACED IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, I
DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO
STRONG FAMILIES, STRONG ECONOMY
AND SMART AND STRONG NATION.
WHEN I LOOK AT CHILD CARE, THAT
WILL HELP GET PEOPLE TO WORK.
I MYSELF HAD TO GIVE UP MY JOB
IN THE ARMY BECAUSE, MY CAREER,
BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD CHILD
CARE.
AND WE BUDGETED FOR PRESCHOOL.
WHEN I LOOK AT FAMILIES, WHEN WE
LOOK AT MEDICARE EXPANSION FOR
SENIORS, TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED
LIFE, WITH BETTER VISION AND
DENTAL.
SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE
REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ARE
MAKING FAMILIES STRONG, OUR
ECONOMY STRONG AND STRONG
DEFENSE OF OUR NATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE
DONE AROUND MAKING SURE FAMILIES
HAVE THAT NEEDED CHILD CARE?
>> I BELIEVE WE NEED TO -- WELL,
THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT I
THINK WOULD BE REALLY WONDERFUL
FOR US.
FIRST, INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE WHO DO
THE WORK FOR CHILD CARE.
I THINK THAT IF WE COULD HELP
PEOPLE DECIDE TO GO INTO THESE
LINES OF WORK SO THAT THEY GET
GOOD-PAYING -- THOSE ARE
DECENT-PAYING JOBS FOR THEM.
IT'S THE SAME THING WITH
SENIORS.
WE COULD ALSO INVENT ADVISE INCE
WHO WORK FOR SENIORS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
DEB MCGRATH, WE LEAVE IT THERE.