Elections
95th Assembly debate — Billings v. Gundersen; First of five local debates heading into Nov. 3 elections
The first of five debates into state and national races out of the Coulee Region begins today.
From 12:45-1:45 p.m., Democratic incumbent Jill Billings of the 95th Assembly District will be debating Republican challenger Jerome Gundersen.
Here’s a map of the 95th district.
Follow WIZM election coverage here.
Who’s asking the questions?
“We’re relying on the panelists, including the very distinguished Brad Williams, for the debate Monday, and we also have a number of other media panelists taking part,” University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky said Friday afternoon on WIZM. “So, they’ll be asking the questions and I’ll be, kind of, steering the ship, as we go. Looking forward to five excellent debates, as we go throughout the next three weeks or so.”
Chergosky will be the moderator but did say he does have some questions he may ask.
“I’ll have a couple, but the main attraction will be our media panelists,” Chergosky said on La Crosse Talk PM.
Billings has held the office since a special election Nov. 8, 2011, after the seat was vacated by Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D). Shilling then moved from the Assembly to the Senate in the recall election of Republican Dan Kapanke on Aug. 9, 2011.
Billings, who had previously served on the La Crosse County Board for eight years, has run unopposed in every election since. She also ran unopposed in the 2020 Democratic primary, getting 7,419 votes.
Gundersen, a former La Crosse County Board supervisor, also ran unopposed in the Republican primary with 2,351 votes.
Here’s the schedule for the rest of the debates:
94th Assembly
Wednesday from 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Dem. Steve Doyle (inc) vs. Ind. Leroy Brown vs. Rep. Kevin Hoyer
96th Assembly
Friday from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Rep. Loren Oldenburg (inc) vs. Dem. Josefine Jaynes
32nd Senate
Oct. 2 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Dem. Brad Pfaff vs. Rep. Dan Kapanke
3rd Congressional
Oct. 28 from 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Dem. Ron Kind (inc) vs. Rep. Derrick Van Orden
Jenny
October 12, 2020 at 9:45 am
The media is so lame. “Billings has held the office since a special election Nov. 8, 2011, after the seat was vacated by Rep. Jill Billings (D).”
The seat was vacated by Jen Shilling you losers!
But to the point of the story, the “panelists” are rabid demmoc-rat activists. It’s going to be a hit-job on Gundersen. Be on your game Jerome!
Bethany
October 14, 2020 at 10:05 am
Watched the debate later on YouTube. Agree with Jenny’s comments on biased questioning for Gundersen. All I heard from Billings was how she “feels” for businesses and families during the Covid crisis. Gundersen gave me and the and Wisconsin businesses the benefit of the doubt that we know how to mask up, protect others and patronize businesses we are comfortable with. I am worried about the blind overreach of shutdowns that Gov. Evers and Rep. Billings support! Glad she “feels” bad for all the increased depression, opiod overdose, alcoholism, family fracture, abuse… DUE to being unilaterally locked up! Shame on them.