Petersen not seeking reelection

WAUPACA – State Representative Kevin Petersen announced he will be not seeking reelection for Wisconsin’s 57th Assembly District. Petersen was elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and rose into Republican leadership to become Speaker Pro Tempore as well as Assistant Majority Leader.
In a memo to the media and his constituents, he said he started his political career at the township level and later at the state level to serve rural communities and to ensure that central Wisconsin had a voice in Madison. Waupaca-born Petersen wrote that it’s been a “privilege and an honor” serving the voters in the district.
“The number of bills I voted on to achieve this is too numerous to list, however the results are not. When I was first elected, the state had an approximate $1.6 billion deficit, nearly $0 in the rainy-day fund, and a weak job market with a collapsing unemployment insurance fund. Today, Wisconsin has a balanced budget, a projected $2.5 billion surplus, a rainy-day fund of approximately $2 billion, a strong job market, and our state retirement pension is fully funded and is listed as one of the top 25 pensions in the world,” wrote Petersen.
He pointed that the political work was only one part of the job and cited helping a single mom getting some propane heat in an emergency and stepping in to help a person having their house foreclosed on because of red tape.
Petersen thanked his staff for their professionalism and his Wisconsin Assembly colleagues for unanimously electing him as Speaker Pro Tempore for the last two sessions.

He thanked his family for their encouragement and for attending the “countless hours attending pancake breakfasts, chicken barbecues, parades, and so many more events during the years.”
Petersen also thanked his wife Michelle for being there for him while his was away in Madison and during his deployments when he served in the U.S. Navy as a submariner.

Krentz announces candidacy
Immediately after Petersen’s announcement, Kevin Krentz send out a press release announcing his candidacy for the 57th Assembly District. He is a former President of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation (2020-2023) and a dairy farmer in Aurora, a Waushara County town centered between Poy Sippi, Berlin, Omro and Redgranite.
He has served on numerous boards and advisory committees related to agriculture and was elected to the Aurora Town Board in 2004 and served for 10 years including four years as a chairman.

“Property tax relief is desperately needed for working families struggling to pay their bills. Governor Ever’s 400-year property tax hike is the height of irresponsibility. I’ll make it a priority to address affordability issues as well as ensure law enforcement is supported, parents are in charge of their kid’s education, the unborn are protected, and our rights and liberties are defended,” said Krentz. “Kevin Petersen raised the bar for providing strong, conservative leadership for Wisconsin and the Republican caucus. I wish him and his family well in his next endeavors.”