With the campaign season underway, one congressional candidate made a stop in La Crosse Saturday.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) - With the campaign season underway, one congressional candidate made a stop in La Crosse Saturday.
Rebecca Cooke is looking to be the democratic challenger in Wisconsin's 3rd district and visited as part of a small business tour.
Cooke wanting to hear from community members held a roundtable discussion at White Buffalo Thriftery.
Among the things discussed included: competing with modern shopping such as Amazon, price sensitivity in Western Wisconsin along with travel and housing.
One small business owner said he's grateful to have Cooke in La Crosse and believes a different option for travel would help business in La Crosse.
“I think a person running for congress can help the City of La Crosse from a broad perspective,” Richard Markos, owner of Markos Apparel said. “And the broad perspective is one of our mantras of course is the high speed rail. And you need federal dollars in order to get that off the ground. She seems to be willing to move us in that direction.”
Cooke stated she is looking to bring people together and wanting to speak with the people of who she would represent.
“I am really working to bring folks together across party lines. Not just meeting with democratic parties, but meeting with small business owners,” Cooke said. “Meeting with environmental advocates. Meeting with teachers and union workers. I think it's important for me to hear from a broad coalition or a broad base of people. I want to know what they are looking for in their next representative.”
Small businesses also stressed that they must lean on authenticity and being creative in order to continue success.
Cooke mentioned she won 11 out of 19 counties when running previously. Cooke lost to Brad Pfaff, but expressed that previous election experience gives her and edge this time around.
Also running in the democratic primary, Katrina Shankland, a State Representative from Stevens Point and Eric Wilson, from Western Wisconsin.
Incumbent republican Derrick Van Orden announced last week he will be seeking re-election.
