Keith Mogel

Keith Mogel served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1977 to 2005. Mogel earned a high school diploma from Emmaus High School, a bachelor's degree from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park in 1977, and a graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire in 1989. Mogel's career experience includes working as an operations manager.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born in Pennsylvania and am the grandson of a EUB minister who taught me compassion and acceptance of all people as individuals and to be treated equally. I attended Penn State University on a 3-year ROTC scholarship graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Corrections. I was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army upon graduation serving 11 years on active duty, and 17 years in the Wisconsin and Minnesota National Guard, retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. My assignments included: Korea, NATO Headquarters Kosovo, Germany, and various continental assignments. My awards included Defense Meritorious Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, US Army Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Army Commendation Medal (3 awards) and various campaign medals to include Korea, Kosovo, War on Terrorism, NATO Service Medal (non-article 5) and several other service medals. I received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Operations Management from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I have worked since leaving active duty for a combination of small and large businesses. While working for larger corporations, I earned a Black Belt in 6 Sigma (problem solving), was certified in Kubota Production Systems (process and quality improvements in business), and taught CPIM (Certified Production Control and Inventory Management). These certifications add to my understanding of fiscal issues at the state and local levels.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

RURAL SCHOOL FUNDING:

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Wisconsin Rural School districts are facing a funding shortage from the State Legislature requiring local referendums to just maintain basic educational levels

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Wisconsin Rural School Districts are funded at a National Level of 39th in the Nation.

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All Public-School students deserve a high-quality education as stated in the State Constitution.

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Overhaul the current School Funding Program to fund school districts to appropriate levels resulting in reduced referendums and increased local taxes needed to keep schools operating. Fund required mandates to 90%.

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Restructure the School Voucher Program. State Taxes should be funding Public Schools not Private & Religious Schools as mandated in the State Constitution.RURAL HEALTH CARE:

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Healthcare decisions should not be a “Life or Debt” situation.

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Develop a State managed Small Business Cooperative to assist Small Businesses with 100 employees or less to reduce insurance costs and outrageous deductible levels.

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Enhance Badger Care to allow independent contractors, farmers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed to purchase health insurance from a single payer option.

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Help develop regional Primary Care facilities in rural areas to enhance residents’ access to responsive medical professionals.

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Augment the availability of Metal Health and Social Support networks to the rural counties.

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Develop procedures to fully fund Rural Hospitals struggling with Medicaid and Medicare payments.Rural Infrastructure and Local Authority:

•Rural Roads in Wisconsin are deteriorating, and Towns are struggling to keep up with maintenance costs by limiting their ability to execute a comprehensive road maintenance plan.

•Overhaul the State Road Funding formula to provide Rural counties and towns the necessary funds to repair and maintain a rural road network that supports residents and business.

•Rural Towns are getting State and County mandates on land usage ordinances adversely affecting the “quality of life, safety, and health” of the residents.

•Rural Towns must maintain the authority to control and enforce their own ordinances and zoning, supporting the needs and desires of the residents.

DNR and State Parks must be funded.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

These are the areas I am personally passionate about:

1. DNR and State Park funding. Over the past years the overall funding for the DNR research, exotic species control, fish hatcheries, state lands and state parks have been significantly cut in funding. These need to be championed to reinstate the programs that have been terminated. The Knowles-Nelson stewardship program must be fully funded.

2. School funding. The school funding formula must be scrapped and re-written from the original 1993 bill. School districts must be funded to the 90% level to include ALL state mandated programs including staff psychologist, social workers and mental health professionals. We must fund the arts to include art, music, theater, and forensics.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Teddy Rosevelt

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, communication with your citizens on what they think their need sand issues are for you to work on in the State Assembly.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The constituent's access to you for issues and areas they feel they need help.

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I supported the needs of the people and future generations in my district.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Farm Labor - detasseling corn

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Partnership for the betterment of the citizens of the state.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Funding of our social programs that made Wisconsin a textbook example of what a Progress state look like.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

yes

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Wisconsin Progress

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

President Kennedy assassination