Health care agencies united to question and educate candidates in the 91st and 92nd Wisconsin Assembly district races at a forum on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

The Jackson County Health Department and Healthy Communities: How Does Wisconsin Measure Up — a coalition of state and local health organizations in Wisconsin — hosted a candidate forum/educational session for the 91st and 92nd districts last week. The event was held at the Skyline Golf Course banquet room.

The focus of the forum was to hear from each candidate about their ideas and positions related to health care and to offer agencies participating an opportunity to present what they felt were current issues in the healthcare arena industry.

The forum’s host, Christine Hovell, public health manager of the Jackson County Health Department, said that this was an educational-style event with many different issues addressed. Presenters relayed the many hardships that the two districts currently face in many health care areas.

Interaction at the end of the forum occurred between presenters and candidates to allow for more personal discussion and exchange of resources. Hovell said this was not only an opportunity to hear from both candidates and presenters but to talk about what the issues in healthcare are locally so that we can begin to address them as a community.

Candidates from the 91st District who were in attendance included Democrats Margaret Baecker, Steve Boe, Chris Danou and James Kraft; Republicans David Anderson and Dave Hegenbarth; and independent Paul Beseler.

Candidates from the 92nd District who were in attendance included Democrats Curtis Miller and Mark Radcliffe and Republican Dan Hellman.

Agencies presenting were from Black River Memorial Hospital, Black River Memorial Homecare, Black River Memorial Hospice and Jackson County Health Care Workforce Alliance, Jackson County Public Health, Smoke-Free Wisconsin, and Western Dairyland Community Action Agency.

Topics included dealing with an Alzheimer’s epidemic, Medicaid reimbursement for homecare and hospital, dental access, workforce shortages in health care, the effect of gas prices on home visitation and the burden of tobacco on Wisconsin citizens.

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, was available to interact with presenting agencies, and the moderator for this event was Pat Malone, community development educator for the University Wisconsin Extension agency in Trempealeau County.

Hovel said the event was very successful as candidates and presenters provided thoughtful and varied viewpoints to questions and concerns and kept to the time allotment allowed.

The entire forum can be viewed on Wisconsin Eye at http://www.wiseye.org/wisEye_programming/ARCHIVES-state_elections.html#cpn_080819_91_92_forum_1.