WATERFORD - Economic development is the key issue for the candidates running for the 83rd Assembly District.

Seven-term incumbent Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, is facing a challenge from a political newcomer, Democrat Aaron Robertson of Muskego, in the Nov. 4 election. The 83rd District encompasses the village and town of Waterford in Racine County and also parts of southeast Waukesha County and northeast Walworth County, including the communities of Muskego, Mukwonago, East Troy and Big Bend.

Controlling spending and taxes and adopting regulatory reforms will help draw business to Wisconsin, said Gunderson.

"We need to adopt regulatory reforms that cut bureaucratic red tape and make Wisconsin more competitive with the rest of the nation," Gunderson said. "We need to provide a reason for companies to locate or expand in Wisconsin and create new jobs for our citizens."

Robertson, a member of the Muskego Zoning Board of Appeals and the city's Task Force on Economic Development, said "responsible and attractive development is needed in order to diversify the property tax base and lift some of the enormous strain off of homeowners."

Robertson said that in Muskego alone, the largest municipality in the district, over 90 percent of all property taxes are generated by homeowners.

Robertson is also calling for bringing more business awareness to the state's education system at the high school and post-secondary levels.

"I would like to see subjects such as financial literacy, goal planning, leadership, entrepreneurship, networking, current trends in business and technology, and personal development built into the mandatory curriculum for all high school students of each school district," Robertson said. "Likewise, I would like to see these topics built into the general core curriculum required for all college and university students to graduate, regardless of major or area of concentration."

Gunderson said health care remains a huge issue for Wisconsin citizens.

"We need to make sure that health care is accessible and affordable and we must ensure that patients have as much information as possible when making health care decisions," Gunderson said. "Cost and quality reporting by health care providers is an essential reform so that patients know the true costs and the level of quality of care they are receiving in order to make informed decisions."

Both men have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. Gunderson is president of the Racine County Agricultural Society, which runs the county fair. He is also a member of the Wisconsin State Fair Park Board. He has long been involved in numerous service organizations in the Waterford and Wind Lake areas including the chambers of commerce in both communities, the Waterford Lions Club and the Waterford Fourth of July Committee.

An avid outdoors man and the operator of a Wind Lake sporting good store, Gunderson is also a member of numerous hunting and wildlife habitat organizations such as Ducks Unlimited. In the Legislature, Gunderson authored the constitutional amendment on the Right to Hunt, Fish and Trap, which passed with 82 percent of a statewide vote.

In addition to his service to the Muskego city government, Robertson is a member of the Muskego and Hales Corners chambers of commerce and the Muskego Kiwanis Club.

Scott L. Gunderson

PARTY: Republican

AGE: 51

RESIDENCE: Waterford

JOB: Small business owner, farmer, state legislator

EDUCATION: Waterford High School

Aaron RobertsonPARTY: Democratic

AGE: 25

RESIDENCE: Muskego

JOB: Author, journalist, president of Intrepid Innovations Inc., a Web and graphic design firm

EDUCATION: B.A. in political science, Cardinal Stritch University