A western Wisconsin physician is among Republicans who ousted a Democratic incumbent. Dr. Erik Severson of Osceola defeated 28th Assembly District Representative Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake). Severson, a family physician and emergency room director, talked about his decision to run. “When I looked at what was going on in the whole country and in the whole state, high unemployment, increased government spending . . . I said ‘hey this isn’t the right way to go.'”
Severson campaigned on his desire to rein in government spending, create jobs and lower taxes. The election race got a bit personal. “I don’t think that’s what this is about. I think it should be about the issues and how a person wants to solve the problems that are going on right here in District 28. That’s really what it’s all about.” Severson scored a more than 10 percentage point margin of victory over Hraychuck, a two-term incumbent. Hraychuck, a former Polk County Sheriff, defeated Republican Mark Pettis for the post in 2006.
Does Hraychuck plan to run for public office – or her old Assembly seat – again? “You never say never,” she said. “We’ll wait and see what happens. I wish Erik Severson good luck and I want things to go well for the people of the state of Wisconsin.”
Kurt Mayer, WXCE