AD 86 Primary: Spiros (R), Rozar (R), Spindler (R)

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Located in north-central Wisconsin, Assembly District 86 district is comprised the northern half of Wood County and parts of central and southwest Marathon County and northwest Portage County. It includes the cities of Marshfield and Pittsville, and the villages of Arpin, Auburndale, Edgar, Fenwood, Hewitt, Junction City, Marathon City, Milladore, Rudolph, Spencer, Stratford, and Vesper.

The solid Republican district is not considered one of the competitive races in the Assembly, but as far as primary races in the GOP this one is a real barn burner. Democrat John Small faces no primary challenger and eagerly awaits the outcome of the three way primary in the Republican category.

The race comes down to the primary in reality and two Incumbents are drawn into a race that attracts an area dairy farmer with a special interest to the field.

John Spiros (R-Marshfield)

First elected to the assembly in 2012. City of Marshfield alderman, 2005–13. Spiros did run un-opposed in 2020 and in 2022. Former police officer is what I read in a local newspaper article about the race, although I had not read that prior and it is not in his biography?

Rep John Spiros (R-Marshfield) representing Wisconsin’s 86th Assembly District and Chair of the 2019 Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety which is holding up the Legalize Opportunity – Legalize Marijuana Bill (AB 220). In an interview before being re-elected in 2018, he seemed to think CBD Oil was the miracle cure and medical marijuana was not needed, while dismissing the opportunity marijuana reform presents. 

Oct 2018 However, I am reticent to legalize recreational marijuana until law enforcement has way to calculate how “high” someone is to determine their level of impairment, much like we do with alcohol. Additionally, new research has shown that not only is recreational marijuana not the economic boost originally projected, but incidents involving car crashes are higher in states where marijuana is legalized, not to mention car insurance rates are higher. So I am waiting to see how this plays out before voting to legalize it in our state.

Early in 2019 he also seemed to know his Republican colleagues were working on their caucus to put a medical marijuana bill together.   Spring of 2019 GOP Survey shows 68% support for medical marijuana reform. In December 2019, the Assembly Republicans prefiled a bill for the 2020 legislative session to create a medical marijuana program in Wisconsin (Assembly Bill 750) which he did not co-sponsor.  

In 2021-22, he did cosponsor AB 1067 in 2021 – Republican Medical Marijuana Bill.

And in 2024 Spiros showed up as a co-sponsor of the controversial medical marijuana bill presented by the Republicans.

Rep. Spiros barely received a C- rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Spiros Facebook Page and Website

Donna Rozar (R – Marshfield)

First elected in 2020. Donna Rozar, of Marshfield Rozar is the current Wood County Board vice chair and has been involved in central Wisconsin politics for more than 25 years. She works on the cardiac medical/surgical unit at Marshfield Medical Center and is on the faculty at the UWEC College of Nursing and Health Sciences – Marshfield site.

May 2019 Rozar Letter to the Editor regarding marijuana:

About four decades ago, the surgeon general of the public health service issued a clear warning about serious effects of marijuana use. He stated that the use of the drug may cause short term memory loss, impair lung function and possibly exert adverse effects on the heart. That was then, now several states of the union legalized marijuana for personal recreational use. In 2003, we reported in the literature, a case of a 34 year old man who developed serious heart rhythm irregularities, temporarily related to marijuana use. Stopping the drug corrected this condition and reversed all associated pathologic effects. Since then we have had several reviews published, detailing the cardiac effects of marijuana. The drug was linked to atrial fibrillation, heart attacks, even cardiac arrest.

Just this week, I was contacted by a father who lost his 22 year old son to marijuana use. We strongly believe that before marijuana use is legalized in our state, large scale controlled safety studies should be conducted to see whether or not the use of marijuana is safe for our community.

Donna Rozar, RN, Marshfield, WI

As a candidate Rozar stance on marijuana reform May 2020: I support the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I am ambivalent and not convinced that recreational use is a good idea. From a public health and law enforcement perspective it appears to be a horrible idea. Others support it and encourage taxing it but I wonder about supporting government programs.

She did co-sponsor the 2021-22 Republican medical marijuana legislation.

And in 2024 Rozar showed up as an author/first sponsor of the controversial medical marijuana bill presented by the Republicans.

Rep. Rozar also barely received a C- rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Rozar Website and Facebook Page

Trine Spindler (R-Stratford)

Dairy Farmer

She leads a chapter of Farmland First, a group that opposes wind and solar energy complexes that energy companies seek to build on fertile farmland in central Wisconsin.

Trine Spindler seems different than the other two candidates for a few reasons to me. I saw some right wing special interest groups trying to track her down early in the election cycle process when her name came up as a possible challenger to Spiros and Rozar. I am not sure if it was just the new maps that really drove this local newspaper article covering the race or the fact that incumbents were fighting for the same seat and a third wheel just creates a smaller vote gap for someone, but the title ‘Chaos, confusion and disruption’: 3 Republicans, 2 incumbents, face off does tell a great deal in this otherwise strong GOP district.

I was able to have a good conversation about marijuana reform with Trine Spindler and made more progress with this candidate in our short visit than Spiros or Rozar allowed in the last four years. Although candidate Spindler did not have marijuana reform on her radar screen as a point of interest, I felt her question and answer session with me was very productive. If she beats these two and takes the seat, I look forward to working with her on this issue down in Madison.

Coming into the conversation Spindler had not developed a stance on cannabis reform and leaving the conversation I felt that she would be a better advocate for the issue than Spiros or Rozar are.

Candidate Spindler received a B+ rating from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Please visit her official campaign website and visit her personal facebook page for more information.

How do we make change in 2024?
How do we make change in 2024?

Stay tuned and get active!

I will provide you additional 2024 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for marijuana reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.

In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2024-25 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.

Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.

Sources: CNanalysisWisPoliticsDavesredistircingPeoplesMaps

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