Sen. Olsen and Rep. Ripp plan joint listening sessions and activists plan to light up the questions

Is the redistricting of the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly districts have you confused on exactly who represents you? Well join the crowd.

I have not read about Republican Kevin Petersen from Waupaca nor any listening sessions announced for the 40th State Assembly District this spring.  The new district boundaries of the 40th assembly district includes Poy Sippi, my hometown, which was previously in assembly district 41, as was a majority of Waushara County.   Perhaps I missed the announcement of Kevin Petersen’s Listening session, but plan to follow up, again.  Waushara County is still partly in Senate District 14, the largest city in the county Wautoma and a few townships will now fall in the 24th Senate District (72nd Assembly District).

But the 2012 spring listening session has already begun in Senate District 14 for me, with Assembly District 41 Representative Republican Joan Ballweg’s listening sessions completed in March.  During the Green Lake listening session, I did have a chance to visit with her and personally invited Rep. Ballweg to the  NORML Potluck Picnic with the Wisconsin State DNR during Free Fishing Weekend (June 4-5) Wisconsin.

I believe Democrat Fred Clark held listening sessions in March in State Assembly District 42, which has changed a great deal as reflected below in Senator Olsen’s listening session locations and guest? Yes, it looks like Republican Assembly Representative from District 47 Keith Ripp (Lodi) has claimed his turf and will be with Olsen during these listening sessions. Did we just identify the guy who is going to run as the Republican in district 42? I think so.

The “Back Room” of the Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library has been home to some marijuana conversations with Rep. Keith Ripp in the past.  During the 2009-2010 session, a former US Marine Sergeant who had served three tours in Iraq, Erin Silbaugh, repeatedly contacted Ripp to support the current Medical Marijuana Act in Wisconsin.  The Madison NORML Examiner also reported that open records requests have established that contacts with Ripp’s office were overwhelmingly supportive of medical marijuana.  It seems Rep. Ripp shrugged his shoulders to more than just one constituent and on the issue of hemp cannabis, Rep. Keith Ripp cannot be listed as a supporter.  Silbaugh can be listed as a supporter and has gone on to continue with his activism in many ways, including op-ed letters, being a featured speaker the THC TOUR – Lodi Expo which also took place at the Lodi Library and creating the Facebook Page Wisconsin Veterans for Medical Cannabis.

A great deal of hemp history is found in the district, as a veteran of another kind reported in the same article that Ripp first won election to the seat in 2008 by a 30-vote recount over Eugene Hahn, a long time representative, GOP moderate, a supporter of industrial hemp and medical cannabis.   As far as constituents supporting medical marijuana, open records were pulled and a medical marijuana referendum was conducted in 2010 for areas in his district falling in Dane County.  The medical marijuana referendum passed, with a higher percentage of approval than Rep. Keith Ripp himself.

Onto Senator Luther Olsen, here is a copy of the listing as I received it from via email from Senator Luther Olsen:

I will be holding several listening sessions over the next couple of weeks. I hope you take advantage of this opportunity to share any thoughts and concerns you may have about state government. Below you will find a list of the office hours I have currently scheduled, more will possibly be added in the future.

Thursday, April 5th
3 PM – 4 PM
Ripon Public Library – Nash Room
120 Jefferson Street, Ripon

Monday April 9th
12 Pm – 1 PM
Montello Public Library – Meeting Room
128 Lake Court, Montello

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Lake Delton Administration Building
50 Wisconsin Dells Parkway South, Lake Delton

Tuesday April 10th – These office hours will be held with Rep. Keith Ripp

11:30 AM – 12:30 AM
Lodi Woman’s Club Public Library – Back Room
130 Lodi Street, Lodi

2 PM – 3 PM
The Wayside
N1894 Hwy 73, Markesan
North Junction of Hwy 73 & 44

Wednesday April 11th – Held with Rep. Keith Ripp

1 PM – 2 PM
Poynette Village Hall – Downstairs Meeting Room
106 S Main St, Poynette

Listening sessions are a great way for constituents to share their ideas and experiences with me so I can make the best decisions possible when I’m in Madison. I hope to see you at one of these locations.