On Labor Day weekend I joined seven other Conservative grass-roots activists to “meet and greet”, or rather, interview and interrogate, a potential candidate for U.S. Senate. Four of the interviewers were Chairmen of their respective County Republican Parties and the other four were dependable, member-leaders of their County Republican Parties. There were several things to take-away from this two hour session, maybe the first was the potential candidate wanted “less speech and more conversation”.

Stacey Klein is a western Wisconsin farm girl that graduated from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. After spending some time in southeastern Wisconsin she returned to Trempealeau County where she is now on the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors. She is married and the parent of two.

Professionally, Stacey is an independent contractor for a large national financial services company where she works as a Financial Representative. This, I am told, is a little more expansive than the traditional financial advisor. Through her customer relationships, she has a profound sense of the severe damage “Bidenomics” is causing the typical American citizen and the American economy. She realizes that Congress must act! Thus, one of her key campaign issues involves excessive federal spending to include a better allocation of federal funds. Another key issue is education where, Stacy feels, “we need to focus on improving the academics necessary for the success of our youth while preserving parental rights.”

Stacey comes from a family that believes in public service. One brother has spent twenty years in the Army Reserves and the other brother has spent twenty years as full time Army National Guard. Her sister and brother-in-law are Marines. Stacey’s husband is on their hometown Board of Supervisors. This all lends credence to her belief that she can go from the County Board to the U.S. Senate!

At the Labor Day weekend gathering (one of many she has had), the plan was to make an official announcement on Saturday the 16th. But federal campaign paperwork was filed before the announcement was to happen, and the news media promptly broke the story. Nevertheless, an official announcement took place Saturday September 16th with appearances at the La Crosse County Lincoln Day Dinner and the Jackson County Constitution Day Picnic also on the weekend calendar.

One of the County Republican Chairman at the Labor Day weekend gathering commented: “Stacey is easy to talk to. She is a real person just like you and me. We are happy that someone from Western Wisconsin is willing to take up the challenge to oust Tammy Baldwin from the U.S. Senate.”  

If first impressions count, then Stacey Klein has a good chance of going from the County Board to the U.S. Senate! Yet, a word of caution; the campaign has hardly begun. Nevertheless, I believe that Stacey may have the confidence and competence, courage and conviction, to be successful in this endeavor! There are a lot of people to meet, doors to knock, parades to walk, and funds to gather. Good luck Stacey!