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4th Congressional District candidates
On the issues:
Water Diversion
(First of a series)

Question: Would you support or oppose federal legislation to allow Great Lakes water to be shipped outside the Great Lakes basin to Waukesha or other communities? Why or Why not?

Democrats

Tim Carpenter: I would not support legislation to allow the diversion of Great Lakes water out of the Great Lakes Basin. Though seemingly large, the Great Lakes Basin is a fragile ecosystem. Reckless demands by developers out of the Basin to draw down this wonderful natural resource to supply endless new suburbs could cause irreplaceable damage. Further, allowing diversion of this water out of the Great Lakes Basin to even nearby Waukesha would set a dangerous precedent; once done, such a diversion would most likely have to be granted to any other state who requested Great Lakes water.

Matt Flynn: I would oppose federal legislation to allow Great Lakes water to be shipped outside the Great Lakes basin. The Great Lakes water resources are one of Milwaukee County’s most important assets. I think it is environmentally and economically unwise to view Great Lakes water as something to be sold or shipped elsewhere.

Related news -- ACLU calls for minority, poor residents to participate in Great Lakes Great Lakes discussion -- seeks multiple public hearings. Click here for ACLU statement.

Gwen Moore: Diverting water outside of the basin will eventually result in serious damage to one of the nation’s great natural treasures and Milwaukee cannot afford the loss of development nor the increase in sprawl across the region that would likely accompany this policy. I believe that we must focus on conservation as a means to meet the water needs of communities rather than the diversion of water from the Great Lakes basin.

Republicans

Gerald H. Boyle: Any legislation should only allow water to be shipped to communities adjacent to the Great Lakes. I think it would be fair to allow other communities to petition for use of the water however it should be decided on a case-by-case basis. The Great Lakes, and specifically Lake Michigan is a natural wonder and should be preserved as much as possible.

Corey Hoze: did not respond by deadline.

Independents

Tim Johnson: A commission of U.S. governors that is currently chaired by Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle has jurisdiction over these matters. I would therefore resist initiating legislation that did not first take into full account the recommendations of the commission. Having said that, I believe that the decisions of the commission must balance at least two critical concerns. First, some communities in our own state are in need of fresh water for various reasons, and it seems rather selfish for a neighbor to deny them access to a natural resource. On the other hand, diverting water to suburbs might contribute to further urban sprawl, which itself can have negative economic impacts on residents of Milwaukee through a reduced tax base, etc. Should the commission agree to ship water to other communities, I would be more likely to support such efforts if the receiving community were able to replenish at least part of the water through the return of treated water.

(Johnson, who does not yet have a web site, is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in Iraq War I. He holds a doctorate in theology from Marquette University, where he is an adjunct professor. Johnson was was a Milwaukee County supervisor from 2002 to 2004, when he decided not to seek re-election.)

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Robert H. Raymond could not be reached.

Constitution Party

Colin Hudson could not be reached.

Read about the candidates' positions on

What we're doing: storyhill.net and the Riverwest Currents newspaper asked 4th Congressional District candidates to respond to questions about issues relevant to Milwaukee-area voters.

Eight candidates are competing to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerald D. Kleczka, who is not seeking re-election. The 4th District includes all of Milwaukee, Cudahy, St. Francis, South Milwaukee, West Milwaukee and part of West Allis.

The questions and candidates' answers will be carried on the storyhill.net web site and in the Riverwest Currents newspaper.There will be Republican and Democratic primaries Sept. 14. The general election is Nov. 2.

storyhill.net is independently owned and operated.

4th Congressional District candidates On the issues: Water Diversion (First of a series)

4th Congressional District candidates
On the issues:
Water Diversion
(First of a series)