Rep. Elijah Behnke is running for his fourth term in the Wisconsin Assembly, facing a challenge from Shirley Hinze.
Behnke, a Republican who is moving into a home in the Town of Angelica after two years in the Town of Chase, is looking for a second two-year term representing the 6th Assembly District, which includes most of Shawano County, all of Menominee County, and segments of Oconto, Waupaca and Outagamie counties.
Hinze, a Democrat and Shawano resident, had previously challenged Behnke for the seat on the assembly two years ago.
NEW Media sent questionnaires to Behnke and Hinze to ascertain their stances on topics affecting people in the state of Wisconsin. Their responses to two of the questions follow. Answers to previous questions can be found at www.newmedia-wi.com.
For years, schools have been relying more on technology to help educate children, but now there are concerns the tech is doing more harm than good. What’s your view on the issue?
Behnke: I never let my kids play with tablets. We still don’t have tablets or the internet while our little kids are developing their brains. For zero to 12, I would have no technology. For 12-14, teach them the basics and then 15-18, make it part of their schoolwork because that could be their job; they could have a desk job. I think it’s overused too much currently in our public schools.
Hinze: What we’re talking about is AI. I have been reading about parents’ dissatisfaction with the use of tablets in schools, how it exposes kids to it. But let’s be honest, today’s tech has made doing homework easier, saves time and is entertainment, giving already overworked parents some free time. It has come at the expense of kids’ mental health (and) is limiting curiosity/freethinking.
Kids learn by example, so if parents are tied to their devices so shall they be. We all have become far too dependent on technology. Can I as an assembly member dictate to a parent how to handle tech in their home with their kid? The answer is no. That would be government sticking its nose in where it doesn’t belong.
What issue will be your No. 1 priority if you’re elected to the Wisconsin Legislature?
Hinze: My No. 1 priority are my constituents, and they are living paycheck to paycheck right now in Trump’s economy. People don’t trust the government right now. I will do everything possible to regain that trust by providing financial solutions to help working families and farmers. Health insurance, utilities and taxes that continue to be a drain on everyone’s wallet, including my own. Change can only happen if the people elect it.
Behnke: I would say affordability. I’m campaigning on affordability and returning the surplus. We are being confronted by self-driving cars; Tesla’s not allowed to be sold in Wisconsin, because there are just two showrooms. AI in data centers is something we have to tackle.
