Today we are featuring a story from Russ Butkiewicz a write in candidate for Waupaca County Board, District 11. We interviewed Russ exactly 5 years ago while he was tapping trees at his Oz Natural Area. You can listen to that interview here.

Keep reading to learn more about Russ and how he can help Waupaca County in his own words.

We need to do better for our children and ourselves. As a Waupaca County Board member, farmer and career family practice physician, I would work to establish partnerships to improve water quality through land, soil and water conservation in both urban and rural areas..

I’m running for Waupaca County Board, District 11 as a write-in candidate. Here are some of my thoughts:

1) As a family physician with 33 years of service to this community, I obviously have an interest in public health. I, recently with others, advocated for the retention of local Obstetrics services here in Waupaca, reducing travel time for pregnant women and thereby increasing safety for them. This also would have retained a number of local medical staff which would have improved access and care at our local facility. Unfortunately, OB services were moved to the valley and several physicians and nursing staff have since departed the area. I will continue to advocate for services locally and do what I can to make sure that our rural hospitals remain viable and well staffed.

2) As part or public health I also have a strong interest in the environment and run a small organic, conservation farm. You can’t have good public health without clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. I have made presentations to Waupaca City Council on concerns for water quality, pesticide use and its potential negative health effects. We are currently working on a pilot project to utilize goats for control on invasive species which can reduce the application of pesticides/herbicides. I am also concerned about PFAS and nitrate contamination in our drinking water and their negative impacts on our health.

3) I have also done presentations to Waupaca City Council on invasive plant species, like Japanese Barberry and its intersection with public health. Control of this invasive plant, helps to reduce deer tick populations and thereby reduce peoples’ chances of contracting tick borne illnesses like Lyme disease. I have been working hard on my own property to remove multiple invasive species as I’m watching them overtake and destroy the woodlands of our area and provide optimal breeding ground for a disease that can be physically and mentally debilitating.

4) Public Transportation and Safety. Two years ago, an elderly individual showed up on my doorstep in the middle of the night after being discharged from the local Emergency Room. He was cold and wet and didn’t have a ride home and no ride service was available. He attempted to walk home, several miles, in the cold inclement winter weather and got as far as my house. Fortunately, he sought help from us, and I gave him a ride home. Otherwise, this story might have had a tragic ending. I worked with the hospital and other entities to try to improve overnight ride service to allow patients a safe option to get home and to improve procedure to ensure that patients have a safe way home following discharge. I understand that the other candidate for District 11 wants to improve ride services for those that don’t have access to a car or someone to transport them and I couldn’t agree more.

5) Fiscal Responsibility. I want to eliminate and avoid financial waste and get the best value for the dollar for the citizens of Waupaca County. In my own home, I ask myself, do we really need certain things, can I fix, re-purpose or construct things myself or should I obtain cost-effective services elsewhere so that I get the best value for my time and my money? What are the options and what is the most effective use of money to get the job done? I would ask these same questions for Waupaca County.

6) Civics. I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert in all fields and would welcome working with other Board members as well as department staff and specialists, the expertise of the public and citizens in the community and other outside entities. While we may not always agree, we need to keep in mind that our charge is to work for the benefit of the community, and we should do so together in a civil fashion. I am willing to listen to others and would do my best to educate myself about the issues facing the County. As a physician, I have held a number of leadership positions both in the hospital and clinic. I feel that I have been trained and have experience in analyzing data, critical thinking and problem-solving and would bring those skills to the County Board.

If you like this, please consider sharing and ask your election poll worker for the list of registered write-in candidates.