Local political scientist impressed by April election turnout in La Crosse, looking for more conservative views to emerge from county board

The La Crosse County Board could become a little more conservative in the next couple of years, as a result of Tuesday’s election, according to one expert.

Political scientist Joe Heim, retired from the University of Wisocnsin-La Crosse, said the number of new board members just elected could make a difference in county policy.

“There’s gonna be a turnover of about seven new members on the county board,” Heim said on WIZM’s La Crosse Talk on Wednesday morning. “That’s a real plus. It indicates that new blood is going to get on the county board.”

Of the seven new members, Heim said five had the backing of local Republicans, with two supported by Democrats.

Supervisors were chosen for all 30 seats on the La Crosse board in the April election to serve two-year terms. Heim said Republican party endorsements did not work as well in school board races in La Crosse or Holmen.

Heim thinks the elections in Wisconsin are a sign that the system works fine, despite investigations and charges of fraud stemming from the 2020 presidential race.

“Everything I know about Wisconsin elections, they’re healthy, they’re honest, they’re decent,” Heim said. “The people that are running these things are your neighbors, and frankly I have a lot of confidence in Wisconsin elections at this point.”

Heim added that the nearly 30 percent turnout in La Crosse County for an April election was “impressive,” considering there were no statewide races bringing voters to the polls.