ELECTION 2022: Schmidt stands alone in local Assembly race

Peter Schmidt was the close winner of the GOP primary for the Sixth Assembly District election, but he’s finding himself standing alone as he faces two competitors, including a write-in who has the backing of the Shawano County Republican Party.

Schmidt, a Bonduel farmer and co-owner of the Schmidt Farm, is contending with claims that he lied about his criminal record to county GOP officials. An entry of guilt due to a no-contest plea was entered on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing, originally filed as a felony count of strangulation and suffocation. Schmidt was sentenced to two years of probation for the 2019 incident, which took place while he was on the Shawano County Board of Supervisors.

NEW Media reached out to Schmidt for an in-person interview, but he claimed he was too busy farming and going door-to-door to do so. However, he agreed to answer questions in writing.

Regarding his past, Schmidt claims that forgiveness and being given a second chance is inherently Christian, and he believes his service to the community and to his church make him a viable candidate for the Assembly.

“I’ve grown so much since my mistake,” Schmidt wrote. “The negative attacks against me actually work against my opponents, and they strengthen me to work harder. Those who engage in negative campaigning are demonstrating to the voters they lack their own ideas and a vision for the office.”

Schmidt’s past also includes being the victim of a crime. In a Wispolitics.com story, it was reported he had been the victim of an attempted blackmail in 2019 where someone tried to extort money from him after claiming there was a tape of him performing oral sex on a man.

“I was the victim of a terrible crime, but I’ve put the matter behind me and I’ve focused on my faith,” Schmidt said. “I’m a strong conservative Christian, but there was a brief moment I struggled with my orientation. No one should be attacked, persecuted or smeared for their personal orientation.”

Schmidt wrote that he’s the only candidate in the district who wants to abolish the Wisconsin Elections Commission, claiming that there are too many inconsistencies in the 2020 election to ignore.

“I support banning Zucker-bucks, drop boxes and ballot harvesting,” Schmidt wrote. “Our electronic voting systems should not be connected to the internet. Free and fair elections ensure we are not controlled by the Madison elites or party bosses.”

Schmidt claims to not being of the same ilk as other candidates with an established party and appears not to care that the county GOP is working against him. He wrote that he won the August primary because his message is positive and uplifting, not because he supports party lines and leaders.

“Folks are tired of negative campaigns and mudslinging, and they know they can trust me to vote as they would in Madison,” Schmidt wrote. “I’m the political outsider in the race, and I’ve funded my own campaign because I refuse to take political action money from the lobbyists and I refuse to be controlled by the Madison elites.”

Schmidt vowed to keep residents informed about what is happening down in the Wisconsin Legislature, including the bills he would try to push through.

“I’ll utilize many of the same methods as Gary (Tauchen) such as newsletters, but I will also incorporate social media platforms, websites and emails to keep voters informed and to solicit their ideas for improving our quality of life,” Schmidt wrote. “One of my priorities is to ensure citizens know exactly what is happening in Madison as government must be held in check.”

Schmidt is touting how he is the only candidate in the district who is an active farmer, pointing out that his family has farmed locally since the 1950s. The farm is part of the Shawano County Farm Bureau, Schmidt wrote.

“Agriculture is one of Wisconsin’s biggest industries and employers, but farmers continue to endure the hardships and challenges of the economic shutdown created by career politicians and so-called political experts,” he wrote. “We need to continue to invest in our rural communities to ensure a sustainable food supply for future generations.”

Besides agriculture, tourism is a big part of the Wisconsin economy, as well. Schmidt wrote that he sees the state not only as the country’s great dairy zone but also as “America’s Playground,” with lakes, forests, rivers and recreation areas mixing well with Wisconsin’s staples of beer, wine and cheeses to make the state a wonderful place to visit.

“We must continue to lure tourists to the area by offering additional amenities and options for recreational activities, which will lead to more job opportunities as well,” Schmidt wrote. “Protecting our natural resources is key to our growing tourism industry, and I believe we can balance economic development with environmental concerns. In addition, I am a strong supporter of hunting and fishing not only as a fundamental right, but because hunters and fishers contribute greatly to our local economy.”

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com