Kevin Hermening lauches his campaign for Congress in Wausau. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wausau Financial Planner, PT Professor at UWSP, and former Marathon County GOP Chair Kevin Hermening has officially launched his campaign for Congress.
The move comes some 40 years after he first tried for a spot in the House, and he was told he needed some more experience. “The voters back then said, ‘Not now, Kevin.’ But they never said ‘Not never,'” said Hermening. “They told me to get a job, buy a house, have a family, get involved in the community, and maybe get elected to something local- which I did, [serving on the Mosinee] school board for 16 of the last 32 years.”
He says that experience doesn’t entitle him to the position, but it does feel like it makes him the most prepared candidate in a field that includes several 20-somethings. “When Congressman Tiffany decided to run for Governor, opening up this seat, I stepped back and started listening to people, looking at the candidates, and listening to my neighbors. [When they started asking] ‘Kevin, why don’t you think about doing this?’ I started thinking about it a lot and concluded there was room in the field for someone who knows the voters best, and certainly more than the people [who] are already in the race.
Those names include Jessi Ebben, Michael Alfonso, and Paul Wassgren, who have been in the race for months. Hermening says that doesn’t concern him. “They had to get in early, they had to build a network and get ‘known.’ They don’t have 40 years of experience and neighbors that they spend time with in Central and Northern Wisconsin.”
Niina Threlfall-Baum also announced her candidacy this week. Her announcement, along with Heremening’s, comes after President Donald Trump endorsed Alfonso, the son-in-law of former Congressman Sean Duffy. Should all the candidates remain in the race, Republicans will have five names to pick from in the August 11th Primary.
The Democratic primary currently includes Fred Clark, Ginger Murray, and Chris Armstrong.
Hermening plans to continue serving his clients and fulfill his obligations at UWSP while campaigning. His stops will largely focus on events at VFW Halls, American Legion Halls, DAV facilities, and bowling alleys. “That’s my natural network,” said Hermeneing.
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