Candidate Profile: Tim Rogers For U.S. House 4

MILWAUKEE, WI—The 2020 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Tim Rogers, a Milwaukee resident is running for U.S. House of Representatives District 4.

Age: 60
Party affiliation: Republican Party
Family: I have been blessed with children and grandchildren.
Occupation: Delivery driver for two companies, delivering food baskets and newspapers (almost 30 years)
Previous elected experience: None
Family members in government: No
Campaign website: https://www.rogersforwisconsin...

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The literacy, or rather the lack of literacy, of our graduating youths. This is a severe problem that has not been fixed for decades. Large class sizes, overwhelmed teachers, and constant state and district testing tend to discourage some students. Other students may not prefer the public school setting, preferring leaning in a private religious school. The implementation of school choice allows for the best fit for a student to learn in. School choice is considered new, but was instituted in Milwaukee and Wisconsin early, starting with charter schools implemented in Milwaukee. Contrary to belief, school of choice and teachers are regulated under federal law. Class size in public, private, and religious schools can be smaller allowing students who need extra help able to get it.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Representative Gwen Moore has been in this position for a long time. As a Democrat, she is forced to vote party lines or risk financial hardship during elections. Not much has changed, Milwaukee needs a new voice in Washington, D.C. I favor a nuclear family that is gives to society while Gwen Moore prefers split families and a lot of “free handouts” (housing, food stamps, universal income, and college). Conservatives in Milwaukee feel they do not have a voice and that their hard work and taxes are paying for federal assistance. Nothing in life is free, working for something adds importance to it, thus empowering the individual. I want people to have the skills, be able to get jobs and break the cycle created by Democrat led cities.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been a businessman for 30 years delivering food and newspapers for two small countries. I have done this to provide for my family, while being able to celebrate my faith. I can and will deliver a new message to Washington, D.C. that Milwaukee and similar communities do need help, but are also willing to work for it.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

Tax incentive for small businesses that are struggling to restart after lockdown. State and federal loans to restart /operate business with accountability as to where money is spent (i.e. payroll. Overhead, inventory). If the coronavirus continues, we need clearer guidelines as to operations of business backed in the science of this virus, not just “science”.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

There will always be a few who are racist. Overall, I do not believe Milwaukee suffers from systemic racism, which is a liberal phrase that only addresses outer appearances but does not use logic and facts to address the things in society they want to change. I will always defend the police, not defund them. We need a strong (defended) police force with appropriate training that can deal with a community’s everyday and not so everyday enforcement problems. We need to work as Americans as a community, as a state and as a nation.

Police reform is like every other occupation. Some people should not be in law enforcement and may have chosen that path because no other jobs existed. As I said, there can be a bad “apple” in every occupation. While I believe actions of some police have been aggressive, the media distorts the facts. Like other occupations, people who are a poor fit for a certain position may be perfect for another in the same organization. This means we work through the personnel problems, not defund the industry. Police are not unique for acting incorrectly, but we rarely see what happens to the teacher that teaches inappropriate curriculum.

We need to have a system that reviews all police action and possibly reassigns them. And if it goes to trial, we need to understand, not everyone is going to be happy with the outcome of a verdict.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

My defining platform includes Pro-Life/Pro Family, Safe Communities (Law & Order), School Choice, Criminal Justice Reform, and Economy (America First, Small Business Incentives, and Right to Work).

I support the Trump-Pence Healthcare platform that supports pre existing conditions, the reduction in prices of life saving drugs (such as insulin and epinephrine), agreements with pharmaceutical companies that price in USA has to be same price as drugs sold to Canada, Mexico, and other countries (thus lowering drug costs), implementation of virtual telehealth in regular health and Medicare, and fixing the problems at the Veterans Administration.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My position is based on what I see is needed in Milwaukee, but also what I know is needed throughout the USA. My platforms include: School Choice (students need to be literate in math and reading, need to have job skills, and have life skills), Safe Communities (a joint effort of local, state and federal law enforcement without defunding the police, strong & secure borders)
Criminal Justice Reform (The First Step Act, 2018): mandatory minimums, reduce recidivism (re-entry into prison system), addressing literacy and job skills during time incarcerated so individuals can become productive citizens upon release from prison.

Pro-Life/Pro-Family -Life is sacred from conception to death and family is the core of American values. Personally, I am against abortions for our children are the United States’ future. I would work to keep the Hyde Amendment (Biden would like it repealed) for the financial cost of abortion should not be paid for by taxpayers.

I would like to see tax incentives to allow people to buy vacant houses to refurbish so they can enjoy home ownership. I would like to see education and criminal justice work together to stop the "school-to-prison" pipeline, as well as ensuring incarcerated citizens learn reading, math, and job skills they would be able to use when released.