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District 28 serves a portion of the town of Rock and a sliver of the city of Janesville's south side near highways 11 and 51.

The 69���� reached out to each candidate with three questions: What are the top issues in the county? How do you plan on addressing those issues? What does the county board need to do in the next two years?

Welch said the top issues in the county are safety and human services, quality affordable daycare for working parents, reducing high property tax and improving transparency.

Rock Haven is a top issue for her, and she said she'd like to see that remain under county ownership.

"There's so many people in need and it's more affordable than private, and plus when private takes over, sometimes the care goes down," Ryan said.

Ryan said other important issues include affordable housing and repairing roads and bridges.

Ryan said residents are trying to balance how they are spending their money as prices for insurance, food and household goods have gone up, so taxes are a concern. Ryan said she has always had an "if I can't pay for it, I don't need it" kind of attitude, and will bring that to the board if reelected.

"I will consider voting on the county spending and vote to curtail spending on unnecessary projects and special interest groups encouraging private investments, and I think that's important that we get when the economy turns around, maybe not now, when larger small businesses can contribute to the counties' needs or even entertainment, such as the children's museum and the Boys & Girls Club," Ryan said.

Ryan said she would also like to see some "cutting down on unnecessary employees or at least reducing their FTE so that they're maybe just working part-time instead of full-time. I don't like to see redundancy, because I know there's a lot of government waste, and I want to vote on curbing that."

Ryan said the board, in the next two years, needs to vote on "unnecessary positions." She also said the board should tap into the general fund more often.

"I think they need to use it more to relieve the taxpayers of what they're expected to spend. We're one of the highest states and counties in taxes," Ryan said.

Ryan also said she'd like to see more emphasis on preventing trafficking of children and young adults, not building new structures and addressing empty commercial buildings.

To address affordable daycare, Welch said she would contact legislators for increased funding and partner with local organizations.

"I plan to address these issues by working with law enforcement and local churches on safety and sex trafficking. Also, working with organizations on the mental health crisis as well," Welch said.

"For reducing high taxes, I would advocate for new recreational businesses in Janesville to help offset taxes, put more people to work and bring more joy to Janesville," Welch added.

Welch said working together for the betterment of the county is a main goal of hers.

"I believe nothing should be hidden from the public. It is all of our community, not just the ones sitting on the board," Welch said.

Welch said the board needs to work on addressing its debt, infrastructure, improving water quality and helping each other.