Grant Mathu for County Board

Today is Election Day, and polls will be open from 7:00AM to 8:00PM! You can find more information or check your registration at myvote.wi.gov.

If you live in District 6, voting will take place at the La Crosse Public Library (please use the 9th Street entrance for voting, not the main library entrances).

As a member of the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors, I’ve focused on real results: investing $3M+ in housing, funding the transformation of Hillview Health Care Center, supporting investments in solar technology and water protection, promoting local economic opportunity through grants and loans, and strengthening mental health services. I’ve also donated much of my county board pay to local nonprofits, helped create a scholarship at Western Tech, and restocked little free pantries across La Crosse.

If I haven’t had the chance to knock on your door yet, feel free to message me with ANY questions about what you would like to see prioritized in our local government—I care deeply about this work and would love to connect. 😁

Grateful for the strong support from community members and colleagues who have recently shared letters to the editor in the La Crosse Tribune. You can find them linked in the comments.

It means a lot when neighbors, small business owners, and community members speak up. That kind of engagement is what makes La Crosse strong.

At the end of the day, the endorsement that matters most in the April 7th election is yours.

I’ve worked to listen, show up, and make progress on the issues I hear about most…housing, economic opportunity, our environment, and strong county services…and I’d be honored to earn your support on April 7th.

I had the chance to participate in four great meetings yesterday–including our March meeting of the full La Crosse County Board, where we approved a new Health Director and voted on a compensation plan for county staff. I also joined meetings of the County Housing Authority Board, attended an orientation for new members of the Winding Rivers Library System Board of Trustees–which serves a multi-county region and plays a vital role in connecting people to information and lifelong learning–and spoke at the City Board of Park Commissioners in support of proposed Sunday morning programming in one of our downtown parks this summer.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve also been glad to connect with folks at many community events. I attended the county’s 2nd annual “I Am Not Invisible” event, which was an opportunity to recognize and uplift the service and experiences of women veterans in our community. I stopped by the downtown La Crosse Public Library reopening, where it was great to see how recent improvements are strengthening an already vital community resource. I also went to the 3rd annual Wingapalooza, a fantastic fundraiser supporting the important work of Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge, and attended the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, where La Crosse County’s 175th anniversary was recognized alongside so many incredible local organizations and small businesses.

I even had the opportunity to spend an hour chatting with a class of 15 future educators at Viterbo University, talking about community engagement and the role they can play in building strong partnerships and making a difference right here in La Crosse. It’s always energizing to see students already so invested in giving back.

What always stands out to me is the number of people who show up, get involved, and contribute to the vibrancy of our community. That engagement is what makes La Crosse such a wonderful place to live.

Thanks to the League of Women Voters, La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, UWL POL/PUB Department, and LADCO for organizing the county board candidate forum yesterday.

I’ve been elected to three terms on the La Crosse County Board, and this was the first large-scale forum that was organized for candidates in all 30 board districts to attend. It is always great to connect with folks, listen, and discuss issues facing our county.

I appreciate the organizers for making this happen and creating space for thoughtful civic engagement. Between now and April 7th, I’ll keep working to engage folks at the doors and through conversations across the community! Check myvote.wi.gov for more voting details!

I always appreciate opportunities to connect with members of our campus communities, and I was glad to attend the UWL Chancellor’s Community Forum this morning.

It was great to hear updates from Chancellor Beeby and a former professor from the program I graduated from, along with highlights of the university’s ongoing work to connect students with the broader community through workforce partnerships and hands-on learning.

I had heard about the “Walk with an Eagle” program before, but it was especially interesting to hear a presentation and learn more about the positive impact it’s having to bring neighbors and local residents onto campus and promote community connection.

Events like this are a great reminder that the relationship between a university and its community goes both ways. Our university supports our community...and our community supports our university.

I’m glad to share that the Tribune’s candidate questionnaire was recently published. My responses reflect the work we’ve accomplished together in District 6 and across La Crosse County…from advancing affordable housing and supporting local economic development, to addressing homelessness, investing in solar and sustainability projects, and protecting services that make our community strong.

It’s been an honor to serve, and I’m asking for the opportunity to continue showing up, asking thoughtful questions, and planning for La Crosse’s future.

If you’d like to read my full responses, I’ll put the link in the comments. As always, I’m honored to serve and try to contribute positively in local government!

The 2026 WI Counties Association Legislative Meeting is in the books!

The last two days were full of valuable opportunities to hear directly from legislative leadership and the Governor, have conversations with elected members of the Senate and Assembly, and advocate for the things our communities need.

It was a strong reminder that some of the best ideas and most effective leadership come directly from the public and the county level of government. State decisions shape (and sometimes limit) what local communities can do, which is why it matters when local leaders show up and bring their direct experience into the conversation. That input makes the state better and more responsive to the public.

Housing, transportation, safety, environmental policy, and funding decisions are all shaped by our Governor and folks in the Assembly and Senate, which means staying informed about what is happening at their level of government is critical.

Grateful for the chance to listen, ask questions, advocate, and represent members of the La Crosse community. This work matters–and I am glad to be able to help do it.

A lot of local government work happens in committees—and that’s one of many places I try to be especially involved and show up for constituents.

All elected supervisors in our county are required to serve on one committee. I’ve always offered to serve on several because they're places work gets done, relationships are built, and community voices are heard.

I've been proud to serve as a member on the:
🌉 Public Works and Infrastructure Committee,
🏘️ Veterans, Aging, and Long-Term Care Committee,
📚 Winding Rivers Library System Board of Trustees (which I was appointed to last week),
📊 County Economic Development Fund Board,
🏗️ County Neighborhood Revitalization Grant Review Committee,
🏥 Mississippi Valley Health Services Commission,
🏡 County Housing Authority,
📈 National Association of Counties Community/Economic/Workforce Development Committee,
🎨 City of La Crosse Arts Board (in a previous term on the board),
And more!

I serve because I care how decisions are made—and I want them to reflect real people and their opinions across District 6, our city, and the entire county. These committees shape our infrastructure, support for veterans, housing access, care, and our voice in civic conversations at the local, statewide, and national levels.

This is about half of my monthly pay for serving on the La Crosse County Board of Supervisors in the form of food. The other half? Already donated in the form of food in our little free pantries around La Crosse.

What we’re paid for public service can do the most good when its put back into the community for people who need it. I used my county board pay to stock some little free pantries back in June, and with food insecurity front and center (especially amid the ongoing government shutdown) this is a chance for all of us to show up for our neighbors. Even small efforts add up.

For the month of November, you can help by dropping off a couple non-perishable items at the La Crosse County Health and Human Services Building (Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM). Learn more about the food drive here: https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/la-crosse-county-fights-foods-insecurity-with-drive-all-through-november/article_c5ffef65-1892-45c8-96e1-4762da46840b.html

Got a sneak peek at the Hillview transformation project before my committee meeting yesterday. Walking through the facility with fellow supervisors was a great way to see how far it’s come since a 1:1 tour I arranged (thanks to the fantastic staff for showing me around 😁) during earlier stages of the construction and renovation process! 🏗️

What will be new in the facility once it is done?
• "Park Lane Studios" housing units are now complete (not yet occupied, but will be soon).
• Tons of visible progress across all areas of the site—so many of the spaces are really taking shape.
• An intergenerational daycare being operated in partnership between the county and the YWCA of La Crosse is coming together.

Read more about yesterday's tour at this WKBT News 8 Now article: https://www.news8000.com/news/local-news/la-crosse/la-crosse-county-s-new-pathways-home-offers-supportive-housing-for-those-in-need/article_654413ae-09ed-4fc1-9317-6c59f19ae4b2.html

I’m excited to help make decisions on this project by serving on the Veterans, Aging, and Long-Term Care Committee and at the county board level—and even more excited to see this project meet community needs and have a positive impact for our residents. More to come! ✨

Glad to attend the UWL College of Business Administration + State Bank Financial "Economic Indicators Breakfast." The focus—“unlocking abundance through housing reform”—is a conversation so many folks in our region are prioritizing...and for good reason!

I hear about housing affordability, see the challenges, and experience many of them as well. Today’s discussion hit on workable ideas that can be used in La Crosse County and across the whole region: streamlining permits, enabling “missing middle” homes, updating zoning to match how people actually live, and building partnerships that deliver supply and affordability. Community-informed policy can make a difference…and it’s stuff that I am committed to sharing input on and supporting in my work.

Big thanks to UWL CBA and State Bank for hosting—and to everyone who attended for being interested in exploring practical solutions that help Western Wisconsin communities and families. 🏠