Keene Winters

🌟 A Heartfelt Update from Keene Winters 🌟

Dear neighbors and friends,

As the dust settles from our Wausau City Council District 6 election, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who stood with me—volunteers, supporters, and voters alike. Your energy, ideas, and trust made this campaign a true labor of love, even though the results didn't go our way. It was an honor to carry your voices forward.

A congratulations to Kristin Slonski on her win as our new Alderperson for District 6! I wish her the best as she takes on this role and tackles the big issues ahead, like keeping our city government affordable, accountable, and transparent for all.

My passion for Wausau hasn't changed—win or lose. I'll keep showing up for our community, supporting local efforts, and staying connected through conversations like our previous "Friday Facts" series. If you'd like to join in advocating for a stronger, more fiscally responsible Wausau, drop a comment below or message me—let's keep the dialogue going!

Grateful for you all. Onward together! 💙

🗳️ A Final Message Before Tuesday's Election 🗳️

💡 Remember: The Numbers Tell a Story 📊
The latest campaign finance reports reveal something stunning about this spring's local elections:

• $810,112.84 - Total outside PAC spending across Wisconsin
• $61,806.79 - Spent on Wausau City Council races alone
• $16,951.30 - Poured into our District 6 race by outside interests

That's nearly $17,000 from a DC-based PAC trying to influence YOUR local decision about YOUR neighborhood representative. They've outspent typical local campaigns by a factor of 10-to-1, flooding our community with bland focus-grouped, feel-good taglines before voting.

💪 But Here's What They Can't Buy: ❌💰
Despite this unprecedented intrusion of dark money into our local democracy, I've offered a different path forward. A campaign built on something no amount of outside spending can replicate:
✅ Your experiences as Wausau taxpayers
✅ Your concerns about rising costs and declining services
✅ Your voices demanding transparency and accountability
✅ Your right to local control over local decisions

📅 Seven Weeks of Truth: ✅
Through my "Wausau Friday Facts" series, I've shared what those expensive mailers won't tell you - the real story of our city's fiscal challenges, drawn directly from public budget documents:
• Hidden utility taxes taking $1.59 million from your water bills
• Debt manipulation inflating your taxes 16% beyond legal limits
• TIF mismanagement diverting millions annually from our schools
• Manufactured budget "crises" used to justify endless referendums
• 40 new city positions added while our population stays flat

Every fact I've shared can be verified in the city budget. That's the difference between a locally driven campaign and one funded by distant special interests. https://wausaudistrict6.com/fridayfacts

🗳️ The Choice Is Clear: ✅
On Tuesday, District 6 voters face a fundamental choice:
❌ Outside influence vs. ✅ Local voices
❌ Glossy spin vs. ✅ Transparent facts
❌ Special interests vs. ✅ Neighbor accountability
❌ Reckless spending vs. ✅ Fiscal responsibility

📢 Watch My Final Message: 🎥
In the video below, I explain why this election matters for Wausau's future and what I'll fight for on the City Council, not because some PAC told me to, but because these are the priorities YOU'VE shared with me at your doors, in your messages, and in our conversations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjMjt21o90I

This Tuesday, April 7th: Vote for a City Council representative who answers to YOU - not to DC-based PACs or special interests. Vote for transparency over spin. Vote for fiscal responsibility over endless tax increases. Vote for local control of local government.

✅🗳️ Vote Keene Winters for Wausau City Council, District 6. 💪

Because your voice should matter more than their money.
________________________________________
🗳️ Election Day: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
⏰ Polls open: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
📍 Find your polling place: www.myvote.wi.gov

Questions? Want to discuss the issues? Send me a message at: [email protected]

✊ Let's maintain local control. Together. 💪

Dark Money vs Local Ideas Keene Winters Challenges Dark Money Influence in Wausau Elections, Offers Locally Driven Alternative Through Data-Backed "Friday Facts" Series. City Council ...

Great observation by Matt Hoenecke for City Council - District 7 who writes, "The Council must learn to prioritize spending, just as residents have to do within their own household budgets. This referendum clearly demonstrates that the Council does not consider emergency services a top priority for our tax dollars, and that is unacceptable." I strongly encourage my friends and fellow citizens in District 7 to vote Matt Hoenecke for City Council - District 7 on April 7.

Your letters: Wausau Dist. 7 challenger weighs in on city issues ahead of election - Wausau Pilot & Review Dear Editor, In a recent letter to the editor, the current District 7 Alderperson made an attempt at a neutral “myth vs fact” explanation of the Council’s

🚨 Friday Facts #7: Remember, Money is Fungible🚨

Ever wonder how city hall juggles money like a circus act? 💸🤹‍♂️ Funds are "fungible"—meaning they're interchangeable! The city can redirect dedicated revenues wherever they want, leading to unchecked spending.

Over the last decade, Wausau added 40 new staff positions (a whopping 12.25% growth) costing us $4.9 million annually—all funded through debt exemptions while busting levy limits by $4.8 million yearly! 📈😤 This outpaces our population and economic growth, putting more pressure on YOUR wallet.

It's time for fiscal responsibility, not endless expansion! 💪 Vote for fiscal discipline and leadership here in District 6.

Quote from Keene Winters: "No more shell games—let's make government live within its means, just like our families do."

Want to learn more? Check out my Wausau Friday Facts 7/7: https://mailchi.mp/votekeenewinters/money-is-fungible

Dark Money has Come to Wausau! 🚨 And You Can Stop It! 💪

In April of 1775, the technology was different, but the principle was the same. 🕯️ We must be vigilant to protect our community and our independence from invaders. 🛡️ At that time, riders waited on the banks of the Charles River for signal lights in the Old North Church, ready to spread the alarm that the redcoats were coming. 🐎📢

A recent article in the Wausau Pilot & Review has identified that massive amount of Washington DC-based PAC money that is being dumped into Wausau City Council races. 💰🏛️ The money is on a scale no local candidate can match. 📈 That means it will take over our air waves with national topics, and there will be no room for local issues in our local elections ever again. 🌍❌

https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2026/03/24/washington-groups-spending-in-wausau-council-races-dwarfs-what-local-donors-can-give/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=jetpack_social&fbclid=IwY2xjawQv6RtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe0DdW8ABlbcygifn5nGVt8G9ca_5IIFSjOqgYjimZsxryPcKfP9WLc-Yrj6o_aem_r_FfT9ZwBG1mLmegiWaeDA

We are not asking you to grab your muskets and face almost certain death on Lexington Green like our forefathers. 🔫💥 We do, however, need you to spread the alarm. 🔔 Please take a moment to forward or post your opposition to dark money. 📤🗣️ If the dark money candidates win, the DC-PAC money will never go away. 🔄 This is our one chance to send them packing with a grassroots response. 🌱✊

Lest we forget, there are a number of important local issues we need to discuss in this election. 🏘️💡 You can find them at my website: www.wausaudistrict6.com

Feel free to forward that information too. 📧😊

In a recent email from Wausau HR Director Lisa Nowak, she claims Finance Director MaryAnne Groat CANNOT substantiate that a "no" vote on the referendum will in fact result in any job losses for members of Wausau Fire. This should help reframe the entire referendum question.

Why Vote “No” on the Upcoming City Referendum to Increase Taxes? Because city hall needs to hear “NO!” It is what is necessary to change the culture at city hall. And, you can rest assured that the city is not going to fire 12 first responders if the referendum fails. https://mailchi.mp/votekeenewinters/why-vote-no

The upcoming referendum and spring election for new City Council members is not about whether we support public safety—we most certainly do! Instead, this is about the current Council's failure to do its job properly. Rather than managing the budget responsibly, they're exploiting our legitimate concerns for public safety by hiding behind firefighters to justify asking taxpayers for more money. Its cowardice, and its abdication of the job we sent them to City Hall to do.

Remember last fall, the council voted to close TIF District 7, providing sufficient money to fund 4 of the 12 positions. The Mayor announced it in the city's January newsletter. Yet, the council still decided to ask the citizens for money to fund all 12 positions “in case they needed some extra money for something else.”
https://www.wausauwi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/15892/639035497177030000

A Wausau School Board member challenges Wausau City Council incumbents to explain the disparities in taxation and fiscal restraint. 🤔💸 The basis for his letter and demand was the data we presented in Friday Facts 3 - Did You Know that the Wausau School District and Marathon County have delivered significant tax savings over the past fifteen years? 💡📉
https://mailchi.mp/votekeenewinters/wsd-mc-savings

Pat McKee gets it right when he says, "Based on the data below, giving this council additional funding via a referendum would be an irresponsible and reckless move for the taxpayer. This council has not demonstrated the necessary fiscal responsibility to meet basic levels of trust and accountability required in order to get additional funding." ⚠️👍

Your letters: McKee says Wausau has not earned taxpayers’ trust for more funding - Wausau Pilot & Review Dear editor, I invite any of the city of Wausau incumbent council members to offer a fact based explanation of the fiscal realities described below. I

🚨 Wausau folks, check out my reaction letter to the editor calling out City Council President Lisa Rasmussen's fiscal claims! 📝 The response was full of words but short on facts, especially when our city's debt has ballooned from $53 million to $222 million under her watch. 💥📈 And get this: debt payments now top our Police budget at $14.8M vs. $14.4M. 💰👮 Is this sustainable? 🤔 We deserve better accountability! 💪

Your letters: Winters says Rasmussen’s fiscal defense does not add up - Wausau Pilot & Review Dear editor, That was some reply from City Council President Lisa Rasmussen in her last letter to the editor. I think there were more words in it than

Check out Dairyland Sentinel's recent article: "Nationalized Local Races: How a D.C. Alliance is Targeting Wisconsin City Races".

How a D.C. Alliance is Targeting Wisconsin City Races A Washington, D.C.-based political organization has deployed more than $700,000 into Wisconsin’s local spring elections in the last few weeks.

🚨 Is It Too Soon to Talk about the Next Referendum to Raise Taxes? 🚨

Surprisingly, No! 😲 The groundwork is already being laid for the next “fiscal crisis.” 😩 The 2026 budget puts the city's Motor Pool Fund on the road to bankruptcy 💥, subsidizing departments while deferring vehicle replacements and issuing bonds. 🚧💳

Back in 2020, experts recommended fair rates to cover costs and replace the fleet on time ⏰, but five years later? Still not fixed! 😤 The budget only funds half the true costs ($4.9M vs. $9.3M needed) ⚖️, borrowing $2.15M more and delaying key equipment. 🛑

From there, it is not hard to imagine seeing public safety personnel sent, again, throughout the city to beg for a tax increase to replace outdated police cruisers and ambulances. 🚔🚑😢

This is unsustainable! 🚫 It is like the maneuver to hire permanent employees using one-time grant money 💰—it sets in motion another excuse to raise taxes. 🔄

If we re-elect the same people, do not be surprised when the next referendum is framed as a necessary tax increase to buy vehicles for police and firefighters. 👮‍♂️🚒💸 The only future planning being done at city hall is about how to sell you the next tax increase. 🏛️😠

Want to learn more? Check out my Wausau Friday Facts 6/7:
https://mailchi.mp/votekeenewinters/next-referendum

🚨 Wausau City Council just approved another deal for developers—using YOUR tax dollars! On Tuesday, they greenlit a public incentive package for the Waterside Place downtown housing project, including an interest-free loan of up to $750,000 through tax incremental financing (TIF) to 11 Scott Street, LLC, plus a rewritten parking agreement.

People always ask me: "How will we maintain essential services if we cut spending?" Well, here's your answer—City Hall always finds more of your money to give away, over and over again! Instead of investing in roads, schools, and public safety, we're handing it to private projects. Time to demand accountability!

Read the full story: https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2026/03/25/wausau-council-approves-public-incentive-package-for-waterside-place-redevelopment/

Wausau Council approves public incentive package for Waterside Place redevelopment - Wausau Pilot & Review By Shereen Siewert | Wausau Pilot & Review WAUSAU — The Wausau City Council on Tuesday approved a public incentive package for a downtown housing

🚨 Why Wausau Voters Said "No" to School Funding – And How City Hall's Spending Is to Blame 🚨

Friends, while seven Central Wisconsin school districts head to the polls on April 7 seeking over $61 million in referendums for vital upgrades—better facilities, tech, and programs—Wausau isn't joining them this year. Remember last year's failed referendum? Taxpayer fatigue is real, fueled by City Hall's relentless spending hikes that have jacked up city taxes by 54% since 2010, making our city less affordable for young families and driving a 10.7% enrollment drop.

A fresh March 2026 poll backs this up: 60% of Wisconsin voters now prioritize cutting property taxes over boosting school funding—a stark reversal from past years. And 57% are leaning "no" on tax increases for schools, with just 43% in support. Why the shift?

Here in Wausau, its all about taxpayer fatigue. The City's Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) policies are siphoning $2.9M/year from schools, locking up funds in $194M of risky projects that won't break even for 19 years. This isn't just bad math—it's undermining our district's finances, eroding community support, and making it impossible for families to back the education our kids deserve.

This hits home in my Friday Facts series:

Week 3: Tax Savings – Wausau Schools slashed taxes 12.66% since 2010, saving families ~$190 on a $240K home. But the city's increases erased those gains.

Week 4: Bad Policy – TIFs are starving schools while chasing development dreams. Time to reform, close underperformers, and redirect funds to classrooms.

Strong schools need strong fiscal policies—not this. Let's push for change to make Wausau family-friendly again and rebuild support for education. Full article on the referendums: Wausau Daily Herald

Central Wisconsin school districts seek over $61M in referendum funds What we know about referenda in seven Central Wisconsin school districts in the April 7 election and how they would impact students and taxpayers.