Wisconsin’s governor met with much positivity from local leaders during a stop in Manitowoc.
Tony Evers stopped at Cedar Crest Ice Cream for an “Ice Cream Town Hall” to celebrate National Ice Cream Month, talk about the 2025-2027 state budget, and hear from local leaders about issues they care about.
Evers reexplained that he is not running for governor for a third term because he’s been a public servant for 50 years, and he wants to focus on his family.
But he’s also proud of the state budget because of how bipartisan it was.
Mayor Justin Nickels says Evers’ administration has been easy to work with as a city.
“Whether it be the HAP grant, which Manitowoc has benefited from so dramatically from businesses on our river,” he exclaimed. “To the car ferry, the S.S Badger. To the marine sanctuary which you championed and helped us get through.”
Manitowoc Public Utilities General Manager Troy Adams thanked Evers for his support of changing from coal to renewable pellets and for helping eliminate electric taxes for residents.
Adams noted, “It’s money right back in our customers’ pockets, that’s a big deal. So, thank you for that.”
Manitowoc Public School District Superintendent Lee Thennes was pleased with the funding for special education included in the budget and the support for college initiative programs.
Wisconsin Maritime Museum Executive Director Kevin Cullen was appreciative of the funding to help dry dock the USS Cobia in September.
But one thing he would like to see in the future is more funding for the arts.
“Wisconsin is like second to last, I think, in state funding for the public arts,” he told the governor. “When tourism is such a huge part of our economic intake, how we’re still sustaining that level nationally but still funding at that small level is something to be said for the future.”
After the ice cream social, Seehafernews.com asked Evers about some issues, including what can be done now that the FoodWIse program will be coming to an end in September.
“Unfortunately, we can’t do everything that the federal government did,” he explained.“But, we did get money into the budget around food security, so, possibly some of that money can be used in the same vain.”
Evers had a bowl of Butter Pecan ice cream while at Cedar Crest.
He also made stops in Rhinelander and Kenosha during his tour around the state.
