Do Your Own Research

This letter to the editor, by Ken Wooley, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on October 1, 2026.

In the market for a used car? You wouldn’t buy a “previously owned” car unless you did your research — no matter what the seller told you. You’ll want to see the maintenance logs to confirm regular oil changes, check the oil and transmission fluid, examine the tire tread depth and ensure the title is clean.

So don’t buy into a candidate, because you’ve seen a flashy commercial or received a stack of glossy flyers in the mail. Do your research.

Here’s an example of what I’ve learned. State Rep. Shannon Zimmerman claims he stood up to big insurance companies, forcing them to cover cancer screenings. In reality, he was one of 96 “yes” votes — not an author or cosponsor — for Senate Bill 264 which expanded breast cancer (not all cancer) screening coverage.

Zimmerman also claims to have delivered tax relief to help lower energy and housing costs. Once again the reality is that he voted in favor of a budget bill that eliminated year-round sales tax on residential electricity and natural gas. This was not his bill, simply one he supported.

Dig a little. You might be surprised at what you find. Don’t settle for a representative with a sketchy record and poor attendance in Madison. Vote for Kevin Knoke, a new candidate with a clean record, ready to go the distance in serving our Assembly district.