Cheryl Laabs and I met with two candidates, Michelle Litjens, a Republican for the 56th and Gordon Hintz, a Democrat for the 54th last Friday. Both meetings were productive and interesting full of great conversation.
Michelle was open about what we had to say regarding public health and tobacco prevention. She had never heard of some of the newer tobacco products like snus and orbs and this alarmed her since she is the mother of a 12- and 14-year-old. We also helped her find resources for an issue she's been having with one of her tenants.
Gordon talked with us at the Seniors Center, along with 4 other Oshkosh residents. They all listened to why tobacco prevention funding was important to our youth. They had several questions about youth access and changing the culture to make tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use, something that is NOT okay.
Both candidates told us that they believe funding prevention is important, as long as the funding is being used appropriately. Good thing Wisconsin's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has one of the best track records of success in the state, including a 46% decrease in youth smoking and 21% decrease in adult smoking since the program began in 2000.
To see more of those stats click on this link: http://www.tobwis.org/uploads/media/CandEd2010_combined.pdf
-emily
Michelle was open about what we had to say regarding public health and tobacco prevention. She had never heard of some of the newer tobacco products like snus and orbs and this alarmed her since she is the mother of a 12- and 14-year-old. We also helped her find resources for an issue she's been having with one of her tenants.
Gordon talked with us at the Seniors Center, along with 4 other Oshkosh residents. They all listened to why tobacco prevention funding was important to our youth. They had several questions about youth access and changing the culture to make tobacco use, and excessive alcohol use, something that is NOT okay.
Both candidates told us that they believe funding prevention is important, as long as the funding is being used appropriately. Good thing Wisconsin's Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has one of the best track records of success in the state, including a 46% decrease in youth smoking and 21% decrease in adult smoking since the program began in 2000.
To see more of those stats click on this link: http://www.tobwis.org/uploads/media/CandEd2010_combined.pdf
-emily
