25-03-2025
La Crosse Mayoral candidates, in their own words
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – With just a little over a week before the Spring Elections, the two finalists for mayor in La Crosse are finishing up their election campaigns. Chris Kahlow and Shaundel Washington-Spivey have spent the last few months campaigning to become the next mayor of the city of La Crosse. Both are UW La Crosse Alumni and have spent plenty of time in La Crosse after graduation. Kahlow has been a business owner and La Crosse City Council president for the last 2 years. Kahlow says, 'We have chaos and uncertainty in Washington (DC). We have political divisiveness in Madison. Now we need a leader who is steady and experienced and able to move La Crosse forward.'
Shaundel Washington-Spivey has served on the La Crosse School Board and founded Black Leaders Acquiring Collective Knowledge. A local non-profit. Washington-Spivey says, 'I think it's time for us to have a mayor that understands what it's like to do grassroots organizing, be boots on the ground doing the work, listening to the people, and moving that to city hall.'
Both candidates say topics like homelessness, small businesses, and affordable housing are things they will focus on if they are elected mayor. Washington-Spivey says, 'I'd be looking at making sure that we have a variety of housing in our neighborhoods and making sure our neighborhoods are accessible to everyone. In addition to working with our unhoused populations. Elevating and advancing the Pathways Home program is… definitely an initiative that I plan to proceed with. Also making sure we're proceeding with a vibrant business culture and seeing what supports we can bring from the state over into La Crosse to increase both our businesses and business support.'
Kahlow explains, 'I'd be supporting strong public safety to make sure our residents and businesses are safe. It means working collaboratively on homelessness and housing issues. Making sure we have regional, state, and federal cooperation on that homelessness issue. It also means I will prioritize a mix of housing choices. we need to balance affordability with maintaining the character and charm of our neighborhoods.'
If elected, Kahlow would become La Crosse's first female mayor and Washington-Spivey would become La Crosse's first African-American mayor.
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