Kallas challenges Rep. Petri for seat in U.S. House
Joseph C. Kallas has announced his candidacy for the 6th Congressional District, the seat in the United States House of Representatives that has been held by Tom Petri since 1979.
Kallas ran for the state Assembly in 1988 and has served on the Princeton Town Board as well as the Green Lake County Board.
Born on a farm in Green Lake, Kallas has lived in Princeton for most of his life and resides on the farm that has been in his family for over 100 years. He is a 1971 University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. In 1977, he received his teaching certification from UWGreen Bay, and has earned graduate credits in public administration from UW-Oshkosh.
Kallas is employed at Fox Lake Correctional Institution where he teaches two Moraine Park College classes in addition to classes for inmates working toward their high school equivalency diploma.
In addition to farming, Kallas’ working career includes social service commitments as a VISTA volunteer, coordinator of four group homes in Ripon, production supervisor at Fox River Industries in Berlin, and assistant director of Fresh Start in Wautoma. He has also written for the Oshkosh Northwestern and the Princeton Times-Republic.
In announcing his candidacy, Kallas said, “Petri cannot go unchallenged. He is not entitled to a free ride. Thirty-one years is long enough – his views and votes need to be exposed and debated. The problems we face are not going to be solved without a change in representation. Full employment will only be achieved when we abandon our ruinous trade policies and tax the arrogant corporations who ignore American workers and move jobs out of the country. From personal experience, I know how important it is to preserve our groundwater, lakes, and farmland.
“The 6th Congressional District needs new ideas and energy. It calls out for a representative who will actually listen to his constituents and take action. For the sake of your family and mine, I will be that representative.”
