Editor:

For more than 20 years, mining companies have had their eyes on the mineral deposits of the town of Lynne in Oneida County. If excavated, the mine would run dangerously close to the Willow Flowage Scenic Waters Area, an area which many people fought to protect. Should something happen, pollutants could contaminate the waters of the Willow Flowage, the Tomahawk River, Lake Nokomis and eventually the Wisconsin River. Living on Lake Nokomis, I see the wonderful waterway every morning when I look out my living room window. I know how important these pristine waters are for our economy.

We cannot afford to risk damaging our water in order to mine the small amount of mineral resources in the town of Lynne. With Oneida County officials moving closer to having public meetings, this might become a reality. Water-along with wildlife, woods, and workers-is one of the four “W’s” that we must protect.

I have been a longtime advocate for Wisconsin’s four “W’s.” My whole family marched on Madison in 2000 in an effort to stop the Crandon mine. More recently, I was a vocal opponent of the proposed Gogebic Taconite mine in the Penokee Hills. Although I understand we use these resources for many items such as cell phones and computers, we must manage them wisely. The way the current Legislature carelessly and hastily pushed the recent mining bill ignored the potential environmental consequences.

This is just another example of the lack of civility exhibited by our current legislators. As your senator, I will work to restore respect in the Legislature and will build relationships across the aisle. These relationships will allow both parties to come up with responsible legislation promoting economic growth while protecting our vital natural resources.

Lisa Theo, Tomahawk
12th District Senate candidate