October 22, 2026 – Daily Jefferson County Union
I read with interest this paper’s reporting of the recent joint Fort Atkinson-Jefferson Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, which included incumbent William Penterman and his challenger, Terri Wenkman, for Assembly District 38. The quotes from the forum included in the article made it seem as if both candidates equally challenge the rash of Big Tech’s data centers, the proposed 765 powerline, and the abuse of Flock cameras here in Jefferson County. I was at the forum. I heard, saw and know something different about the two candidates.
First, although Mr. Penterman was quoted as saying he opposed data centers, his actions in the State Assembly are just the opposite, and he’s backed by pro-data center groups, like the Wisconsin Economic Development Association. He coauthored legislation (AB 840) to advance data centers with some piecemeal protections that are too meager. He did he not include safeguards to protect utility customers from absorbing the massive grid updates and energy demands of data centers, which is a key part of the affordability crisis we will face now and in the future.
Clean Wisconsin said it best in its opposition to Mr. Penterman’s bill: “Data centers should of course internalize the costs of construction needed to support their voracious need (which the bill does). At the same time, we are perplexed by AB 840’s imposition of discriminatory burdens on the most affordable power sources, which would only risk further harms to the environment and ensure higher bills for Wisconsinites.” Second, Mr. Penterman has co-sponsored AB 300 to expand surveillance with Flock cameras and the like.
Do we really need Big Brother’s cameras everywhere, especially when local communities have pulled the plug on them because leaders like Jefferson County Sheriff Travis Maze decided they were unreliably leaking personal data without police authorization?
Third, this paper did an admirable job reporting on the recent no on 765 powerline day of action in Madison. A large group of folks met with our representatives. When they showed up for their scheduled meeting with Mr. Penterman, he was nowhere to be found with a staffer who seemed to have no familiarity with the issue. Have they not seen the yard signs everywhere? Terri Wenkman not only showed up at the Capitol, she spoke at the press conference providing a nurse’s perspective on how the proposed powerline could damage human and farm animal health.
Mr. Penterman has campaigned against China taking our farmland, but he backs government surveillance and land grabs by Big Tech with no say from you. The smarter move would have been to listen to your constituents, Mr. Penterman. We are beleaguered by data centers and now the proposed 765 line.
He has served three terms too long in the State Assembly and has accomplished nothing in those three terms, sitting on the same old problems, posting pictures of himself doing pushups with students on Facebook.
We can do better. We need a problem solver with a can-do spirit and a commitment to common sense.
KAY WILSON
Jefferson
