Former Merrill resident challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

WISCONSIN – Richard “Dick” Ausman announced on Tuesday, May 10 that had launched a campaign to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District.

Ausman, who is running as a Democrat, is challenging incumbent Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, who late last month announced that he would seek another term.

A release from Ausman’s campaign described him as “a small business owner, parent, and a former UW Madison Marching Band bass drummer.”

“Ausman’s frustration with current Congressman Tom Tiffany motivated him to enter the race,” the release stated.

“Tiffany prioritizes the needs of corporations, millionaires, and special interests, while folks at home are left to pay the price,” Ausman said in the release. “Tom Tiffany can’t separate fact from fiction, and perpetuates misinformation in an attempt to divide the voters of the district.”

Ausman said he “(supports) the Democratic Party values that our economy should work for everyone, health care is right, and we must strengthen and defend our democracy, but my upbringing taught me the value of a dollar, and my career in business taught me to be cautious when spending that dollar, so I will be a careful steward of American taxpayers’ money and ensure that the 7th Congressional District gets their fair share.”

Ausman was born and raised in Merrill.

“(Ausman’s) father died when he was seven and his mother, with six children, had no insurance or savings,” the release stated. “Dick remembers vividly the white boxes of food they would pick up at the county building. Dick’s mom baked bread that Dick would deliver to families in the neighborhood, and she rented a bedroom in their house to a student attending the nursing college to supplant her earnings.”

The release said Ausman’s mother’s values “are the core of who Dick became: ‘Tell the truth, be kind, give your all to your family and work, and everyone is welcome at my table.’”

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ausman became a business-to-business media and consumer media publisher, serving as a leading executive in one of the largest publishing companies in the world, the release said.

“Dick was raised in the Methodist Church, and finds comfort whether the service is Protestant, Catholic, or Jewish,” the release stated.

Ausman and his wife Sara have two children, Samantha and Amanda, who are working on doctorate and undergraduate degrees.

“We are all Badgers/Wisconsinites – Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and whoever – and no matter if you live on a farm or in a city apartment, everyone deserves to have someone in Washington who’s looking out for them, and that’s why I’m running,” Ausman stated.

The 7th Congressional District is Wisconsin’s largest district by land mass and includes Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Clark, Douglas, Florence, Forest, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, Washburn and Wood counties.