Swiggum Moves Forward
from the O-W Enterprise Newspaper
While preparing to make his official announcement as a candidate for assemblyman of the 69 th District, Owen Mayor Tim Swiggum began the week as normal. However, during the May 13th city council meeting things took a strange twist.
“They came in and asked what my address is and told me that my house is on fire,” says Swiggum.
With fire damage to a portion of the house and smoke damage throughout, Swiggum, his wife Karen and daughter Rebecca were forced from their home.
“We are not lucky but feel blessed we are all safe. We did however lose two cats,” says Swiggum. “I have to thank the fire department. It was only 25 minutes and it was out. Looking back that’s just amazing.”
The Swiggums are staying at Karen’s mother’s house until they can make more suitable arrangements, as their house undergoes repairs.
“To remove the smell it has to be gutted and rebuilt. The smell is in everything,” explains Swiggum.
Regardless of the dire situation the family is in, the Swiggums made the decision to “move forward” with the campaign and continue with the scheduled announcement and campaign kick-off party.
On Saturday, May 17 th, Swiggum made his intentions public to a large group of supporters at the kick-off held in the backyard of his damaged Owen home.
“There isn’t a conflict of interest to be both mayor and assemblyman,” explains the 4 th term Owen mayor. “I am willing to try.”
Swiggum lived in Monroe, Wisconsin, prior to moving to Owen in 1998. He and his family worked in the restaurant industry for 13 years, prior to his decision to seek the assembly seat in 2006.
“We got out of the business to run for the assembly the first time,” says Swiggum.
Swiggum lost his first bid to the assembly to incumbent Scott Suder in 2006 and now works as a foreman at Midwest Aluminum, Withee.
Swiggum is an Army veteran and is active on many community organizations and committees, including: the Owen Library Board, O-W Vets Club, American Legion, House of Friends, Agribusiness Committee, Clark County Economic Development Corporation Board, Clark County Tourism Board, United Communities of Clark County, Highway 29 Partnership, United Way, and the United Church of Christ.
“As assemblyman I will always have an open door policy,” states Swiggum. “My cell phone will always be out in the public. I’m not going to run from any problem small or large.”
Swiggum’s priorities include three areas: health care, education, and ethics in government.
“Healthy Wisconsin is a good thing. It will save taxpayer dollars – absolutely everybody should save,” says Swiggum. “The City of Owen would save $45,000. The School District of Neillsville would save $2 million. Health care is the biggest issue – it’s squeezed everybody.”
As Swiggum begins his campaign for the 69 th assembly seat, his family continues to work their way through the damage the house fire has left in its wake.
“We are greatly humbled. The community is offering so much when we know we’ll be okay,” says Swiggum. “Our campaign motto is ‘let’s move forward’. It never meant more than it means this week.”
