To the Editor-

For the last four years, Patty Dreier has stepped up to the numerous challenges facing Portage County through her post as County Executive.
This important position was only recently created by the county voters to establish a counterweight to decisions previously left largely to the
county board or department heads. Patty has effectively connected with people and communities county-wide and provided a true Portage County voice to budget and policy debates.

She has provided critical leadership at times when the county’s operations needed it, fixing broken systems and asking staff to collaborate and participate in strategic planning. Patty has also given a more balanced, long-term perspective to discussions about county facilities. I sincerely believe that were it not for Patty’s role representing all the people of the county, the taxpayers would already be on the hook for an expensive new county jail and justice center built somewhere on the fringe of the city.

By slowing the deliberations and requiring that all costs be considered in the process – including the added personnel costs of an expanded jail – we have avoided making costly mistakes like those in Waupaca and Sauk Counties. The last four years have been difficult for local government,
with a weak state economy, tax levy limits, and diminished shared government revenues from the state. Despite these headwinds, Patty has
kept her head held high and worked tirelessly to move Portage County forward. She has shown that we do need this position and I urge you to
re elect Patty Dreier as County Executive this April 1.

Eric Olson, Stevens Point