A cannabis eye view of politics as unusual
The date of September 18th is carved in stone and the stage is set at Classics Sports Bar in Historic Downtown Ripon. The Friends of Jay Selthofner plan to pack the place with supporters to raise funds for the final push needed to firmly secure the Independent cannabis candidate’s place in the history books. Plan to attend this historic campaign concert featuring a cornucopia of music, entertainment and a little education. The Friends of Jay Selthofner have planned this concert event with Truth, Honesty and Compassion in mind at all times.
Which candidate for the 6th Congressional District will try to seize a U.S. House Seat by crashing Selthofner’s fund raiser and rubbing elbows with the cannabis crew and other activists and supporters of major reform from around Wisconsin? Or perhaps we will will see a mosh pit of Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, Green and other party members mixing it together to actually get things done after 10 hours of music and Talking about Hemp and Cannabis? Who knows what to expect with these people.
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The Friends of Jay Selthofner have had more opportunities to work with the Democratic Challenger Joe Kallas so far this campaign. Kallas and Selthofner share many other similarities in addition to supporting marijuana reform. Both Kallas and Selthofner reside on farmland their families have owned for generations. Both men had a hand in building the house they live in. And both are trying to take down Republican dynasties in their respective districts. The three term streak of Selthofner’s opponent, Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) is nothing compared to the 31 year tenor of of incumbant Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac). The Kallas campaign had a chance to view Selthofner in action prior to Jay even considering his candidacy.

Selthofner addressed the group during the last legislation session at a Tri-County Democratic meeting which included another opponent in Selthofner’s race, Scott Milheiser (D-Fremont), as well as prominent area Democrats and Lt. Governor Candidate Henry Sanders. Selthofner’s wife Narin recalled the meeting by saying, “Jay and Henry Sanders ran into each other in the start of the meeting as they worked the crowd. When Henry Sanders came back to the table he inquired about what seat Jay was running for. That brief meeting and handshake must have meant something, or the energy Jay has is so electrifying that people just know he is the one that will get it done, because at that point we where just out trying to make everyone aware of the industrial hemp and medical marijuana bills. Little did we know just months later we would be leading a race for a state assembly position.”
Selthofner’s former professional sales district nearly overlaps the Wisconsin State Assembly District 41 in which he seeks to be elected. His active professional life and wide variety of clients and other contacts give Jay a huge natural supporter base to draw from. Selthofner traditionally has more Republican clients from his insurance and investment business with the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network. Why? It is not just the fact that Selthofner has been active in the business and farming communities, but also because the district is primarily Republican in nature. Green Lake County is viewed as so hardcore Republican by some, that the Democrats did not even bother to attempt to have booth, nor did the Democratic Challenger Scott Milheiser even make an entrance at the Green Lake County Fair. Selthofner, who was denied an Independent Campaign Booth by the Green Lake County Fair took the whole rejection in stride by stating “It is funny, politics is very similar to the insurance business. It is about education, being active and actually caring about people. People are people when it comes down to it, they want someone they can trust. People usually say they cannot trust any insurance people and politicians, except their own. I hope this saying holds true in our district.” Although denied an exhibitor booth at the Green Lake County Fair, Selthofner and friends canvased the fairgrounds “pirate sytle”, found tons of support in all kinds of ways and even managed to find Joe Kallas pounding the midway was well.
The Waushara County Fair found Selthofner Talking Hemp and Cannabis right next to the current Wausahra County Republican Sheriff David Peterson. The Republican Party had a booth full of people from right to righter, but the challenger for Peterson’s Sheriff seat and fellow Republican Russell Monacelli was the one who was out and about, eager to learn more about the inevitable cannabis reform that is coming. Perhaps it was the ice breaker when Selthofner and Monacelli participated in a fund raiser for the Waushara Area Chamber of Commerce by sitting in the dunk tank. Monacelli did not attempt to sink Selthofner, but Selthofner attempted to sink him (video link). After further cannabis conversations with Monacelli at the Waushara County Fair, it seems that if elected, Monacelli would not try to sink cannabis reform either.
Selthofner did shake the other hand in the 6th Congressional equation during the Waushara County Fair. The Friends of Jay captured the exchange of more than just a handshake as Selthofner grabbed the attention of Incumbent Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac), as the topic of marijuana reform is high on the agenda. Jay gave Petri and update on the overwhelming amount of support he has found in the district, as well as right there at the fair. A care package of Industrial Hemp, Medical Marijuana and Recreational Cannabis material was sent along with Petri for further inspection. Will talking hemp and cannabis with Petri produce a perfect political partnership at the State and Federal level should Petri prevail this November? So far, none of the information was returned or reputed to Selthofner by the Petri campaign.
Jay has visited the Little White Schoolhouse in the past, but recently returned this summer to learn more about the political history. The Republican Party Historical Society has a short video “If These Walls Could Talk” that Selthofner has found inspiration from watching that prompted the return. Long forgotten, this story about generations ago, right here in our backyards, shows we have always been concerned about personal freedoms, civil rights, and the usual party politics impeding social and economic progress in multiple areas. Selthofner is no different than those first pioneers. Jay points out the discrimination against personal freedoms and violation of constitutional rights the current marijuana laws are creating. The Wisconsin Historical Site Marker on the site in part says “In this schoolhouse, on March 20, 1854, the first mass meeting in the country was held that definitely and positively cut loose from old parties and advocated the new party name ‘Republican’. Ripon is known historically as the “Birthplace of the Republican Party”. Democrats, Whigs and Free Soilers came together and entered a building as separate and came out united.
The Selthofner campaign is setting a similar historic stage as an Independent Candidate, bringing the people back to the political process and taking the party out. Be part of the change you want to see, get involved today!