When you see the Thompson name on the ballot this fall, it won't exactly be the name you've seen ever since 1986.

This time it's Ed, and he's a Libertarian.

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News 3's Colin Benedict took Thompson north from Madison to Barron and Chippewa counties as part of our special "Where In Wisconsin?" series.

Ed Thompson is the owner of the Tee-Pee Supper Club and was, until April, the mayor of Tomah. He grew up in Elroy and graduated from Royall High School.

He is divorced with four kids and five grandkids, and he's after the job Tommy Thompson held for 16 years.

Rice Lake High School
8:04 a.m.

Thompson says nearly every event starts with a question about his brother. At Rice Lake High School, it was question No. 3.

"Did your brother encourage you to run?" one student asked.

"Emphatically not," Thompson said.

But after that, it was on to education and why districts don't get the same funding per student statewide.

"Well, I don't have the answer, and that's a very, very important question," Thompson said.

Thompson said he would develop a plan by listening to those who do know.

Principal Richard Nelson said he liked Thompson's honesty.

"He's being honest -- he doesn't know that particular answer," Nelson said. "As long as he's willing to go get the information, I think that's fine."

Chamber of Commerce
9:42 a.m.

For a group of business leaders, the concern is jobs. The term "brain drain" means a great deal here.

"A lot of these people would just as soon remain in northwest Wisconsin, but the jobs are not here," said Vernon Peterson, community relations manager for Xcel Energy.

Thompson said Wisconsin taxes are too high for anyone to find it an attractive place to live. He vowed to drop Wisconsin out of the top 10 highest taxed states.

Mick's Barber Shop
10:52

Mick Greene of Mick's Barber Shop said he's glad to see some new blood making a run.

Greene is Thompson's high school friend. He had a customer who was upset about killing the deer herd while Thompson was visiting.

"We need to start doing it in these game farms rather than killing off 15,000," Don Shaide said.

Thompson said he's concerned also, but would go along to contain the disease.

Rod and Gun Sport Shop
1:15 p.m.

At Chetek's local gun shop, Thompson shared his view on ownership and hiding your gun.

"I'm a firm believer in the right to conceal and carry," Thompson said. "It seems like every state that enacted it, violent crimes went down."

Ridgeland-Chetek Co-Op
1:32 p.m.

And just down the street, farmer Steve Langman (pictured, left with Thompson) wanted to hear what a bar owner would do about the dairy business.

"I think we need a support price, either that or some kind of supply management as far as dairy goes," Langman said.

"You're a small-business man. I'm a small-business man -- just a different business," Thompson told him.

But Thompson doesn't offer any specifics.

"The farmers I've talked to want government out of their lives," Thompson said.

Leinenkugel's
2:32 p.m.

The last stop of the day was Chippewa Falls. Beermaker Jake Leinenkugel told Thompson about the economy.

"From my standpoint again, I want to see this area grow and thrive," Thompson told him. To do that, the Libertarian again points to taxes -- but again without many specifics.

The beermaker noticed.

"I think at this point it's very simplistic," Leinenkugel (pictured, right with Thompson) said. "They were short answers, and until you can really sit down and really analyze and do a cost-cross comparison with various candidates, I won't make any determination."

Thompson freely admits he doesn't have all the answers; yet, he believes voters know enough to make a decision about him.

"I think my core beliefs are there," Thompson said. "I think they'll know what they are, and I think that you base your decisions on that. What type of person I am, what type of character I am.

"I'm going to honest, and I'm going to let people know what's going on, and I think that's what sets me apart."

If it's enough to win an election, we will see.