‘Battle of the Mayors’ raises money for Salvation Army

Mayor Kabat, Mayor Chilsen ring bells for Red Kettle Campaign

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — The La Crosse and Onalaska mayors went head-to-head Tuesday for a good cause.

The annual ‘Battle of the Mayors’ competition took place in an effort to raise money for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat and Onalaska Mayor Joe Chilsen competed to see who could raise the most money for the nonprofit during a two hour shift Tuesday morning.

Kabat rang bells at the Festival Foods in the Village Shopping Center in La Crosse. He says while the annual competition can be fun the event is about building our community.

“If we want to live in a good community, then we have to be active participants, and things like ringing bells is a great way to do that. Again, what the Salvation Army does to help people makes our place just a better place to live,” said Mayor Kabat.

Mayor Chilsen rang the Red Kettle bell at Onalaska’a Festival Foods. He says local nonprofits are more than worth the effort.

“Without the Salvation Army and groups like them we would have a tough time being the great city that we are. They are always there when you need them and they plug a lot of wholes that the city simply can’t,” said Mayor Chilsen.

Mayor Kabat won last year’s competition. Mayor Chilsen says he hopes to take revenge this time around.