Education
BA Urban Studies - Vassar College - 2016; MA Journalism - Cardiff University - 2020
Personal Pronouns
he/him/his
I have worked for years as an educator, writer, and advocate. I'm running on a bold PRO-PUBLIC platform capable of going somewhere, even in divided government.
FUND STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS: This starts with boosting special education funding. We must also stabilize preK and higher ed funding through the 2025-27 budget.
RESTORE REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: Repeal the 1849 abortion ban.
EXPAND HEALTHCARE AS A HUMAN RIGHT: Accept federal Medicaid expansion. We can also fund specialty clinics for mental health. Both are part of the stabilization necessary after two abrupt hospital closures in the Eau Claire area this year.
BROADEN WORKERS' RIGHTS: This starts with restoring collective bargaining for public sector laborers. I also oppose so-called “Right to Work” and support prevailing wage laws.
LEGALIZE CANNABIS: This is not only popular (over 60% support in WI) but also moral in its ability to cut down mass incarceration.
PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT: Fully fund the DNR and support a green economy.
Voters are speaking about the pressure of rising costs and the challenge of unaffordable housing often as I speak with members of the community. As a millennial, I come from a generation at the receiving end of decades of economic policy that has prioritized developers at the expense of tenants and allowed the already-wealthy to hoard resources at the expense of the working class. We are hit hard by the skyrocketing cost of housing. One thing the state can and should do is join other states in passing some basic rent control laws limiting how often tenants' rent can be raised in a year. We can also expand support for first-time homebuyers and pass laws to hold mass vacation rental property owners to higher standards so they cannot falsely inflate the cost of housing in our local communities at the expense of residents.
Voters should be able to choose their representatives--not the other way around. The Wisconsin legislative maps were gerrymandered to advantage Republicans 13 years ago. It took the State Supreme Court striking down unfair maps to bring us to where we are in 2024. Still, the process should be removed from partisanship altogether. I support passing a law that creates a nonpartisan redistricting commission tasked with honoring each municipality, population center, and voter equally and fairly, with no favorable or unfavorable regard for any specific political party. Fortunately, we have a strong blueprint to follow from other states. Our neighbors in Iowa already have a nonpartisan legislative map process after which we can model the rules, makeup, and process here in Wisconsin.
Our economy is currently set up to continue harming the environment. I am the pro-public candidate: pro-public education, pro-public health, pro-public participation in democracy, and pro-public land. I will work to fully fund the Department of Natural Resources and enable the DNR to protect more land for both environmental and recreational purposes. I will also demand that the state fully fund our municipalities, so localities can adequately address their environmental and pollution concerns, such as "forever-chemical" cleanup in wells, without breaking the bank. I will also support the expansion of our electric vehicle charging station network, investments in public transportation, and laws that hold polluters and energy companies responsible for the cost of moving to renewable energy, so the burden does not fall on taxpayers and everyday residents. A widespread issue like this requires a multilateral solution, so I will work closely with advocates and organizers.
The 2025-27 state budget is perhaps the last chance we have to save some public schools from a breaking point. I have a deep understanding of the school funding formula--something about which we have no time to wait for on-the-job training, since the next state budget will be drafted very shortly after the new legislature is sworn in. Here are two things that must happen in the next budget for me to vote yes:
1. Dramatic increases in special education funding. For many years, WI has been reimbursing only about one-third (or less) of special ed costs to school districts, leaving a gap of nearly $1.5 billion for districts to fill. I will advocate for parity between public and special ed voucher funding (which is at 90%+), and I'll accept the results of negotiations only if they result in a meaningful increase.
2. Begin phasing out vouchers. Public schools are losing over $500 million this year to unaccountable voucher schools, which are not required to serve students with disabilities.
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Campaign Phone #
715-379-0087
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