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Home municipality
Madison
Home ZIP code
53704
Preferred pronouns
she/her/hers
Know Your Candidates Interview
Throughout my service on the County Board, I have prioritized the needs of people who rely on Dane County Human Services. In the 2026 budget, I led successful efforts to increase funding for shelter, behavioral health, aging and disability, and immigrant affairs services. Board colleagues and I worked to shift funds from the County Sheriff’s office to these vital human services. Next year’s budget will be more challenging. If re-elected, I will prioritize the needs of our neighbors without housing, those with unmet health care needs, immigrants and others targeted by the Trump administration.
I recently authored a successful amendment to purchase campground land for people who are unhoused. More work needs to happen before this land can offer safe shelter. I also plan to introduce an ordinance that incorporates existing, and possibly expanded, tenant protections and fair housing requirements in county-assisted properties. I am exploring how to create a county land banking program to foster more publicly controlled, equitable development. I've led successful efforts to create the Affordable Housing Development Fund, Fair Chance Housing Fund, and Safe Farmworker Housing Initiative.
More affordable, accessible, and equitable housing is still a top priority. Another D2 priority is addressing the PFAS contamination and ongoing health impacts of noise from Truax Airport. I worked with district residents, the Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition, and County Board colleagues to protect our area through Dane County’s Joint Use Agreement with the federal government and had limited success. A growing need is to build and strengthen grassroots mutual aid and other support systems, to keep our community connected and strong in the face of mounting attacks from the federal government.
I have dedicated my career–as a poverty lawyer, union leader, and elected official–to fighting for people harmed by an unfair economic system and racist laws and practices. For years, I worked with community advocates to oppose funding for a massive new jail project. While we didn’t stop the new jail, our advocacy increased awareness of and support for innovative reforms that increase community safety, like non-law enforcement crisis response. Since first being elected to the County Board in 2012, I have worked hard for the progressive values of our district. I’ve been twice elected by colleagues to chair the Health and Human Needs Committee. My skills, experience, and passion helps our county fight fascism and address budget challenges.
