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Wisconsin Assembly, District 53/Asamblea de Wisconsin, Distrito 53

Wisconsin Legislative BranchWisconsin’s legislature makes state laws. The legislature has two houses: the Wisconsin Senate and the Wisconsin Assembly. Proposed laws (bills) can originate from either the state senate or assembly. Both houses must approve the bill before it is passed on to the governor for signature or veto. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house. The legislature controls the spending of state funds through appropriation.Wisconsin AssemblyThe Wisconsin Assembly has ninety-nine representatives. Voters elect representatives to represent their assembly district for a two-year term. There is no term limit.__________Poder Legislativo de Wisconsin La legislatura de Wisconsin produce las leyes estatales. La legislatura consta de dos cámaras: el Senado de Wisconsin y la Asamblea de Wisconsin. Las propuestas de ley pueden originarse tanto en el Senado estatal como en la Asamblea. Ambas cámaras deben aprobar el proyecto de ley antes de transmitirla al gobernador para su firma o veto. La legislatura puede anular un veto con un voto mayoritario de dos tercios en cada cámara. La legislatura controla el gasto de los fondos estatales a través de las leyes de asignación. Asamblea de WisconsinLa Asamblea de Wisconsin tiene noventa y nueve representantes. Los votantes eligen representantes para representar a su asamblea de distrito por un término de dos años. No hay límite de términos.Nota: Las respuestas de los candidatos que aparecen en español se tradujeron de las respuestas originales de los candidatos en inglés.

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    Rachael Dowling
    (Ind)

Biographical Information

Please describe your priorities for your term in office and your specific qualifications to effectively address those issues.

What do you see as the most pressing housing-related issue in Wisconsin, and what policies, if any, would you support to address the issue?

What redistricting process, if any, do you believe the legislature should put in place before the next national census to ensure fair representation for voters?

What, if anything, will you do to ensure our schools have the resources to improve outcomes for its students, including those with disabilities?

What guardrails, if any, would you support to protect our environment, health, property values, and household budgets from large projects such as hyperscale data centers and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)?

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Committee Rachael Dowling
Campaign Email hello@dowlingforassembly.com
Campaign Phone 9202687344
Campaign Mailing Address 642 DePere St
Menasha, WI 54952
Website http://www.dowlingforassembly.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/DowlingForWIAssembly
Campaign Twitter Handle @DowlingForWI
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/dowlingforwiassembly
Education FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot
Campaign Announcement http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1003622145513889&set=pb.100075983376097.-2207520000&type=3
My priorities are protecting Wisconsin residents from rushed decisions that affect our privacy, natural resources, and local control. First, I believe we need to slow down hyperscale data center approvals until environmental impact, utility costs, water use, and long-term risks are fully understood. Second, I oppose Flock cameras being used to record residents and turn that data over to private companies without proper consent and oversight. Third, I support single-issue bills so representatives can vote clearly and honestly on each issue. I am serving my third term on the Winnebago County Board and have served on local government committees for Winnebago County and the City of Menasha, giving me practical experience in policy and service.
The most pressing housing issue in Wisconsin is affordability. Seniors who want to downsize are struggling to find retirement homes or apartments they can afford, leaving many living alone in larger 3+ bedroom homes. At the same time, younger families and first-time buyers are being priced out of starter homes. With high home prices and interest rates, the path to homeownership has become much harder. I would support policies that allow smaller homes to be built on smaller lots, encourage more practical starter-home options, and remove unnecessary barriers that keep affordable housing from being built responsibly in our communities.
After talking with voters at the doors (including some who were not aware they were in my district) I believe the current district lines should remain in place before the next national census. Wisconsin’s maps were recently redrawn under Governor Evers, and changing them again so soon would create more confusion for voters, candidates, clerks, and local communities. Fair representation matters, but voters also need stability and clarity. Before making more changes, I believe we should allow the current maps to function through the next census cycle and focus on making sure voters know who represents them.
This is exactly why I support single-issue bills. The bipartisan $1.8 billion tax and education package should have been separated so school funding could be debated and voted on clearly. Our schools have real needs, including support for students with disabilities and the paraprofessionals who help them succeed. In our own districts, paraprofessionals are at risk of losing their jobs because of funding concerns. We should not be sitting on money while schools struggle to meet basic staffing and student-support needs. Funds need to be allocated responsibly and transparently.
In regard to data centers, we need clear parameters for working with responsible builders. Data centers are not new, and some older models from 10+ years ago relied heavily on coolant and did not touch our water system. If new data centers are truly needed, then health concerns, utility costs, water use, environmental impact, and local infrastructure must be addressed and protected before projects move forward.

In regard to CAFOs, I believe they exist in part because we failed to protect local farmers. We need to take a serious look at regulations shaped by lobbying that push family farms out and make it harder for them to earn a livable wage. Wisconsin policy should protect our environment without destroying the farmers who feed us.
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