Campaign Phone #
608-620-3001
Campaign Phone
608-620-3001
Education
BA in political science and philosophy from American University, and MA in Political Science-American Politics from American University
Personal Pronouns
He/Him/His
Candidate Video Interview
We must protect our democracy, restore our rights, and invest in communities. Republicans have been far too successful in degrading voters’ confidence in our democracy. I advocate for pro-democracy policies like ballot drop boxes, automatic voter registration, voting by mail, and public financing of campaigns. Too many of our rights—voting, collective bargaining, reproductive health choice, LGBTQ+, and our freedom to assemble free from fear of gun violence—have been taken away or eroded. We must make investments in our communities, including strong public schools and higher education, housing for everyone, transit options, childcare, Medicaid expansion, and environmental protections.
I am a leader in the State Assembly on legislation to help working people. I introduced bills to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (AB471), expand the Homestead Credit (AB458), and create WISEARNS (a state-facilitated retirement savings program for workers whose employers don't provide one).
The top issue is a lack of supply of housing that is attainable for everyone. We must ensure there is a spectrum of housing for all incomes and a spectrum of housing for all ages. Far too many of our neighbors struggle with housing insecurity and bouts of homelessness. I want to transform how we ensure everyone has access to affordable, quality, and stable shelter. In the State Assembly, I am a leader on housing policy, and I serve on the Housing Committee. My first speech in the Assembly was about zoning process and substance. I introduced a bill to allow local governments to do rent control and inclusionary zoning, which they are preempted from doing today. This drives up housing costs and limits local governments’ power to help. I have worked tirelessly to combat Republican efforts to criminalize homelessness and defund programs that help. We should also learn from and apply our successes during the pandemic preventing evictions with rent assistance and housing navigation programs.
The fair maps signed by Governor Evers are a welcome change from the devastating Republican gerrymander we’ve had since 2012. This change is a result of years of tireless advocacy and organizing. Voters sent a clear and consistent message that we should have gerrymandering. We reinforced a precedent that whoever is in charge can draw maps for any election cycle between Census cycles. This leaves us open to a gerrymander more frequently. To prevent a gerrymander, we must amend our State Constitution to create a nonpartisan process for drawing legislative and congressional districts that comply with the federal Voting Rights Act, disregard incumbency, keep communities of interest together, and create compact districts with an outcome that reflects statewide election results. Other states have done this successfully and I was a member of the Dane County Board when we passed maps that meet these criteria. It can and must be done to protect our democracy.
Wisconsinites are feeling our changing climate with more frequent severe weather events, mild winters, and hot summers. These changes are an urgent call to action. I support expanding incentives that help all of us to be the solution. I support our state’s climate action plans, and efforts to green our economy and agricultural practices. I hear from voters across the state about water problems, including contaminated wells, pollutant runoff, and PFAS. I am a cosponsor of legislation that guarantees access to safe drinking water, and a package of bills to address PFAS. The Military Ridge State Trail and Ice Age National Trail cross in the 80th District. We should stop building next to them and allow them a natural buffer. And we should take the fee off state trail use through cities. I’m also working on legislation to couple state parks stickers with vehicle registration stickers. States that have done this generate more revenue for helping their state parks and it’s more convenient.
A strong public education is the bedrock of our state and a right of every Wisconsinite. First, we must protect increased per-pupil funding thanks to a creative veto by Governor Evers. We should fully fund special education with state dollars so that every student with a disability has an equal chance at learning and so that resources are not spread so thin. We must also expand early learning to include universal pre-k, especially for children with disabilities. We should prevent the expansion of private choice school programs that drain tax dollars from public schools. We should do whatever we can to prevent public school reliance on referendums. The result is that generally the districts who are the “haves” pass referendums and get farther ahead, and referendums in the districts that are “have nots” fail and they fall farther behind. This is creating even wider inequities across the state. We should use our state budget surplus to help our school districts succeed.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign Phone #
(608)341-0882
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
