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Donation
Make a general donation to Grassroots North Shore.
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Supporting Judge Hannah Dugan
#Know the Facts
Grassroots North Shore announces its strongest possible support for Judge Hannah Dugan. We have always known her to be an even-handed, fair jurist with deep respect for the rule of law.
Judge Dugan has been arrested and charged with two felonies. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describes it, she has retained the legal services of the “LeBron James of lawyers” — former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement — and of lead attorney Steven Biskupic, former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, staunch Republicans both. But she should never have had to acquire legal representation at all.
According to the allegations in the criminal complaint, Dugan is accused of escorting Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his public defender out of her courtroom and into the hallway through a side door, after learning that immigration authorities were in the hallway seeking his arrest. Federal agents had agreed to arrest him in the hallway (and not in the courtroom), yet they allowed him to leave.
“A DEA agent on the team saw Flores-Ruiz and his attorney enter the hallway near the courtroom and walk briskly to the elevators. The agent managed to ride the elevator down with them, and communicated with the other members of the removal team their movements until they were able to confront him outside of the southern end of the courthouse near the flagpoles” (Urban Milwaukee, April 25, 2025). (The emphasis has been added.)
The man and his lawyer were never “concealed” anywhere. And Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was duly arrested on the public sidewalk soon thereafter.
Hannah Dugan was acting in her capacity as a judge to maintain order in her courtroom and prevent an incident at the public entrance to her courtroom. She did nothing illegal and she certainly should never have been handcuffed and arrested in the courthouse parking lot. According to Nancy Gertner, retired federal judge and senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, this was not done to enforce the law. It was done to intimidate Judge Dugan and all members of the independent judiciary (The Contrarian, April 28, 2025). All charges against her should be dismissed.
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Nicolet School Board
Candidates Online Information Andrew Frankin Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Endorsement of Dr. Underly for Superintendent of Public Instruction
Grassroots North Shore enthusiastically supports the re-election of Dr. Jill Underly for State Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction. She has championed public instruction and prioritized accessibility of a good education for every child.
Under her tenure, the state’s k-12 education system has risen to 6th in the nation in 2024 from 14th in 2020. Wisconsin has its highest ever graduation rate at 90.5%, ranked 3rd in the country. Her department has invested in reading coaches, support for mental health, and teacher recruitment, while defending teachers’ labor rights.
We add our endorsement to the wide array of groups that feel Dr. Underly deserves another term. Her commitment to public education stands in stark contrast to the goal of her opponent, whose intent to divert more public money from public schools to a fragmented, unaccountable patchwork of privately run schools would devastate the public school system.
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Bayside
Offices Candidates and Online Information Village Trustee, 2 seats Mike Barth, Incumbent
emailKavin Tedamrongwanish, Incumbent
emailOther important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Wisconsin Appeals Court District 2 Mark Gundrum, Incumbent Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Brown Deer
Offices Candidates and Online Information Village President Wanda Montgomery, Incumbent Village Trustee, 2 seats Priscilla Hightower Thompson, Incumbent Darryl Johnson, Incumbent North Shore Municipal Court Judge Christopher Lipscomb Sr, Incumbent Other importanat races on your ballot:
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Wisconsin Appeals Court District 2 Mark Gundrum, Incumbent Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Nancy Kaplan published Crawford-Schimel Comparison in Judge Susan Crawford 2025-01-25 16:56:25 -0600
Crawford and Schimel Positions
Issue Crawford
Schimel
Abortion 
supports women’s access to reproductive health care; represented Planned Parenthood in blocking a 2011 Wisconsin law that made physicians who provide abortion services get admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.
says he’s pro-life; believes the Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban is valid; has signed a legal white paper that endorsed making “it a crime to intentionally destroy the life of an unborn child unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother.”Labor represented Madison Teachers, Inc. in a lawsuit to overturn Wisconsin’s Act 10, which outlawed collective bargaining for public employees. She supports protecting “workers’ rights.” supports protecting Act 10, which outlawed collective bargaining for public employees.Redistricting co-authored an amicus brief outlining options for a nonpartisan redistricting plan. defended gerrymandered maps before the U.S. Supreme Court.Priorities for the Court believes "in protecting the basic rights and freedoms of Wisconsinites"; is committed to ensuring that the courtroom presents a level playing field and that the court can act as a check and balance on the other branches of government. would "take back the Wisconsin Supreme Court and end the madness” of “rogue judges… putting their radical agenda above the law.”Information derived from the League of Women Voters.
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Jeff Wright, Superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District
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How can (or should) DPI address the differing needs of urban and rural districts?
DPI needs leaders who understand the differing needs of urban and rural districts to address those needs effectively. This is a strength I bring based on my unique experience. For nine years, I was a high school administrator on Chicago’s southsideSince 2012, I’ve been a district administrator in Sauk Prairie, where I was named the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance’s “Administrator of the Year.” Past DPI leadership acknowledged these differing needs and established structures to support districts of different sizes in a differentiated manner. I’ll restore these systems and rebuild the trust between the DPI and the districts it supports.
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Wisconsin’s per-pupil spending has declined from 12th highest in the nation (11% above the national average) to below the national average. In what ways do you think the decline in resources has impacted educational outcomes in our state?
Reduced resources have a direct impact on educational outcomes and student experience. An over-reliance on local property tax increases authorized by referenda has created a haves vs. have nots landscape in Wisconsin. Reduced resources lead to reductions in interventions and supports for students who need them to experience academic success and enrichment activities, career programming, and other rich programs that make school engaging for students and help prepare them for life with both academic and soft skills. When our schools thrive, our communities thrive. These cuts in funding hurt our kids and make our communities less attractive to new families.
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How will the recent change in state standards help or hurt Wisconsin schools and students?
The changes in our state standards came at the worst possible time, with districts still assessing student progress post-COVID. Wisconsin needs to set high standards for its students. Even Gov. Evers called the lowering of standards a mistake in a clear rebuke of the current administration. The legislature is now stepping in to assert its authority over this school issue. This is happening because of the absence of system-wide collaboration and open communication. I will work with our Legislature as a nonpartisan problem solver to do what is right for our schools.
When the standards changed, my district created a tool that empowered districts to measure year-to-year achievement to help inform next steps. This tool was shared by AWSA with school leaders statewide. Our team is focused on individual student growth – a key measurement I will prioritize. My approach focuses on equity and providing actionable data to help schools improve.
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What changes if any would you propose in the school voucher program and the Charter School program, and why do you think they are needed – or not needed?
I oppose the expansion of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers in Wisconsin. They are an unaffordable and unaccountable system draining resources from public schools, undermining the investment needed to ensure all children in Wisconsin receive a high- quality education. Ideally, Wisconsin would move toward legislation to reverse the rapid expansion of the state’s voucher program. While I understand we cannot end the program overnight, my long-term goal is to curb expansion.
An immediate change I will fight for is increased taxpayer transparency regarding voucher programs. Currently, property tax bills do not differentiate between the funds used by public schools and those allocated to the voucher program. For example, in Fort Atkinson, local property taxes raised over $1.9 million for the voucher program, but the local superintendent reports this funding is paying for students who were already enrolled in private schools, with no impact on public school enrollment. Taxpayers deserve to know these funds are not going to their public schools, even though they are listed as such on property tax bills. This kind of transparency is not only ethically right but also allows taxpayers to understand the true cost of the growing voucher program and its impact on public schools.
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What specific changes could be made to reduce the achievement gap between minority and white achievement?
I have experienced success in reducing achievement gaps by focusing on individual student growth, by training teachers on proven high-impact strategies, and by creating school cultures where all students are presumed to be smart and worthy of our trust. This requires asking difficult questions about how our systems unintentionally – or intentionally – give advantage to those who already are advantaged.
We also need to focus on key benchmarks that when met increase the likelihood of school success including reading at grade level by third grade, success in algebra by the end of ninth grade, and meeting attendance expectations.
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Do students who lost ground during the pandemic still need assistance? What actions can and should we take to help our children catch up on what they have missed?
The progress made by students since the pandemic needs to be reviewed district-by- district. This was made difficult by the DPI’s decision to change the cut scores of the state’s standardized tests. There are districts – including many that brought students back for in-person learning quickly – where achievement rates have returned to pre- pandemic levels. Others face a far different reality. For those with lagging achievement, we need to focus on measuring individual student growth and intervening if growth is not occurring at a rate necessary to catch up.
Beyond academic achievement, many students still need support with their mental wellness. It’s not unusual for people to find themselves on waitlists as long as a year to gain access to counseling. Districts can engage systems that help connect students to care, can work with community partners to access virtual care, and the DPI can advocate for additional funds for school-based mental health staff.
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What is your position on police presence in our schools?
All of the schools where I have worked as a teacher, principal, or district administrator have had School Resource Officers. They have been important members of our team and our school community. This was the case in Chicago and is the case in Sauk Prairie. It is essential that clear boundaries are established between the SRO and the school administration so the laws specific to school settings are followed. With these boundaries in place, a professional SRO can be a powerful link between the school and community and can help make our schools safer from internal and external violent threats.
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How can (or should) DPI address the differing needs of urban and rural districts?
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Questionnaire
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How can (or should) DPI address the differing needs of urban and rural districts?
The issues facing rural areas are very similar to those facing the most urban schools. Suburban schools are advantaged by the current system. But urban and rural schools both see challenges in funding, poverty rates, broadband access, higher English-learner populations, educator recruitment & retention, special education reimbursement rates, declining enrollment, and aging buildings. We can address these issues through fully investing in public education and our kids’ futures, as I outlined in my $4 billion biennial budget request to try to make our public education system whole again.
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Wisconsin’s per-pupil spending has declined from 12th highest in the nation (11% above the national average) to below the national average. In what ways do you think the decline in resources has impacted educational outcomes in our state?
A decline in per-pupil spending negatively impacts kids in multiple ways, including larger class sizes, outdated materials and technology in the classroom, cuts to support services such as mental health resources and career counseling, deterioration of school facilities, and a teacher shortage, as primary examples. This decline in state spending impacts lower-income communities at an even higher rate, along with private vouchers siphoning money from public education. This is why I have proposed a budget which puts our kids first and invests in public education. Wisconsin educators are doing a great job despite these challenges, but that’s not sustainable long-term.
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How will the recent change in state standards help or hurt Wisconsin schools and students?
We updated educational standards to align achievement benchmarks with the tests we give Wisconsin students. We also implemented higher standards for Math & Science, and we raised standards for Career & Technical Education. We worked with a diverse group of educator experts from across Wisconsin to determine these new benchmarks. This change will help parents more effectively understand where students are, and where they need more support. False attacks on educators’ recommendations to align to Wisconsin tests are politically-based and originate from voucher school advocates who want to privatize education.
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What changes if any would you propose in the school voucher program and the Charter School program, and why do you think they are needed – or not needed?
I am generally opposed to privatization of education, including traditional vouchers, ESA vouchers, and tax credits that funnel public money to private and parochial schools. Public funds should be used to strengthen public schools, which serve the vast majority of students and are accountable to the public. Voucher programs divert critical resources away from public schools, often leaving them underfunded and less equipped to meet the needs of their students. Meanwhile, private and parochial schools receiving these funds are not held to the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools, creating inequities and undermining public education as a whole. Public dollars should come with public oversight to ensure transparency and equity.
I believe all charter schools should be chartered by locally-elected school boards, to ensure maximum accountability.
Today, however, we have vouchers and independent charters, and under my leadership, DPI does everything we can to ensure students in those schools receive the best education possible, because we should not abandon any child.
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What specific changes could be made to reduce the achievement gap between minority and white achievement?
The black-white achievement gap is a direct result of years of chronic underfunding of public schools. Since Scott Walker made deep cuts, schools are struggling to provide the support and programs students need to thrive. This gap is the result of systemic disinvestment in public education. The expansion of privatization has diverted critical funding away from public schools, disproportionately affecting students in districts like MPS. Resources have been shifted to voucher schools, exacerbating inequities and leaving public schools with less to address the needs of their students. We know how to address this gap: investing in public schools.
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Do students who lost ground during the pandemic still need assistance? What actions can and should we take to help our children catch up on what they have missed?
It is critical that we still support students who lost ground during the pandemic, many of whom experienced significant disruptions in both learning and socialization. We must continue to focus on mental health support and addressing deficiencies in academic performance due to extended remote schooling. We owe it to our kids to equip them for the future. Tutoring programs, extending summer programs and tailoring lesson plans to individual needs are some of the many ways we can and are helping kids catch back up. However, these things all come at a cost, which is why we all must advocate for their future and why I have proposed a $4 billion investment in public schools this biennium. Under my leadership we’ve beat the odds and are in an elite group of states with the highest graduation rate even in the post pandemic years. Investment is critical to sustain this.
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What is your position on police presence in our schools?
I do not believe police need a permanent presence in our school. And most education professionals I know are opposed as well. Instead, we need early interventions and to invest in kids from the beginning of their education career — in early childhood programming, social workers, after-school and wrap-around care, mental health, food security, and in high quality summer programming for enrichment, rather than pay for criminal justice support when children are older. This front-loaded investment will save the taxpayers money by building our communities up, and ensuring that we disrupt the systems of inequity that plague our highest-poverty schools.
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How can (or should) DPI address the differing needs of urban and rural districts?
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Nancy Kaplan published Port Washington-Saukville School Board in 2025 Elections 2025-01-22 17:58:09 -0600
Port Washington-Saukville School Board
Port Washington School Board
At-Large Candidates Online Information Yvonne Klotz, Incumbent email Sulaimon Jimoh Has withdrawn from the race Port Washington Candidates Online Information Karen Krainz, Incumbent email Brian Stevens, Incumbent email Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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City of Port Washington
Candidates Online Information Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Village of Grafton
Grafton Village President
Candidates Online Information Dan Delorit, Incumbent LinkedIn | email Lisa Uribe Harbeck Facebook | email Grafton Village Board
Candidates Online Information Sarah Scarpace LinkedIn | email Kevin D. Curtis Website | email Dave Armstrong, Incumbent email Jim Miller, Incumbent email Carl Stier email Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Whitefish Bay School Board
Candidates Online Information Other important races on your ballot:
Supreme Court of Wisconsin Judge Susan Crawford Website | Facebook | instagram | X (Twitter)
Grassroots North Shore endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website | Underly questionnaire | Grassroots North Shore endorsement Brittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
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Glendale
Offices Candidates and Online Information Alder District 1 Tomika Vukovic, Incumbent
emailAlder District 3 John Gelhard, Incumbent
emailAlder District 5 Steve Schmelzling, Incumbent
emailOther important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Wisconsin Appeals Court District 2 Mark Gundrum, Incumbent Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Steve Cain
Candidate for Ozaukee County Circuit Judge, Branch 2 
Other important races on your ballot:
Supreme Court of Wisconsin Judge Susan Crawford Website | Facebook | instagram | X (Twitter)
Grassroots North Shore endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Fox Point-Bayside School Board
1 seats
Candidates Online Information Andrew Carlson email Dr. David Melby, Incumbent Rebecca Wahlberg Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Shorewood School Board
2 seats
Candidates Online Information Mary Theisen Facebook Aaron Lippmann Other important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice
Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly (Incumbent) Website
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Proposed Wisconsin Constitution Amendment Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
"[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
"(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
"SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.""
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Village of Shorewood
Offices Candidates and Online Information Village Trustee, 2 seats Eric Cuoto, Incumbent
Facebook | emailWesley Warren
Facebook | emailOther important races on your ballot:
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Judge Susan Crawford
Comparison with Brad Schimel
Crawford endorsementSuperintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly, Incumbent
Underly questionnaire
Underly endorsementBrittany Kinser
Did not respond to the questionnaire.Wisconsin Appeals Court District 2 Mark Gundrum, Incumbent Ballot Question 1 Embeds law requiring photo ID in the state constitution:
VOTE NO
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2025 Ballot Question 1: VOTE NO
Ballot Language
QUESTION 1: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Vote NO: Here's Why
A statute, passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, establishes the requirement that in order to vote, the voter must present an approved form of photo ID to the poll worker on election day or to the municipal clerk (or agents of the clerk) when voting during early in-person voting or to vote absentee (aka vote by mail).
Embedding it in the state constitution does not alter the law or its enforcement. It simply makes it harder for some future legislature. That's because to amend the state constitution to remove the language, two successive legislatures would have to approve the language of an amendment to alter any part of the state constitution. Then the voters would also have to approve it.
Amending the constitution should be rare and should only present the principles by which we are to be governed. So having a provision that protects the right to vote certainly belongs in the constitution. Having a provision that specifies who is eligible to vote and under what circumstances is now and ought to be a matter hammered out in the legislature with the concurrence of the governor.
In 2024 and 2025, the legislature has presented Wisconsin voters with six ballot questions, each of which sought to amend the state constitution. Between 1848, when it was originally ratified, and 2023, the constitution had been amended only 148 times. So over 175 years, it has been changed 148 times. In 2024, voters were asked to ratify a further four amendments. Only three of them passed. Now another proposed amendment is on the ballot for voters to consider. These ballot measures represent the gerrymandered legislature's attempts to make policies around elections and voting rights as difficult to change as possible. Most of the amendments that voters approved in 2024 should have been legislative matters and do not present the general principles.
For more information, visit the League of Women Voters VOTE NO Toolkit for this Ballot Question.
Legislative Language
SECTION 1. Section 1m of article III of the constitution is created to read:
[Article III] Section 1m (1) No qualified elector may cast a ballot in any election unless the elector presents valid photographic identification that verifies the elector’s identity and that is issued by this state, the federal government, a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state, or a college or university in this state. The legislature shall by law establish acceptable forms of photographic identification, and the legislature may by law establish exceptions to the requirement under this subsection.
(2) A qualified elector who is unable to present valid photographic identification on election day shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot may not be counted unless the elector presents valid photographic identification at a later time and place as provided by the legislature by law.
SECTION 2. Numbering of new provision. If another constitutional amendment ratified by the people creates the number of any provision created in this joint resolution, the chief of the legislative reference bureau shall determine the sequencing and the numbering of the provisions whose numbers conflict.
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Cold Winds Are Blowing
So much is happening at the local, state, and national level that it is hard to focus on any one thing. So it is imperative that everyone prioritize. Yes, if you watch the confirmation hearings for Hegseth, and Bondi, and others, you're bound to be outraged by some or all of it. But your anger, disgust, or despair will not change the outcome of the process. All of our 47th president's choices for senate-confirmed positions will almost certainly become heads of the agencies for which they have been nominated.
At Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall has an excellent take on this: "What happens or doesn’t happen is entirely a matter decided within the Republican caucus. It is totally out of Democrats’ control. What follows from that is that everything Democrats do, inside the hearing room or outside, is simply and solely a matter of raising the stakes of decisions Republicans make and raising those stakes for the next election." That includes Speaker Johnson's decision to cave to you know who and raise the flags at the Capitol to full staff for the inauguration. It's a small slight to President Carter but a telling one. Just consider the contrast between the gaudy home of the 47th president and the humble ranch house in Plains, Georgia, where our 39th president spent his entire adult life.
My advice is to avoid the confirmation hearings and the inaugural hoopla altogether! Personally, I'm watching old seasons of the British Baking Show.
Still you absolutely should tune in to hear President Biden's farewell address at 7pm CST tonight. He may have been defeated but his presidency has been an unsung success, culminating it seems with the long-sought ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that will begin with the exchange of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, perhaps as early as Sunday. Here's a link to the New York Times breaking news article (gifted). And to mention just one more astounding achievement, Jill Lawrence at the Bulwark notes that "Biden has made history of his own: The economy added jobs every full month that he was in office, the first time that’s happened since the government began collecting data in 1939. 'Zero months with job losses,' said his press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre." I fervently hope the main stream media covers his speech in full. We owe him our deep gratitude.
Timothy Snyder, on his substack "Thinking about ..." spells out another worthy recipient of our gratitude:
Americans (and many others) owe Ukrainians a huge debt of gratitude for their resistance to Russian aggression. For some mixture of reasons, we have difficulty acknowledging this. To do so, we have to find the words. Seven that might help are: security, freedom, democracy, courage, pluralism, perseverance, and generosity.
For [Snyder] personally, the greatest debt concerns freedom. This is a word that we Americans use quite a lot, but we sometimes lose track of what it really means. For the past thirty years or so, we have fallen into a very bad habit of believing that freedom is something that is delivered to us by larger forces, for example by capitalism. This is simply not true, and believing it has made us less free. 'The whole history of the progress of human liberty,' Frederick Douglass said, 'shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle.' It will always be the case that freedom depends upon some kind of risky effort made against the larger forces. Freedom, in other words, will always depend upon an ethical commitment to a different and better world, and will always suffer when we believe that the world itself will do the work for us.I hope you will read and think about his case. I haven't had much to say about the war in Ukraine but the incoming administration seems bent on pulling back American support. Snyder's essay says a lot about what is due to a country few Americans could find on a map a few short years ago and yet is delivering untold benefits to us and our fellow countrymen.
Here at home in Milwaukee, the dirty work of ICE is already beginning. Apparently, ICE is attempting to expand its facility at 310 East Knapp Street, where it has some office space and some rudimentary cells without beds. The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County has issued a press release reiterating that immigrants are our friends and neighbors who contribute to the health and wealth of our country.
The Democratic Party of Milwaukee County (DPMC) thanks Ald. Larresa Taylor for finally informing the public of ICE’s expansion plans. We know that many immigrants are our neighbors and work hard and pay taxes even though they may not get credit for them. We know many immigrant children were born here and are U.S. citizens (The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declares that “All persons born or naturalized in the United States … are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”). We need real immigration reform to create a moral and just transition and a pathway for undocumented immigrants to legal status out of the shadows (so they can be paid fairly and receive the benefits of the taxes they pay). Intimidating our neighbors and the forcible removal of our neighbors is not the American way.You can read the remainder of the statement in this PDF.
Right now, we're in an intense period of nervous waiting while shoes drop all around us in quick succession. In the still center of the maelstrom, though, our core duty remains: elect Judge Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 1. In the coming weeks, we will have many opportunities to meet her and to learn more about her. At the Grassroots North Shore fundraiser — Move Wisconsin Forward — on Sunday, February 2, she will be a prominent speaker and will take our questions. Our featured speakers are Attorney Jeff Mandell, founder and general counsel for Law Forward, and Nick Ramos, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. They will discuss what's at stake in this coming election. Donate what you can to Grassroots North Shore so that we can carry on the work of finding, educating, and turning out voters for Judge Crawford.
It's just as important to learn about her opponent. For an early run-down on his record, you could visit BRAD SCHIMEL: BAD FOR WISCONSIN. Here are just a couple of highlights:
- After the 2016 election, Schimel bragged Trump had won in Wisconsin thanks to restrictions on the right to vote that the GOP passed and Schimel helped enforce as Attorney General.
- Even before the Dobbs decision, he sued Planned Parenthood to enforce new restrictions on access to safe and legal abortion in Wisconsin.
More recently, he spoke with Vicki McKenna on her podcast complaining, "the Jan. 6 defendants never got 'a fair shot' in court and accused Democrats of 'abusing the court system' for 'political gain.'" (Wisconsin Examiner, January 6, 2025). In his view, these insurrectionists didn't get "a fair shot" because they were tried in D.C. so the preponderance of the jurors were likely to be Democrats. That's true but beside the point: defendants must be tried where the alleged crimes were committed. Surely as a lawyer, a former Attorney General, and as a judge he knows that!
Ruth Conniff, the author of the piece in the Wisconsin Examiner, points out that among the legion of Republicans trying to revise the history of January 6, "Schimel’s comments stand out. For a Supreme Court candidate to suggest that jury trials don’t work and that the whole U.S. system of justice is so politicized it can’t be trusted is deeply undermining of the very institution Schimel proposes to join."
Because we are in a rapid election cycle once again, I am introducing what I hope will be a recurring feature to this newsletter: a section highlighting specific actions to take right now. I hope you will do at least some of them.
TAKE ACTION
Here are some things you can DO to help our communities move FORWARD:
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WAVE, one of the many local organizations Grassroots North Shore works with, is circulating a petition to thank Governor Evers for signing an executive order to launch a state Office of Violence Prevention. The petition is well worth signing. You should be aware, however, that once you sign and submit the form you will be automatically directed to a donation page for the WAVE educational fund. This is a very common (dare I say universal) practice with online petitions. You can choose whether to contribute or not.
- Opportunities for social gathering and service to celebrate Martin Luther King. This link will take you to a page to sign up for any one of these three opportunities. We are asking folks who are able to bring donations from THIS LIST for the Kinship Community Food Center.
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5-8 Friday January 17 — Chili and fixins at Debbie Patel’s home, 9130 N. Spruce Road, River Hills. Folks may come and go as they like, but note that at 7PM we will listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” (17 minutes), and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.
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1-4 Sunday January 19 — Chili and fixins at Debbie Patel’s home, 9130 N. Spruce Road, River Hills. Folks may come and go as they like, but note that at 3PM we will listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” (17 minutes), and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.
- 11:30 - 3:00 Monday January 20 —Chicken Soup (for the body and soul) at Cheryl Maranto’s home 6563 N Crestwood Dr., Glendale. Assuage your angst on Inauguration Day by building community and doing service. At noon we will watch Wisconsin’s 45th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Tribute and Ceremony from the Capitol Rotunda and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.
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5-8 Friday January 17 — Chili and fixins at Debbie Patel’s home, 9130 N. Spruce Road, River Hills. Folks may come and go as they like, but note that at 7PM we will listen to Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream speech” (17 minutes), and chat afterward. If you are able, please bring an item for the Kinship Community Food Center.
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