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What does the treasurer do, and what can it do? How would you change or expand the scope of the office? Which programs instituted under Sarah Godlewski do you feel were the most beneficial to the state, and are there any of her programs that you would discontinue?
Dr. Gillian Battino:
In its current form, the office of the Treasurer is limited in scope. It is responsible for the Employee Trust Fund; it sits on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands and for the supporting the Unclaimed Property program. Treasurer Godlewski has done a great job of supplying loans to communities across the state and investing in green technology. And her work for the 401kids program and Retirement Task Force has been outstanding. I believe that these responsibilities should be the floor of the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer’s office must regain the power it has lost over the last 20 years in order to assure its continued existence and to ensure the checks and balances this constitutional office promises. By thinking “out-of-the-box” we can finds ways to put this office back in the ranks of respected state-wide offices. For example: the treasurer can use purchasing power of the state to lower prescription drugs, invest more into green technologies, invest in our kids through 401Kids or baby bonds, and be a fierce advocate for democratic values.
Aaron Richardson:
While the treasurer’s office has been stripped of many of their duties, this individual needs to understand the impact of budget decisions on communities throughout the state and how to best maximize revenues generated from our trust funds. Sadly, the Wisconsin State Treasurer is considered by some to be the weakest treasurer in the country because so many duties were taken from the position. I will continue the great work Sarah Godlewski has done, specifically the programs keeping people in their homes and supporting businesses. I will continue the work she is doing with the Board of Commissions of Public Lands like replacing the lead pipes in communities like Mosinee. Protecting our residents and having programs like this that protect the health of our residents is critically important.
It will be difficult to restore the responsibilities the Treasurer has traditionally held with a Republican majority in the legislature and Senate. I will work with people in both parties to work on issues I find important like preparing our financial systems for the legalization of marijuana. While it will be difficult dealing with representatives that don’t want to work with Democrats, my experience as Mayor of Fitchburg shows I have the ability to work with people from both sides of the aisle. Building a great working relationship with other state agencies like the Department of Administration and the Department of Financial Institutions will also be critical and I have already talked and worked with leaders in both areas.
Angelito Tenorio:
I’m running for State Treasurer to continue and build on Sarah Godlewski’s legacy of using the Treasurer’s office to its full potential. While the actual responsibilities of the office have been chipped away by Republicans as they centralized control for themselves, I plan on being a strong, independent fiscal watchdog to hold our leaders accountable for their fiscal priorities and actions. I’m not afraid to call out other leaders on their backwards economic policies.
I’ll also fully utilize the bully pulpit that comes with being a statewide elected official by being a vocal champion for working families in Wisconsin and advocating for the economic policies that will empower the working class and help all Wisconsinites thrive. I will always fight for working people.
I applaud Treasurer Godlewski’s work on helping more Wisconsinites own their own homes and plan for retirement. The task forces that Treasurer Godlewski and Governor Evers have created to help address both of these concerns have come up with tremendously helpful recommendations. I plan to continue to advocate for the changes they have recommended and will look to explore other task forces to help in other areas.
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What other additional responsibilities and programs would you propose?
Dr. Gillian Battino:
First, I would amplify the Achieve a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program. This program allows people with disabilities to save money in a tax savings 529 without reducing their SSI benefits. It’s available now but vastly underutilized. I would also work to expand the program to include veterans. Second, I would work to reduce prescription drug prices. The State Treasurer is the treasurer of the Employee Trust Fund and as such I would be able to use the precedent out of Connecticut to create transparency in drug pricing at the point of care instead at the point of service. This unprecedented transparency decreased prescription drug prices by 10% in Connecticut and we will accomplish the same here in Wisconsin.
Aaron Richardson:
The first thing I am passionate about is increasing home ownership. In Fitchburg, we are piloting a rent to own program where residents start by renting a condo from the city. A portion of their rent every month goes towards a downpayment and after 7-10 years they will have a 20% downpayment to purchase the unit from the city, get traditional financing and not need private mortgage insurance. They are now generating generational wealth which is a huge difference maker in their lives and the lives of their kids.
Another area important to me is financial education. I will provide financial education materials for people of all ages to utilize. There will be materials for adults and kids available in English, Spanish and Hmong. I have already talked with a large credit union in County that has won awards for financial literacy, and they have agreed to work with me if elected and share the materials they have.
I will be a resource for Governor Evers on the impacts his budget will have on communities across the state. I understand the impacts because of my experience as Fitchburg Mayor. I will also provide clear explanations of the impact of the state budget for residents.
Finally, I want to provide greater restrictions on payday lending companies. These companies take advantage of those in desperate need for exorbitant interest rates. These rates need to be limited to avoid people from falling into a downward spiral of debt and reliance on these loans.
Angelito Tenorio:
Since the Republicans in the legislature have stripped this office of all but the most basic responsibilities and ceremonial duties, I believe there is a lot more that we could entrust within the treasurer’s office to further taxpayer transparency and to better invest in Wisconsin’s future. I believe the Treasurer should be far more involved in the budget making process and could be a valuable asset to finding more efficient ways of spending taxpayer dollars.
I believe there needs to be new task forces, similar to the ones created to address home ownership and retirement. One of these task forces should be on rent affordability. Too many Wisconsinites, especially in urban areas, are seeing their rents skyrocket to completely unaffordable rates. Some are even seeing themselves become priced out of entire neighborhoods. Additionally, with inflation causing the cost of everyday consumer goods to rise at alarming rates, I believe we need to create a task force on inflation and look into what actions the legislature and our Governor can take to alleviate the pressure that inflation is having, especially on working families here in Wisconsin.
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Do you see ways in which the 1.2 billion dollar trust fund administered by the Treasurer’s office can be better utilized to benefit taxpayers?
Dr. Gillian Battino:
The best way is to be certain that all communities have equal access to the loans by learning about and listening to marginalized communities, educating all communities about BCPL loans, and intentionally engaging with poorer communities, supporting them in the process and building networks for the future.
Aaron Richardson:
The state trust fund does a lot of good in communities throughout the state through supporting school libraries and the trust fund loan program that provides funding for a wide range of projects. I do not see any major concerns with how this fund is administered at this time. I work in the Oregon School District and see how important it is to provide funds to the school libraries, which also frees up funds to use elsewhere in the school. Even with this help most school districts in the state are facing severe challenges in funding education and the need to do referendums. As Fitchburg Mayor I also see the immense benefit of the trust fund loan program because local government is also facing the same budget crunch as school districts. The state government is not providing the assistance needed to our communities and the trust fund administered by the Treasurer’s office is filling in those gaps. It is sad this trust fund needs to fill these gaps in. Local government and school districts need more resources, but those need to come from other sources so communities don’t need to rely so much on this funding.
Angelito Tenorio:
As State Treasurer, I’ll sit on the board of commissioners of public lands, a trust fund of over $1.2 billion that I can utilize to fund and support progressive initiatives at the local level across the state. I believe that this trust fund can be better utilized to benefit taxpayers by prioritizing the funding of green energy, carbon neutral, and otherwise sustainable projects across the state.
Climate change is the biggest threat we face, and it’s a threat to our entire planet. We must be doing more to plan for our future, and that means more investment in reaching zero-emissions, vastly expanding renewable energy production, and investing in the resiliency of our local communities to deal with the challenges that they will face. Additionally, I will always do everything I can to ensure that taxpayers see the most return on their investments. We will continue Sarah Godlewski’s work to ensure that these funds are being sent back to be invested in our local communities across the state that need them the most.
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What in your background makes you suitable to be an effective State Treasurer?
Dr. Gillian Battino:
I believe that our Treasurer’s Office is hanging by a thread and needs an experienced visionary who will grow it to be an active, vibrant constitutional office. I am that person. I have worked extensively directing nonprofit work as a UN/WHO affiliate with RAD-AID.org since 2013. In six years, with extremely limited resources, I built a comprehensive sustainable medical imaging program in Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with education, acquisition of internet services, and health care access focused on inclusion and progress. As a physician, mother of six, and prior business owner, I understand economic security and how it affects life outcomes.
Aaron Richardson:
My experience as Mayor of Fitchburg shows I know how to lead an organization and be the spokesperson for the organization. I have built and managed a $25 million operating budget and $100 million capital budget in this role. During the epidemic we did not have layoffs or furloughs in Fitchburg because of my budget. Moody’s has complimented the city on our sound financial practices during my time as Mayor. One strategy I have used a lot is a replacement fund budgeting strategy. When we buy a major piece of equipment like a fire truck we start saving money toward buying the next one based on the lifetime expected value of the equipment. This enables us to avoid borrowing and gives us a better sense of how much it costs us to run the city. We avoid the peaks and valleys in our budget that other municipalities face.
I have a business education, with a business degree from UW-Green Bay in marketing and management and an MBA from UW-Whitewater. I understand and have studied finance. When you combine that knowledge with my experience working for financial institutions and insurance companies, I can speak the language needed in this position.
Angelito Tenorio:
Mom and Dad came here from the Philippines in hopes of finding a better life. My parents instilled in me the values of hard work, giving back to the community and service to others. My experience as the son of immigrants in Wisconsin has shaped every part of who I am and this has given me a unique perspective that I believe is sorely lacking in government currently. While at UW-Madison, I enlisted in the Wisconsin National Guard, to serve our state and country. Additionally, I have over five years of experience in political and nonprofit finance, building progressive power, and now I work on nonprofit development for an environmental group called Wisconsin Conservation Voters. I joined WCV because I believe climate change is the most pressing issue of our time.
As an Alderman in my hometown, West Allis, I serve on the finance committee and manage a municipal budget of more than $130 million. Additionally, I’ve been a progressive champion leading the efforts combating climate change, supporting affordable housing initiatives, and advocating for racial justice and LGBTQ+ rights. I’ve been on the frontlines of fighting to make our community the best it can be.
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