Spring 2020 Endorsements

If you haven’t voted absentee, the Spring election will be held this Tuesday, April 7. Some polling places have been combined. Check https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to verify your polling place. If you need a ride to the polls from your home, Union Cab is again providing free rides within Madison; call them at 608-242-2000. In Madison, you can register and vote curbside at all polling locations. You can no longer request an absentee ballot, but can return them by mail, as long as they are received by April 13.

Progressive Dane makes endorsements as part of a three-fold strategy to advance policies that improve the quality of life for all in our community. (1) We endorse candidates whose stances align with our platforms and who welcome continuing to work with the party, should they be elected. (2) We analyze proposals and develop ideas, working with our committees and caucuses of elected officials. (3) We communicate and collaborate with grassroots groups, helping advance their activism through policy work.

For County Board, we endorsed three incumbents and active members of Progressive Dane who have led efforts for decarceration, open and accessible government, housing as a human right, environmental justice (including opposing the F-35 fighter jets), and more: Supervisors Heidi Wegleitner (D2), Richard Kilmer (D4), and Yogesh Chawla (D6). We also endorsed José Eladio Rea, who is running for an open County Board seat (D5), with a strong focus on housing justice, safety for all, and access to mental health services. José is an inspiring candidate who grew up poor in Madison and would be the first trans non-binary and the first Latinx member of the Dane County Board.

For School Board, we endorsed Savion Castro, who’s running unopposed for a one-year term, after being appointed to seat 2 last year. His priorities include hiring and retaining more Black and Brown teachers, promoting educational justice for Black and Brown students, and making the school district more open and accessible to community members. He’s strongly against school resource officers (SROs). His stances are informed by his growing up Black, poor, and experiencing homelessness in Madison and, as a student, being identified as having special learning needs (with an IEP, or individualized education plan). We also endorsed Wayne Strong, who’s running against incumbent Nicki Vander Meulen for seat 7. His priorities include closing the opportunity gap for students of color, supporting students with homelessness or other traumas, and ensuring a safe environment for students and teachers. Wayne is a retired police officer and former educational resource officer who thinks that police can be positive role models for young people of color. We discussed Progressive Dane’s stance against SROs with Wayne, who said that he’s open to not having police in that role, though he feels police should help educate students on their rights. Wayne has volunteered with Southside community groups for decades.

Lastly, we endorsed Max Prestigiacomo, who’s running unopposed for a one-year term representing district 8 on the Madison Common Council. Max is a youth organizer who’s passionate about climate justice and building intersectional movements. His priorities include the climate crisis, access to mental health services, and housing insecurity. He will push for Madison city operations to be 100% renewable before the current 2030 goal, as that timeline effectively puts already marginalized communities at further risk. He’s excited to work with our city caucus and strengthen the Progressive Dane platform on climate justice issues.