Students in Madison have always taken the opportunity to make a significant impact on the community around them, by being innovative and proactive in their advocacy on numerous issues. From mobilizing on issues as diverse as homelessness and the environment, this drive to improve the human condition, even on this small scale, is crucial to bring our community together.

I believe I can do this on the Dane County Board. Past District 5 supervisors have been capable student leaders, as well as prominent voices on pressing county issues such as criminal justice reforms and protecting social services. I want to continue this tradition. I believe the person who holds this seat must have the mentality to think creatively and broadly about the issues while protecting and maintaining the strongly progressive values that District 5 comes to expect from their supervisor. I plan to prove to District 5 residents that I am the capable, progressive advocate that residents can look to for leadership.

I am running for County Board because I have dedicated my time in Madison and Dane County to working toward solutions that benefit students and the community at large to make Dane County a better place to live for all residents. I understand organized political and social movements can achieve success in the halls of power and that elected officials must connect these movements to the overall discussion of shaping and leading our community.

The Dane County Board opens up a number of possibilities for making concrete changes in our community for our shared benefit. The long-term sustainability of Dane County’s environment is one of the most important things the Dane County Board deals with, be it the lakes or our natural resources. Preserving natural beauty for us and for future generations is a key component of my campaign. I have a Green Action Plan for Dane County that will not only protect our environment, but also help residents make improvements to their homes and neighborhoods. Sustainability, however, goes beyond just the natural environment, but the empowerment of our struggling communities, and equal distribution of our resources.

As we continue to suffer through a terrible economic downturn, we are faced with an ever-growing population of struggling homeowners, and unfortunately far too many former homeowners. With the passing of the Dane County Fair Housing Ordinance reforms this past summer, the Dane County Board has once again risen to the occasion to help solve the problem of affordable housing for the community. I hope to restart the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and its subcommittee, which works to direct resources and attention to the issue of affordable housing in Dane County.

As an activist, the issue of social justice is near to my heart and at the center of my vision. I will continue the hard work and dedication of immigration activists by keeping up the fight for fairness and respect of the immigrant community in Madison while working to weed out xenophobic behavior in Dane County law enforcement agencies. Only through an aggressive and collaborative effort, can we focus county resources on issues that truly make our community safer, such as reforms in the 911 Center and supporting a countywide communication system for our emergency services. I wish to create a local version of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow for greater protection of local labor and increase the productivity of Dane County workers. I will look for useful recommendations from the county’s task forces on racial disparities and poverty on how to solve these issues, and I hope to integrate these elements into my platform.

Economic improvement is key to supporting working families. I support County Executive Kathleen Falk’s stated goal of job creation for 2010, and will work to bring everything together that I have mentioned to reach this goal. In addition, my Green Action Plan asks that municipalities invest in low to mid-level skilled labor to be assigned to construction of residential and commercial improvements, mainly through agreements and partnerships with labor that will be strengthened by better protections and safeguards.

I believe District 5 residents need a passionate and innovative advocate, who has unwavering dedication to being an unrelenting champion for those who need one. This district needs someone that has both the knowledge gained from experience working with community issues for years and the vision to get it done, and this is why I am running. I have fought for this community since I moved here and I have the vision to for the future of our community. I look forward to gaining your support, and most importantly, your trust.