Thursday, June 14, 2018

Candidate Forum Draws a Huge Crowd

Nearly 700 people participated in the WISDOM Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on June 11.  They witnessed stirring testimonials and presentations from more than a dozen WISDOM leaders, who made the case for WISDOM's issues, including: Health Care, Crimeless Revocations, Immigrant Drivers’ Licenses, Closing the Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (MSDF), Regional Transportation Authorities and Transit Funding, Parole and Compassionate Release, Education Funding, Solitary Confinement, the End Child Poverty Campaign, Increased TAD Funding, Restoring the Prove It First Mining Moratorium, and Dignity for Incarcerated Women.

The presenters for WISDOM were remarkable in their clarity, passion, authenticity and brevity!  You don't have to take our word for it.  To see the entire Forum for yourself, click 
here.  You can download the program booklet with a description of the issues and a list of our co-sponsors here.

Seven candidates for Governor listened attentively to our issues.  They gave very positive responses to our questions, and each spoke for 5 minutes after all the questions had been asked.  Those in attendance were: Kelda Roys, Mike McCabe, Mahlon Mitchell, Kathleen Vinehout, Andy Gronik, Dana Wachs, and Matt Flynn.  Tony Evers could not attend, but did send written responses to the questions.  Of all the invited candidates, only Paul Soglin and Scott Walker did not respond.

At the Forum, WISDOM also announced the formation of a separate organization, the WISDOM Action Network.  The WISDOM Action Network is a 501(c)4 organization, meaning that, unlike WISDOM, donations to it are not tax deductible.  It can, however, comment on candidates and their positions prior to an election. The mission of the WISDOM Action Network is to inform its members and the public of the positions and actions taken by candidates for public office that pertain to the issues WISDOM and its affiliates address.

To learn more about candidate responses from Monday evening, and to be kept up-to-date on candidate responses to WISDOM issues, you can e-mailwisdomactionnetwork@gmail.com, and ask to put included on the list.

Rev. Willie Brisco, WISDOM President
Jeremy Mohawk, WISDOM Organizer, Stockbridge Munsee Reservation
Melissa Ludin, EXPO President, ESTHER, Appleton
Wayne Skattum, JOB, Beloit
Bernie Gonzalez, SOPHIA, Waukesha
Tammy Hayward, RIC, Racine
Tony Brown, Menominee Menikanaehkem, Keshena
Yolanda Perkins, EXPO
Kathi Zoern, NAOMI, Wausau
Robert Agnew, EXPO
SARAH Ferber, EXPO Chippewa Valley
Barbara Robinson, MICAH, Milwaukee
Rev. Kerry Parker, Wisconsin Council of Churches
Talib Akbar, MOSES, Madison
Jane Audette and Nancy Peggy Drana, MICAH, Milwaukee

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