About Me

Thank you again for visiting ABLE.VOTE!  You may want to learn a little more about me and why I am asking for your support to be your Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly.    

I love living here along the shore of Lake Michigan- so much so that I've convinced my sweet mother, two of my sisters, and my brother-in-law to move here too!  I am actively working on my last sister (and family).  I also have nephews and nieces that I know would be happiest living here.  As I ask anyone who'll listen, "Why not live where you'd love to retire?  Friendliest folks, scenic vistas, I would match our quality of life with anyone's."

If you are wondering how I came to be here, committed to serving our community, and making Manitowoc's future better, read on.

Childhood and Education

I grew up in the Chicagoland area.  My dad, an auto mechanic, and my mom, a very harried stay-at-home mom, raised me, my three brothers, and my three sisters in a three bedroom home.  We kids got to "help" add a dormer and second floor when sibling # 7 came along.  I attended Wesley Elementary, Indian Trail Jr. High, and Army Trail High School.  I worked for a small, local chain called Belfast Auto Parts after high school.  Then I went back to school at my community college (they are a great bargain), College of DuPage, I went on to graduate with honors from The University of Illinois.  More than a decade later, I received my teaching certification from UWGB.  Most recently, I completed the Municipal Clerks and Treasurers program from the UWGB Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute because I wanted to understand how Municipal Clerks and Treaserers do their jobs.

Work History

After U of I, I worked as a clerk for a family owned, multi-generation hardware store. Then I worked for almost a decade for Sony Corporation in Customer Service and Customer Relations.  When Sony moved all Customer Relations work to a mega-center in Ft. Myers, Florida, I helped design and implement the training program for the new call center.  I had no interest in living in Florida, so my job moved there without me.  I was hired to do hiring, training, and managing the late-shift for Hebenstreit Communications, an emergent internet-based information service for Cellular One in the Chicagoland area.

Thanks to the generosity of family, I then was able to move up to Manitowoc, go to school in Green Bay, and become certified to teach elementary school.  I volunteered extensively at Jefferson, won an internship at Jackson, and was hired at Madison School 26 years ago.  During my 20 years with the MPSD, I served as a teacher, coach, union president, and more.  I see my teaching career as a real high point of my years of working in public and private service.

Public Service

 I was also lucky enough to serve the families of my neighborhood as Alderman of District 3 for 5 terms from 2007 to 2017.  I have served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions as an Alderman and since.  I take pride in preparing diligently to provide thoughtful, well-reasoned votes.  I am proud to have been Chair or Vice-Chair on a number of Standing Committees as well as as President of the Library Board of Trustees.  When the Alders selected me as the City's Chief Negotiator, I was able to use my knowledge of the bargaining process to serve the City with all represented groups.  I am proud of the honest, respectful, and productive way those bargains were conducted and resolved.  My time on the MPSD School Board has helped us move on from great discontent and instability.

I've had Many  Great High Points, but I Hope to Continue to Serve You

Now I hope to serve you as your Representative to the State Assembly.  My experience and education have prepared me well to serve everyone in the 25th Assembly District.  I will always be grateful for the faith and support of the many friends and families that have helped me.  I will be mindful of the many different kinds of families in the 25th Assembly District and the range of different challenges they face as I work for you in Madison.  I believe profoundly in our State Constitution and that the three branches of government in Madison are there to make life better for all Wisconsinites.  You deserve a Representative who believes in supporting All of Us and in providing outstanding, open, and responsive service to Everyone along the lakeshore.