Faces of the Fourteenth

A few years ago, our 6-year-old daughter brought home an assignment from school that asked students to finish this sentence: “I had $100, I would…” Our daughter had written, “I would give it to other people because I don’t need $100 dollars.” (I still have a photo of the assignment.). That’s the essence of why we vote the way we do: because we believe that everyone deserves to have what they need to succeed, and that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

From a young age politics has always sparked a passion in me. Seeing Robyn lead the 14th district and unite rather than divide us has truly inspired me. Robyn is the embodiment of integrity, passion and empathy; she holds traits that any good leader should have. With Robyn’s leadership, I hold no doubt that she will lead us in the fight to change our community.

Robyn is the embodiment of servant leadership and the type of elected official Brookfield, Wauwatosa, and Milwaukee need. During a time of uber partisanship, Robyn finds ways to consistently work with people across the aisle to solve everyday problems.

Robyn turns every exchange she has with every human she meets into meaningful conversation and then action. She does not just see faces, she sees stories in humans and she deeply cares about yours.

We are in a critical point of time in our history and while there is a lot of pain and uncertainty, there is opportunity.

I am voting for Representative Vining because she believes every single human deserves the same opportunities for success in life while acknowledging the reality that we live in a world where the playing field has never been level across race and gender.

When I discovered that Robyn’s predecessor accepted donations from the pharmaceutical company that manufactured the opioid I was prescribed, among other special interests, I knew that I didn’t have a representative who was working for the interest of the people. I vote for affordable and accessible healthcare for all.

My hope is that our representatives listen to us. My hope is that more people become engaged citizens. My hope is that we maintain democracy- with all its promises, messiness and humanity.

Robyn and I have crossed paths many times on the campaign trail, I’ve visited and sat with Robyn on important issues for women in her Madison office and we have had the most wonderful brainstorming text and phone convos around what matters most to folks like me. Through it all, she’s remained the same Robyn, an optimistic, hard-working visionary who’s exhibited integrity and leadership while being accessible and supportive.

I’m constantly amazed at how much Robyn cares about our community and at the ways she shows it. She’s the type of leader who inspires others to action. I should know, it happened to me. We’re so lucky to have a bright, energetic and thoughtful leader like her. Let’s send her back to Madison!

I say this with the deepest sense of sincerity and respect that Robyn is truly an embodiment of how an ideal elected official carries herself. She is strong-willed, effective and above all, deeply rooted in her community. All of these skills make Robyn one of the best representatives in the state. I don’t mean that half-heartedly or out of spite, it’s been proven over and over that Robyn uses her power to fight for the people of the 14th, from her first piece of legislation to bring us fair legislative maps, to the Healthcare Heroes bill she just wrote and introduced to protect essential workers. Robyn truly wants to make Wisconsin a better place, not for herself, not for special interests, but for us, the people.

Zack is the kind of amazing father who will take a break in the middle of a work day to play hide and seek with his kids. He’s the kind of generous husband who insists his wife sleep in on weekends, even on Father’s Day. He’s the kind of loyal friend who is always there for you at the end of a hard day. He’s the rock of our family and his big heart is part of what makes Tosa so great!

Robyn truly cares. From keeping me updated on progress, to personally calling me to see if we needed anything during lockdown, to nominating me for an award (which I won!!), she has shown she listens and takes action to help and never gives up.

I am proudly voting for Robyn (again) in Nov 2020 because she is my State Rep that best represents myself and our family values. Both as a woman and a person of color, I strongly believe in Robyn’s political, professional, and personal beliefs and values. During these unprecedented times, life feels so uncertain and ever-changing. With her leadership and her drive to fight for what is right for all, I have confidence she will represent me as a voice that needs to be heard against the Wisconsin majority.

When I think about the future and what type of leaders will help us move forward, I think of the compassion and genuine listening I see in our community. Robyn Vining exemplifies these values. Throughout the last campaign season, Robyn knocked on the doors of residents to ask them about their concerns and hopes. She listened, she empathized, and she took those conversations with her into office. Many residents commented that they had never seen their representatives or candidates for Assembly before, and they appreciated Robyn’s genuine concern for their wellbeing. I think compassionate leaders like Robyn will help restore people’s faith that government and leaders can be compassionate, honest, and responsive.

I know that one day I will return to the work that I was born to do. I know also how incredibly fortunate I am to have a partner whose work is also essential and who is able to continue doing it. I am grateful for the fact that we are all healthy and happy (if frustrated). We, like so many families right now, are struggling to keep our heads above water. Each challenge that my family faces brings to mind a client (or 8) who I am certain is struggling so much harder, and I wish that I could be there to help. I know that my work is important, but I wish that my government valued it enough to pay me a fair wage so that I could afford to have my children cared for. I hope very much that our country is headed in the direction that my job loss counts because it certainly does for my clients and myself. It counts for Robyn too and that is one of the many reasons that I will continue to support her and vote for her every chance I get.

This year, Lindsay was the leader of a group of Wauwatosa East High School students during the Moms Demand Action Advocacy Day in Madison in February. Her group met with Representative Vining at the Capitol, and Lindsay was encouraged by the way the students lit up when speaking with Robyn. Robyn did not talk down to the students because of their age and engaged them as valued members of her community. Robyn’s interactions with the students really spoke to Lindsay because it was clear that Robyn represents her community and supports the values of her constituents.

Sue and I have supported Robyn since she announced her candidacy in 2018. We do so because Robyn consistently recognizes the diversity of needs and values within the district (and the State), and factors that spectrum of values into everything she does as a legislator and community leader. The State Assembly and Senate would be operating efficiently, effectively, AND fairly if they followed Robyn’s example.

For the longest time, I was complacent with how people voted. As a permanent resident, I had many of the same rights as a citizen and voting didn’t seem like something that affected my day-to-day life.
The 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School changed that. In the face of that terrible tragedy, I saw students rise up and start a movement against gun violence, and I realized I couldn’t stay complacent anymore. Enough was enough.

Robyn Vining’s reelection is critical to our community and the state of Wisconsin. She is speaking for everyone–not only those who vote for her. We are a community that works together, united not divided, and Robyn helps unite us. Hers is not a campaign of fear, but a campaign of promise, hope, and ideas.

Our district is incredibly fortunate to have Robyn represent us. I have seen first-hand how hard she works for us every day. She takes the stories of her constituents to heart and fights to make our lives better. Robyn understands that the job of an elected official is to be in service to their community, not playing political games with our lives.

While we teach our children to be nice to other people, to be civil, it doesn’t seem as if the Republican party is holding to those values. Dan feels that people aren’t leaving the Republican party, the party is leaving them. It feels like the Republican side isn’t leaving room for many people while the Democrats have a bigger tent.

It’s easy for me to support Robyn Vining, because Robyn’s priorities match my values. 

Common sense gun reform? Of course. I want my grandchildren, and everyone’s grandchildren, to be safe from gun violence in their schools, neighborhoods and homes, while supporting the tradition of outdoor sportsmanship in our state.