richelle andrae
Thank you for the opportunity to serve District 11, which includes most of Hill Farms, Shorewood Village, and the neighborhoods immediately east of Midvale Blvd. I’ve lived in Madison since 2013, and reside just west of Hilldale. I’ve experienced our community through the eyes of a student, a young professional working in non-profit, an academic, and a volunteer. During the day, I am an advocate for safety net clinics in Wisconsin, working with state policymakers and partners to ensure that all residents have access to quality health care, regardless of income or insurance status. I’ve previously worked on local public health evaluation projects, rural workforce development, and Medicaid policy. After serving an AmeriCorps service term in California, I returned to Wisconsin and worked directly with underserved teens in Madison high schools, helping them find and keep their first jobs.
On the County Board, I Chair the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee, which has oversight for the Dane County Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Emergency Management, 911 Call Center, Courts, Pre-Trial Services, Medical Examiner, and more. A few of my "success stories" on the Board include navigating the complex jail consolidation project, improving constituent outreach by encouraging implementation of a blog system for Supervisors, and budget amendments to embed crisis expertise in emergency response and improve the pay structure for staff attorneys to support the timely service of justice. I also serve on the Dane County Food Policy Council and Greater Madison MPO, which administers transportation-related funding and programs across the region.
When I’m not at work or engaged in Board activities, you can find me at the Odana dog park with my rescue pup, Roux. I studied Spanish at UW-Madison during my undergrad, and earned a Masters in Public Affairs from the La Follette School, focusing on health policy and administration. Please reach out at any time and I look forward to working with you.　
Neighbors,
Today, no preamble, I just want to provide information about potential local immigration enforcement efforts, response, and resources.
I’ve been in discussions with county staff to understand the efforts to prepare for potential local emergencies, since we have no idea if or when there could be large scale enforcement efforts in Dane County. It’s hard as a policymaker to separate the government response and coordination with the human feelings involved that are stirred up for me, but I also recognize those are different lanes. Our local government is always preparing for many kinds of emergencies, and there has been no public notification of any upcoming ICE activity (as confirmed for me by the Sheriff again today). But Emergency Management is actively planning and preparing, just as we do for tornados and mass casualty events, with all kinds of government agencies including law enforcement, human services, and more. So much of that happens behind the scenes and I want to thank the dedicated county staff that are thinking through the possibilities, assessing options, and making plans. We are not just sitting back – there is active preparation happening to do what’s possible to anticipate needs in unprecedented times.
I’ve also inquired with legal counsel about options to protect county lands from ICE activities, something Milwaukee is pursuing, and the county is involved in litigation:
Minnesota v. Trump, Case No. 26-cv-00190 (D. Minnesota) -- On or about January 12, 2026, the State of Minnesota, and the Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul sued the Secretary of Homeland Security and other officials to stop the federal government’s “Operation Metro Surge.” Specifically, Minnesota and the Twin Cities allege that the federal government is violating a number of Constitutional Amendments and has asked the district court to issue an injunction to stop the surge in immigration enforcement. A group of local governments have joined as amici curae to argue that the federal government’s actions in Minnesota undermine the efficacy of local law enforcement, creates long-lasting distrust of local enforcement amongst communities, and results in significant harm to their communities. Dane County is part of that amici curae involvement to protect the county and public’s best interest.
At the same time, the federal administration continues to message their intent to cut off federal funds (YOUR tax dollars) from flowing to “sanctuary” jurisdictions. Lots of litigation on that front but it’s a major threat.
There’s also a major non-government response underway, as you likely are aware, from community leaders, organizers, and non-profits that are on the ground, advocating, and taking on roles that government can’t. Thank you to all my neighbors who are protesting, supporting, and activated.
See also:
I encourage you to do whatever you can to be a part of solutions in these exceptionally scary times. Whether that’s donating to an organization on the ground (something I just did right now), knowing your rights and sharing with those in your network, educating yourself on the issues, or having an uncomfortable conversation with a family member with a different mindset, it all matters. Sometimes these actions can seem or are performative, but let me assure you, they’re better than doing nothing.
In service and in this together,
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
