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 near West High School. 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 chaired the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee from 2022 to 2026, 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. I now serve as Vice-Chair of the Personnel & Finance Committee which has primarily jurisdiction over important budget decisions.
A few of my "success stories" on the Board include navigating the complex jail consolidation project, improving constituent outreach by encouraging implementation of a successful blog system for Supervisors, and budget amendments to improve the pay structure for staff attorneys to support the timely service of justice, expunge Birth Recovery Costs (learn more about this policy issue here), and fund a local Food System Action Plan.
When I’m not at work or engaged in Board activities, you can find me on a walk enjoying the oaks in the Speedway cemetery with my rescue pup, Roux, or paddling my kayak on the Yahara. 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,
As summer envelops Madison, I’m spending extra time on the trails, kayaking Wingra Creek, eating ice cream, and coaxing my garden to life, and hope you are finding time to get outside, too. Don’t miss the updated ever-popular Dane County Bike Map! https://www.cityofmadison.com/mpo/maps-data/bike-maps
Today I’m sharing updates on:
Also a last reminder – we have a phenomenal program through UW Extension that provides an opportunity for Dane County high school students to engage with and shape local government. We received a presentation from this year’s students about all their efforts on sustainability education at the zoo and youth access to substance use services and I’m always impressed by their dedication and energy. I’ve mentored some really smart, world-changing, creative students through this program who are already making our community a better place, and their voices in local government matter. Learn more here and send awesome high school students our way! See https://www.danecounty.gov/PressDetail/11874 and visit the Dane County Youth Governance Program website at https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/to-apply/ for additional program details, expectations, and the application form.
Ho-Chunk Land Purchase Approved!
Last month, I forecasted that the County Board may purchase land in partnership with the Ho Chunk Nation. I’m pleased to announce that in May, the County Board authorized a really exciting, unique land purchase that I know will be a long-term asset for our entire community. We purchased approximately 165 acres in the Town of Dunn from the Herro family with the intent of donating the land to the Ho-Chunk Nation, which will also be a partnership with Groundswell Conservancy. Located south of Babcock County Park, the east parcel has approximately 2,500 feet of Yahara River frontage along with approximately 2,700 feet of frontage on Lower Mud Lake. Both parcels have a mix of woods, wetlands and tillable lands which are either cropped or enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. This area along the Yahara River is known to have had a substantial Ho-Chunk presence and this property contains six recorded significant archeological sites including rare mound groupings that should be protected through public ownership. Donation of this property will allow the Ho-Chunk Nation to own and preserve these culturally significant lands, protect and restore these archeological sites and offer educational and recreational opportunities to the public. I’m thrilled about this once-in-a-generation new partnership and the benefits for both cultural preservation and public appreciation of our incredible local resources.
Data Center Moratorium Enacted
Moratorium enacted! On June 4, the County enacted a temporary moratorium on large scale data center development. It reads the following:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the purpose of this Resolution is to establish a moratorium that would allow Dane County to fully explore, analyze, and research the environmental, economic, health and safety aspects of data centers and to develop reasonable zoning regulations to be applied to data centers consistent with the Dane County Comprehensive Plan.
The moratorium will be in effect for 18 months or until rescinded, whichever is earlier. Over that period, analysis will occur to set parameters and zoning infrastructure for a potential “hyperscale” data center to be considered in the future.
The Advisory Committee on Data Centers (AC/DC, my favorite committee acronym by far) has been meeting for months and hearing public testimony and expert input on this topic. One interesting report was recently presented to the Committee, a report on data centers in Virginia: https://jlarc.virginia.gov/pdfs/reports/Rpt598.pdf, presented to their legislature. The executive summary is worth a read.
We’ll keep an eye on this topic and see where the exploration of zoning and regulation lands, as I’m sure there will be further interest in data center development here.
Resolution Encouraging UW Health to Resume Gender Care
This week, I was inspired to read comments and hear testimony from individuals encouraging UW Health to resume gender care, including supportive parents, teachers, health care providers, and individuals who transitioned later in life and wish they had supportive care earlier. The PATH Clinic was a nationally recognized leader in this care, and has ceased providing necessary services for many individuals in our community who need it most. This decision is due to legal threats from the federal administration, and jeopardizes long-term health for youth. My new colleague on the Board, Sup. Truxios, authored a resolution calling for care to resume and shared the following in their rationale, which is so powerful, and I celebrate their work:
I am also openly transgender and nonbinary - I go by they/them pronouns. In January, UW-Health decided to stop providing gender-affirming healthcare to pediatric patients despite lacking a legal obligation to do so. With about a week's notice, patients who were receiving prescriptions from UW-Health were told they would have a few days to refill medications, and otherwise find care elsewhere to prevent medical detransition. UW-Health continues to provide this healthcare to pediatric patients, while explicitly prohibiting access to transgender patients.
Our media, especially national media, tends to use passive and incurious language when discussing the subject of trans healthcare. Additionally, unilateral decisions to strip patients of essential healthcare call into question the integrity of our healthcare institutions when facing extralegal threats against certain patient populations or forms of healthcare deemed by some to be controversial.
In light of this, I am introducing a Resolution that seeks to both call for a resumption of care, and detail what the impacts of UW-Health's decision actually entail for patients and their families.
Additionally, in an effort to advance the conversation around trans healthcare (as much of the conversation is couched in misinformation, lies, and half-truths) I would like to make myself available to meet with constituents of yours at town-hall style meetings where people can learn more about and ask questions regarding this healthcare and why it's so important. If you are interested, please don't hesitate to email me.
Finally, I have worked with my fellow Trans Electeds across Wisconsin to author an Open Letter towards the same ends as this Resolution. Here you can find the text of this Open Letter, as well as form to sign on if interested.
Dane County Sheriff Office – Trainings for Stop the Bleed
The County Board recently completed an active shooter training, as unfortunately this is an issue every American needs to contemplate, as we know all too well from events in our very own community. I’d like to remind you of a few trainings available from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, including an upcoming free Stop the Bleed training in Cottage Grove open to all community members:
In service,
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
