Dane County offices will be closed on Nov, 28th & 29th 2024
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.
Hi neighbors - In this newsletter you'll find:
See you in the Spring sunshine!
~ Richelle
Taking a Stand on Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander Hate
Thanks to the leadership from my colleague Sup. Elena Haasl and others, Dane County approved a resolution condemning recent acts of violence against our Asian and Pacific Islander neighbors.
Just saying we condemn violence isn't enough, as fellow Board members pointed out. We need to listen to the community members who have sounded the alarm on this issue for years, take action to protect the rights of our neighbors, and speak out when we see discrimination, micro-aggressions, and abuse. Visit the Hmong Institute (or here) to learn more about a vibrant community here in Madison, and opportunities to get engaged.
Read the full resolution and coverage here.
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Sending a message on law enforcement in our community
At this week's Public Protection & Judiciary Committee meeting, we debated a resolution authored by Sups. Bayrd and Stubbs regarding use of no-knock search warrants by the Dane County Sheriff's Office. It's non-binding, but sends a signal about how we want law enforcement to engage in our community and what we value. I am proud to co-sponsor this resolution. While I believe that the Dane County Sheriff uses this tool judiciously (approximately 10 times per year), the risks are too great for our community and our neighbors.
Read more about the issue here:
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Election season... It's back!
Polls show that most Wisconsin voters are not aware that there's an election on April 6. While it isn't a BIG TICKET election, like for President, it's really important. Find interviews with the candidates here:
I am happy to support Jill Underly for the statewide role of Superintendent of Public Instruction, who stands up for public schools in our state.
Note that Madison residents will have advisory referenda on their ballots regarding the structure of the Madison Common Council (Alders).
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Alliant Energy Center: A New Vision
Did you know that Dane County operates the Alliant Energy Center? Throughout the pandemic, the site has served as a critical community resource for testing and now COVID-19 vaccination.
The County is currently in a re-assessment process, seeking to update the facility and grounds for the future. The expo space is likely a home for future re-development, including hospitality space. Learn more here.
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Dane County In the News
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Dane County continues to team up with community partners to provide housing assistance. The Dane CORE Program is a partnership between the City of Madison, Dane County, and the Tenant Resource Center to provide approximately $15 million in federal funds for emergency rental assistance for those impacted by COVID-19. The program provides rental assistance for those who are behind on rent, reside in Dane County, are at or below 50% of area median income, and have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19. For more information on eligibility, please see our Eligibility Page.
All details are available here: https://core.tenantresourcecenter.org/.
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I am thrilled to represent district 11 on the Dane County Board, and was elected in April 2020. District 11 includes the neighborhoods of Hill Farms, Sunset Village, Rocky Bluff, Westmoreland, Sunset Hills, Radio Park, VanChaMasShe, Glen Oak Hills, and Crestwood on Madison's near west side. I have lived in Madison for over 10 years, and currently live near Hilldale. I work in health policy during the day, and serve on the Public Protection & Judiciary Committee and the Area Agency on Aging Board. You can usually find me after work at the Odana dog park with my rescue pup, Roux.
I pledge to advance issues including increasing coordination of safety net programs, building County infrastructure for public services such as transportation, and increasing engagement to ensure that County decisions are informed by local residents.
Andrae.Richelle@CountyofDane.com
(608) 509-4844
Facebook: @DaneCountyDistrict11
Learn more about the County Board, such as meeting schedules and Committee hearings, at https://board.countyofdane.com/.
