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.
Neighbors –
Thank you to the neighbors who joined me, Alds. Vidver and Tishler, and Mayor Rhodes Conway for our town hall at Rennebohm Park this weekend! Even though weather didn’t cooperate, it was such a great opportunity to hear from attendees and build community together. One of the upcoming events we discussed includes a great chance to support Dane County’s LGBTQ+ community through “Drag Me to the Zoo”! Learn more here: https://www.henryvilaszoo.gov/. I hope to host another town hall once the weather has improved (date/time TBD), so see you in summer.
Another topic of conversation today is the County’s work to hire a new Human Services Director. We have been operating with an Interim Director for several months, and this very important position heads the county’s largest department, including oversight for 800 employees and a budget of over $200 million annually. There has been recent media coverage of controversy during the process, and I personally want to recognize that no members of the County Board, or any other community members, should be made to feel intimidated or coerced into making a decision they are not comfortable with, or to be the subjects of hateful language. We can and should have serious debate without making issues personal, and should be encouraged to have a deliberative, honest process for appointees. Several individuals were subject to racist slurs and attacks at a public meeting Thursday night last week, and that behavior is beyond unacceptable. I can only begin to listen and understand how my colleagues of color are navigating this situation, and I ask all community members to call out racist language when we encounter it, and to set the models we want to see for engaging respectfully. If you want to discuss this directly with me, I am all ears, and continuously learning.
Thank you, and I look forward to connecting with you soon.
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
