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 I’m sharing updates on a few key items and plugging a reminder for the April 2 non-partisan local elections. There’s so much attention on November and we’re in for a long election season, but it really kicks off soon with local races in 2 weeks. Don’t forget to learn about the important constitutional amendments on the ballot April 2. Here’s a good article summarizing the ballot proposals. I also want to thank my constituents that reached out calling for peace in Gaza as the county considered a resolution calling for a ceasefire. While we have no jurisdiction over this issue, I was moved to see the outpouring of communication from residents sharing personal stories from loved ones and support.
Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change – Check out their latest newsletter which includes great summaries of new tax incentives!
Airport Joint Use Agreement – The Board approved a Joint Use Agreement between the County and National Guard for operation of services at the Airport. We delayed action on this multiple times to get the very best deal possible for residents of the County. Based on multiple conversations with the Guard and advice from County attorneys, and documentation about transitioning from PFAs-containing foam, I was comfortable with the ultimate agreement. More details here.
Updates on County Crisis Services and Law Enforcement Intersection – Each year, my colleague who chairs the Human Needs Committee and I plan a joint meeting to review projects at the intersection of human services and law enforcement, looking at upstream solutions to incarceration for mental health isssues. We held that meeting in February and received updates on critical initiatives like the Crisis Triage Center and expansion of the CARES program’s mobile alternative to law enforcement for individuals in a behavioral health crisis. The county is in the middle of a study for a crisis system assessment, evaluating how we can simplify access to services and reduce system complexity. With enactment of a new state law, we will be able to move forward with a 24-hour stabilization facility more readily. A grant opportunity for adjoining municipalities will go live this spring to expand crisis response. The 911 center is also embedding crisis workers, which is an essential step forward. A recording of that meeting is here. Also, in a big milestone, the county broke ground on the long-awaited jail project last week.
Indian Lake County Park Master Plan – There is an update to the Indian Lake Master Plan and I heard from several constituents while this proposal was making its way through the process this winter. Ultimately the plan seeks to increase accessibility for park use and balance new opportunities and additional acreage added to the park. Several residents of district 11 are concerned about changes and reduction to cross county ski trails. The approved master plan is the big picture, and actual changes will still go through a lengthy process. Residents brought forward many good questions and concerns. I encourage residents to stay connected on the revisions as there will be many opportunities to make modifications. Learn more about this and other parks master plans here.
Spring Non-partisan Local Election – Please note that all 37 County Board Supervisor seats are on the ballot on April 2, 2024 (including me, district 11). There will be significant turnover as nearly one-third of the Board is not running for re-election. I hope to be a solid "hand on the tiller" during a time of transition, as we'll also have a new interim County Executive starting in May. I want to appreciate our County Clerk and all election workers for your steadfast support of fair and free elections. Election resources:
See you around the neighborhood, and Happy St. Patty’s Day from my pup, Roux (photo attached).
Richelle Andrae
Dane County Board Supervisor District 11
