| DECISION 2009 CANDIDATES FOR DANE COUNTY EXECUTIVE |
1. This is a top priority for me. I have appointed people of color to many important positions in county government during my tenure as County Executive. For
example, I hired Ken Haynes an African-American, as an executive assistant in charge of criminal justice and human services issues from 2005-2007. I also
hired Jose Sentmanat, a Latino, to serve in the same position. To head the Dane County Office of Equal Opportunity, I hired Isadore Knox, a respected leader
in our community. I renewed the contract for Michael Jackson, an African-American, to head the Dane County Veterans Services Office, an important county
department. In addition, G.P. Foster, an African-American, serves as Deputy Director of the Dane County Human Services Department that makes up about half
of Dane County’s $460 million budget. There are many dedicated county employees who are persons of color.
2. In February of 2008, I and Dane County Board Chair Scott McDonell asked the Dane County Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to put together a task
force to review the report issued by the Governor’s Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities in the Wisconsin Justice System. We asked the EOC to assess
which of the report’s recommendations could be applied to Dane County, to further explore the root causes and potential solutions to this pernicious and
persistent injustice and to make recommendations to county policy makers.
The task force is made up of representatives from all aspects of the Dane County criminal justice system, including Dane County judges, District Attorney
Brian Blanchard, Sheriff Dave Mahoney, representatives from the Madison Police Department, the Wisconsin State Public Defender, private defense and civil
rights attorneys, UW-Madison professors and community leaders working in the areas of equal rights, prisoner re-entry, and service agencies.
This Task Force has been working hard for many months now, pursuing its charge and preparing recommendations that it will present to me, the Dane County
Board of Supervisors and the EOC in mid-2009. It is hosting a series of public hearings. I am hopeful that the work of the task force will help us make Dane
County a more just and equitable community for all.
3. Our efforts in this area have been energetic and effective and I was honored to receive an award from the Latino Chamber of Commerce for my efforts to
promote minority-owned businesses. We have a win-win situation with minority-owned newspapers in Dane County whereas those publications advertise open
county employment opportunities for a set fee. This arrangement should result in more applicants of color for vacant Dane County job opportunities.
Furthermore, OEO, in support of our diverse community, continues to provide learning and networking opportunities through our Minority Business Development
Series held four times a year. These seminars are aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in minority and women-owned businesses. The objectives of the
series include providing a venue for networking opportunities, providing resource information to businesses, and providing education on business practices and
related topics. I personally attend many of these sessions. In addition, our OEO Contract Compliance Officer coordinates the Targeted Business Development
program, assisting emerging businesses with certification and providing technical assistance.
4. Many. For example, I allocate about $8 million a year in the County Budget on paratransit services for the elderly and people with disabilities, ensuring that
people can get to their doctors, jobs and other services. This includes bus fares and taxi rides. In addition, Dane County also helps fund the City of Madison’s
Metro system by providing $2,796,000 of federal MA money to the city bus system. I have also worked hard to expand bus and train service, given that 80% of
the existing jobs are located on the rail corridor. This will make a big improvement in options for people to get to work.
5. Immigration law is set and enforced by the federal government. I have called upon our representatives in Washington, DC, to enact meaningful immigration
reform that will create a legal basis for hard-working undocumented immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families to remain in the US and
eventually become citizens, if they so choose.
On the local level, in 2004 the Dane County Board passed Resolution 65, 04-05, stating that the county shall not disclose confidential information,
including immigration status, unless the law requires it. I supported and signed this piece of legislation
6. Under my leadership over the last 12 years, we have built a human services system considered the best in Wisconsin, and that serves as a model nationwide
for some programs. I allocate half of the County’s entire $460 million budget to human services. The many important programs funded include programs for
seniors that are unique in the state, a network of services for adults with developmental disabilities, innovative programs for kids, and homeless funding, alcohol
and drug treatment and mental health services. This is a priority for me each year and I will continue to make it a priority.
example, I hired Ken Haynes an African-American, as an executive assistant in charge of criminal justice and human services issues from 2005-2007. I also
hired Jose Sentmanat, a Latino, to serve in the same position. To head the Dane County Office of Equal Opportunity, I hired Isadore Knox, a respected leader
in our community. I renewed the contract for Michael Jackson, an African-American, to head the Dane County Veterans Services Office, an important county
department. In addition, G.P. Foster, an African-American, serves as Deputy Director of the Dane County Human Services Department that makes up about half
of Dane County’s $460 million budget. There are many dedicated county employees who are persons of color.
2. In February of 2008, I and Dane County Board Chair Scott McDonell asked the Dane County Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to put together a task
force to review the report issued by the Governor’s Commission on Reducing Racial Disparities in the Wisconsin Justice System. We asked the EOC to assess
which of the report’s recommendations could be applied to Dane County, to further explore the root causes and potential solutions to this pernicious and
persistent injustice and to make recommendations to county policy makers.
The task force is made up of representatives from all aspects of the Dane County criminal justice system, including Dane County judges, District Attorney
Brian Blanchard, Sheriff Dave Mahoney, representatives from the Madison Police Department, the Wisconsin State Public Defender, private defense and civil
rights attorneys, UW-Madison professors and community leaders working in the areas of equal rights, prisoner re-entry, and service agencies.
This Task Force has been working hard for many months now, pursuing its charge and preparing recommendations that it will present to me, the Dane County
Board of Supervisors and the EOC in mid-2009. It is hosting a series of public hearings. I am hopeful that the work of the task force will help us make Dane
County a more just and equitable community for all.
3. Our efforts in this area have been energetic and effective and I was honored to receive an award from the Latino Chamber of Commerce for my efforts to
promote minority-owned businesses. We have a win-win situation with minority-owned newspapers in Dane County whereas those publications advertise open
county employment opportunities for a set fee. This arrangement should result in more applicants of color for vacant Dane County job opportunities.
Furthermore, OEO, in support of our diverse community, continues to provide learning and networking opportunities through our Minority Business Development
Series held four times a year. These seminars are aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in minority and women-owned businesses. The objectives of the
series include providing a venue for networking opportunities, providing resource information to businesses, and providing education on business practices and
related topics. I personally attend many of these sessions. In addition, our OEO Contract Compliance Officer coordinates the Targeted Business Development
program, assisting emerging businesses with certification and providing technical assistance.
4. Many. For example, I allocate about $8 million a year in the County Budget on paratransit services for the elderly and people with disabilities, ensuring that
people can get to their doctors, jobs and other services. This includes bus fares and taxi rides. In addition, Dane County also helps fund the City of Madison’s
Metro system by providing $2,796,000 of federal MA money to the city bus system. I have also worked hard to expand bus and train service, given that 80% of
the existing jobs are located on the rail corridor. This will make a big improvement in options for people to get to work.
5. Immigration law is set and enforced by the federal government. I have called upon our representatives in Washington, DC, to enact meaningful immigration
reform that will create a legal basis for hard-working undocumented immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families to remain in the US and
eventually become citizens, if they so choose.
On the local level, in 2004 the Dane County Board passed Resolution 65, 04-05, stating that the county shall not disclose confidential information,
including immigration status, unless the law requires it. I supported and signed this piece of legislation
6. Under my leadership over the last 12 years, we have built a human services system considered the best in Wisconsin, and that serves as a model nationwide
for some programs. I allocate half of the County’s entire $460 million budget to human services. The many important programs funded include programs for
seniors that are unique in the state, a network of services for adults with developmental disabilities, innovative programs for kids, and homeless funding, alcohol
and drug treatment and mental health services. This is a priority for me each year and I will continue to make it a priority.
Questions
1. To what extent will people of color be appointed to decision-making positions
within your administration?
2. Dane County has one of the highest incarceration rates of African Americans
youth in the United States. What measures can the county take to reduce this high
rate?
3. What initiatives will you undertake to expand the level of the purchasing of the
goods and services of minority business enterprises (MBEs) by private and public
decision makers?
4. What transportation policies will you put in place to ensure that “working poor”
individuals can reach employment opportunities throughout the county?
5. Given the fact that the majority of undocumented workers (some refer to them
as illegal immigrants) play a significant role in the hospitality, agricultural and other
labor-intensive sectors of Dane County’s economy and that many of their children
are U.S. citizens, to what extent should county government “officially” recognize
their presence in the county’s policies?
6. What is the current state of Dane County’s human services system? Are there
any changes that you would make to the system? Why?
1. To what extent will people of color be appointed to decision-making positions
within your administration?
2. Dane County has one of the highest incarceration rates of African Americans
youth in the United States. What measures can the county take to reduce this high
rate?
3. What initiatives will you undertake to expand the level of the purchasing of the
goods and services of minority business enterprises (MBEs) by private and public
decision makers?
4. What transportation policies will you put in place to ensure that “working poor”
individuals can reach employment opportunities throughout the county?
5. Given the fact that the majority of undocumented workers (some refer to them
as illegal immigrants) play a significant role in the hospitality, agricultural and other
labor-intensive sectors of Dane County’s economy and that many of their children
are U.S. citizens, to what extent should county government “officially” recognize
their presence in the county’s policies?
6. What is the current state of Dane County’s human services system? Are there
any changes that you would make to the system? Why?
Kathleen Falk
