Henry Sanders Jr. grew up on School Road within a stone's throw of Mendota Elementary School on Madison's north side. He used to ride his Huffy bicycle up and down the streets before the Vera Court Neighborhood Center was built. He watched as Darlene Horner and other community leaders worked with Future Madison to revitalize the Vera   Court area and established the center.
     And when Tom Solyst took over the Vera Court Neighborhood Center after it ran into managerial problems, Sanders answered the call to community service, something his mother Theresa and father Henry Sr. had done many times before. He worked with Solyst in helping the center get its "house in order." And he has basically been sold on community service ever since.
      Since then, Sanders formed MAGNET, a local young professionals group, worked as an aide for Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, worked as an outreach specialist for WHEDA, and was the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce's vice president with responsibilities in the areas of economic development and minority-owned businesses.
      Sanders has come a long ways since his Vera Court days and on May 23, he took another big step in his service to the community when he announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for the 81st District Assembly seat currently occupied by Democrat Rep. David Travis.
      Sanders was surrounded by about 50 family members and supporters -- many whom he knew as a small kid -- at the Vera CourtNeighborhood Center when he made the announcement. The "hometown kid" had come home in a way.
      The 81st District is a far-flung district that stretches from Madison's urban northeast side to the small town atmosphere of Mazomanie with a lot of farmland in between. It's a lot of ground to cover, both geographically and politically. The district is 65-73 percent Democratic, so unless a huge negative issue erupts, the Democratic nominee will take the general election in November.
      It's not the easiest thing to do, running against an incumbent who has occupied the seat for the past 28 years. Conventional wisdom says that the primary campaign could cost upwards to $30,000. Yet, Sanders sounded very confident as he announced his candidacy. He believes that people are ready for a change and are no longer satisfied with the status quo. "We have radical agendas that play off people's fears instead of their hopes," Sanders said about the present Republican leadership. "We've lost seats because some of our leaders haven't had the energy, the leadership, or the willingness to fight for the hopes and dreams of our community. Let there be no doubt. I represent hope. I represent change."
      Sanders is hoping that his youth -- he's 32 years old -- and energy will help revitalize a Democratic Party that has seen its fortunes reversed in the past 28 years. It is now at the short end of a 61-39 minority position. And Sanders feels that the Democratic Party has lost its way.
      "I understand that in order to shake up state government and make changes for our district, our state representative must have the energy to learn about the issues that are important to people, and be able to offer a vision of how positive change can be made," Sanders emphasized. "We cannot talk about problems without talking about solutions. Our leader must have the courage to take a stand on difficult issues and must be willing to voice the concerns of those who are usually left unheard. Complacency is not acceptable to anyone; especially those families who are struggling to make ends meet."
      Sanders exudes a sense of urgency when he talks about the need, in his view, to revitalize the Democratic Party.  "The party definitely has to look at things differently," Sanders emphasized after the campaign announcement was over. "We cannot do things the same way. We need to change with the times. What we did in 1970, we can't do that in 2006. The way we do that is stay connected to the people in the district or wherever we are. We can't be the party that just gives lip service.  We need to make sure we are a party that's inclusive and that we listen to all people. We need to listen to people from different backgrounds and make sure their voices are heard.  That's how you keep the party fresh and hip and new."
      Sanders is particularly concerned about the party's position among 20-30 year olds, a constituency that Sanders has been able to connect with through MAGNET. "I've talked to most of the members in MAGNET and asked them what party they are affiliated with," Sanders said. "They say they vote for the person and that they aren't a Democrat or a Republican. But if you go down a list of Democratic values, they say 'That's important, that's important, that's important.' There's such a disconnect with what the party stands for and what people think the party stands for."
      Constantly during the time we talk, Sanders mentions the need to listen to the people in the 81st District. Sanders feels that most Wisconsinites share Democratic values. They just don't know they are Democratic. "I really, truly believe that most people have Democratic values," Sanders emphasized. "But at this point in time, you ask someone what the Democrats stand for, most people don't know. Well, it's about the people.  People will tell you what they want and they don't want. And that's how you stay as the party of the people."
      Sanders feels that the main thing that separates him and David Travis is his level of energy and willingness to expend that energy on behalf of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. Sanders feels there is almost an obligation for office holders from safe seats to be raising the issues and helping other people get elected in closely-contested districts. While Sanders feels that Travis and he would vote the same on the core Democratic issues, Sanders would not be satisfied with how things are. What sets him apart, according to Sanders, is that he will work to change how things happen in Wisconsin so that Democrats can once more become the majority party in the Assembly.
      In the end, Sanders feels, it all boils down to listening to the people in the district. "You make sure you change the top-down approach within the party," Sanders said in talking about how the Democratic Party can rise to the majority position. "What that means is you start having people in the party who come from the community. You start raising those people in the community; that's how you find out what's going on with the party.  That's how you keep people in the Democratic Party."
      Sanders has the fire in his belly to make a run for the 81st District seat. Time -- and a September primary -- will tell if he has the proper analysis and his time has come.
Sanders announces for the 81st District
        Emergence of a new generation?
         by Jonathan Gramling
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