350 Madison Questions County Supervisor Candidates on Climate

April 3, 2022 Brook Soltvedt

350 Madison Questions County Supervisor Candidates on Climate

When it comes to repairing our climate, the significant role county supervisors play in designing county policies must be recognized. For this reason, 350 Madison has asked each Dane County supervisor candidate how their platform addresses the issues of climate and climate justice. Their questions focus on Dane County's existing climate action plan and climate impacts, as well as how each candidate would work with various community members on these issues. We are pleased to post their answers in this guest blog by 350 Madison. You can learn more about 350 Madison on their website.

Spring 2022 Dane County Supervisor Race Positions on Climate and Climate Justice

Find your Dane County Supervisory District and candidate(s) by checking who’s on your ballot at MyVote.WI.gov.

District 1

Elizabeth Doyle — No response received.

District 2

Heidi M. Wegleitner

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I will engage with community, advocates, county staff, and other elected ofﬁcials to implement the recommendations of the CAP in the county budget, through policy-making, and with community education and organizing. My expertise is in the area of housing and I have been a strong supporter of the creation and expansion of Dane County's Affordable Housing Development Fund (AHDF). The County has subsidized PV installation through its AHDF in the past and I think we should continue to look for ways to incentivize green building, and particularly net-zero housing creation, with our affordable housing development policies. We should increase investments in energy efﬁciency programs with a focus on low-income renters and home-owners. Energy efﬁciency initiatives are a simple, effective, and equitable way to have a signiﬁcant impact on resident's energy use and quality of life. I support expansion of public transportation and discouraging the number of cars on our roads. We need to further support bus and bike commuters and prioritize bike infrastructure in low income neighborhoods, which have often been overlooked.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

I am in strong support of continuing our conservation land purchases to protect and restore wetlands. Residents need support in protecting their homes from flooding and remediating mold caused by past water damage. We need to transform our agricultural systems so they are not exacerbating, but mitigating the climate emergency. I support a local Green New Deal initiative to provide training and employment opportunities in Dane County in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and other climate response work.

True climate justice includes all members of society. How would you engage disproportionately impacted groups, such as communities of color and low-income neighborhoods, while addressing climate change?

Advocating for marginalized residents is my life’s work and every day I ﬁght for justice in a racist and classist legal system for people who are on the verge of homelessness. I know the serious barriers to justice and inclusion facing people who have been historically excluded. Low income people and communities of color are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. I will continue to listen to the people whose lives are most impacted by our oppressive systems and work with them to develop policy solutions and meaningful civic engagement opportunities. On particular issues, if I have not heard from marginalized voices and those most impacted by a decision, I will reach out to people I know in those communities. I will take time to maintain and develop new relationships of leaders and activists representing BIPOC communities, LGBTQ folx, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, renters, low wage workers, and others with lived experience of marginalization. I will also advocate for more inclusion in ofﬁcial county governance through compensated committee membership, consultation, and reducing barriers to running for elected ofﬁce.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

The climate emergency impacts all of us, especially our young people. I will approach my advocacy on climate justice issues the same way I approach advocacy on other issues-- with respectful and truthful communications informed by subject matter experts and community activists.

District 3

Analiese Eicher — No response received.

District 4

Matt Veldran — No response received.

District 5

Jeff Hynes — No response received.

District 6

Yogesh Chawla — No response received.

District 7

Cecely Castillo

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

We are so fortunate to have a wealth of brilliant experts and community advocates on climate change in our community. Being willing to listen and reach out on topics that come before us on the board has been my way of engaging on issues. Having good public transportation options is one big piece of the puzzle. The city is currently looking at the bus routes for the city, but we also need to consider how to provide options to people in Dane County outside of Madison. This means looking at increased ridesharing and public transportation options to reduce reliance on vehicles. Promoting electric vehicle use, both for mass transit and individual use, is important as is increasing our county's use of green energy. The new solar panel projects are a great example of a smart away to reduce carbon emissions and our reliance on types of fuel that accelerate climate change. We have a great network of bike paths throughout the county, and expanding and maintaining them is important.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

I serve on the Lakes and Watershed Commission, and we discuss water levels, pathogens and emergent contaminants, and how our waterways are being affected by climate change and resulting erratic weather systems. Listening to the experts, and making plans accordingly is important to ensure the health and safety of residents and to allow for continued public use of our wonderful natural resources. This must be a continued work since things change rapidly and we need to be nimble enough to adjust to what 5, 10 , 20 years from now brings.

I studied environmental law (a long time ago) in Colorado, and was particularly interested in environmental justice work. Electing people at all levels of representation (local, state, federal) that are knowledgeable of the environmental justice issues in their community helps center impacted communities in discussions. Representation matters, and those in elected positions can help highlight and lift up the work of leaders and organizations.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

Many times it comes down to awareness. Someone may not have thought about how flooding is tied to climate change and affects their property or local parks they like to take a walk in. Or they may not have thought about how their increased utility bills are tied to extreme weather patterns. Talking to people about the issues that matter to them is a good way to ﬁnd common ground where their concerns and interests intersect with climate change.

District 8

Jeffrey M Glazer — No response received.

District 9

Alex Joers

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

We have a long way to go, I hope to continue developing sustainable practices in county purchasing and work towards lowering our overall carbon footprint throughout the county by investing in renewable energy. Climate scientists have already sounded the alarm and we need to take every opportunity to move towards a 100% renewable and sustainable economy.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

Within the past few years, our community has seen weather events that have shown the challenges we face with climate change. On the west-side of Madison in 2018 residents and businesses faced millions of dollars in damages from historic flooding. Dane County must continue to be a leader in building a climate resilient community, facing climate change head on, and protecting our natural resources for future generations.

During my ﬁrst term on the County Board, I supported legislation to expand existing park land by 470 acres for recreation and flood mitigation. These include LaFollette County Park, Walking Iron County Park and Wildlife Area, Indian Lake County Park and Ice Age Trail, and Schumacher Farm Park. Notably, I advocated for securing $1 million in the 2022 budget to fund the East Segment of the North Mendota Trail connecting West Madison and Middleton to Westport and Waunakee.

It is important to ensure that we are communicating effectively with all members of our community. Deep inequalities exist in Wisconsin and I believe that Dane County can be a leader in addressing these injustices. Too often voices are being left out of conversations and viewpoints are ignored. We must work to ensure that we are building an inclusive community that is focused on addressing these issues, by making sure everyone is represented. I believe it is our leaders’ responsibility to reach out to everyone in our community and bring those voices to the table.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

This is something that we can work to build bridges on. I want to understand where people are getting their information when they are against prioritizing climate and climate justice issues. I want to work to break down barriers to conversation and see if we can work towards an agreement that we have to do more to mitigate climate disasters and protect those who are most impacted by them.

District 10

Aaron Collins

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

1he most important part of any action plan is the action. We need to ensure that the Climate Action Plan is implemented and made a focus of County government in every decision we make. We need to hold ourselves accountable on the County Board to make sure we’re meeting the aggressive goals of decarbonization, energy efﬁciency, and forward thinking transportation infrastructure.

Environmental action has been a focus of my campaign and I hope to use my platform on the County Board to work on implementing this plan and working on other progressive environmental policies.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

We need to prepare for the certainty that climate change is going to lead to more frequent severe weather events. The flooding we witnessed due to heavy rainfall in the Summer of 2018 is something we will see more frequently because of climate change. On the County Board we should be working to improve watersheds and collaborate with the City on infrastructure to limit flooding to the greatest extent possible. Even more importantly, we should be assessing the correct lake levels with County staff to try and help homeowners in areas more susceptible to flooding.

1he reality is we must put climate change policies front and center on the County Board. We must treat this crisis urgently and with aggressive action.

It is a pattern we see across the country that communities of color are not prioritized with environmental issues that have a direct impact on them. We’ve seen this in Flint, Michigan with lead pipes - and here in Wisconsin with PFAS contamination. We need to be equity-focused on the County Board, and that means outreach and then action. As a County Board Supervisor, I would work to make sure that underserved neighborhoods are effectively communicated with and given the resources they need to create solutions. This may involve neighborhood meetings, postcard mailings, or ﬁnding ways on social media to do outreach. I can see a scenario in which there is flooding because of climate change leading to an increase in severe weather events. If this is going to impact a BIPOC neighborhood, we need to utilize the methods I discussed to get the word out as quickly as possible. Secondly, we need action to back up this outreach. Using the flooding example, I would work to ﬁnd County resources to work on remediation for people’s homes that were damaged.

Climate change will also lead to hotter temperatures in the Summer. This is something that we also need to communicate to residents so they have the resources available to them to stay cool under these increasingly difﬁcult conditions.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

The fact is, climate change is going to affect all of us so we have to express the urgency to those who are not treating it like the crisis it is. I’m a collaborator so I enjoy ﬁnding ways to work together with groups of people who may not always agree on every issue. Sometimes this involves reframing the issue to start something everyone can agree on. For example, if we can agree clean air and water are a priority, maybe we can convince those who aren’t prioritizing climate change that these issues are all intertwined.

District 11

Richelle Andrae

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

The Climate Action Plan includes important considerations for both short- and long-term investments toward reaching carbon neutrality and improving climate resiliency. I will look forward to supporting future budget initiatives such as continuing our transition to RNG for county vehicles, such as the two additional RNG snow plows in the last budget. We must continue our public education and programming related to reducing food waste, such as revisiting composting and bio-digesting programs. I see climate resiliency as a public health issue, and am eager to support strategies related to housing and carbon emissions. Speciﬁcally, will support additional incentives in housing that also prioritize voluntary investment in climate resiliency such as permeable sidewalks and responsible groundwater management. Dane County should stimulate responsible housing projects through our affordable housing fund.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

One of my ﬁrst constituent events included a two-hour visit to the Dane County Landﬁll, which was extremely eye-opening for both me and residents of district 11. Elected ofﬁcials have a responsibility to help the public understand the impacts of climate change and each individual’s role in mitigating the impacts, which is what made the visit so powerful. Dane County must continue our investments in reducing phosphorus in the watershed, and should conduct additional outreach and provide training and technical assistance for the agricultural sector in the county. Dane County has been largely uninvolved in transit policy since the collapse of the Regional Transit Authority and train funding, but it is critical that we identify the best role for the county in advancing a public transit agenda with local municipalities. We should also ﬁnd opportunities for youth to engage in transit resilience initiatives, as our youngest generation is already primed to understand the need for both advocacy and action in climate justice. I also support improved climate resiliency through acquisition and management of properties to reduce flooding, targeted incentives for homeowners and businesses to save energy and implement solar, and targeted technical assistance for high energy users in the county.

Unfortunately, it is often true that the communities least responsible for escalating climate changes are those most burdened by its impacts, due to lack of available resources. For example, incentives are often available for homeowners and businesses, but not for renters. We must practice humility in understanding that impacted communities must be empowered to identify the solutions that will meet their needs, and provide the resources for follow-through. Creating relationships with trusted community messengers and leaders is also critical, such as providing education, training, and resources through the Hmong Institute or Centro Hispano. Further, it is unreasonable to expect communities with limited access to public resources to champion the protection of public lands. For that reason, I’m very supportive of our current efforts to understand and reduce barriers to accessing county parks, such as identifying transit limitations.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

I will frame climate resiliency as a win not just for our environment but for our business community and as a local workforce development strategy. It’s also exciting to see new initiatives such as Operation Fresh Start’s Civilian Conservation Corps, which should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops. I will also share more information regarding the CAP and our ongoing efforts toward climate resiliency.

District 12

Larry Palm — No response received.

District 13

Olivia Xistris-Songpanya — No response received.

District 14

Amanda Noles — No response received.

Anthony J. Gray — No response received.

District 15

April Kigeya — No response received.

District 16

Rick Rose — No response received.

District 17

Jacob Wright — No response received.

District 18

Michele Ritt — No response received.

District 19

Brenda Yang — No response received.

District 20

Scott Michalak

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I think we need to continue to invest in green and renewable energy sources--such as, wind, solar, methane, biomass, biogas, biodiesel and electric. We need to continue to encourage county and local governments to use renewable energy whenever possible, to reduce our carbon emissions substantially over the next 30+ years. I would also like to expand the "Suck the Muck" program to dredge up the Maunesha River in my hometown of Marshall, as well as other area waterways that have had enormous amounts of sediments containing high amounts of phosphorous runoff. This will prevent the growth of algae blooms which can contaminate local water supplies. I also want to encourage the county to demand Enbridge to have ample spill coverage insurance and more accountability to environmental neighbors to cover local areas near the pipeline, in case of spill damage or other side effects of the presence of the pipeline in our environment. Although I'm adamantly opposed to the Enbridge pipeline, I believe that insuring our people against spill damage is the least we can do at this point.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

Besides the aforementioned ideas, we need to reduce our dependency on oils and fossil fuels. I would like to expand bus service to areas extending from the Madison Metro area to increase mass transit options throughout the county and encourage them to continue to use more electric buses to provide low-cost transportation options. I believe that in 20 years, the increased use of electric vehicles will potentially phase out the need for gas-operated vehicles. In the interim, we can do more--local governments can use solar technology to operate the water treatment facilities and use clean energy for our electrical grid. Also, in my district, Statz farms does a wonderful job of utilizing manure for their energy source (methane digestor) to create energy for their farm and several area homes.

I would like to expand bus routes to create more affordable transportation options, getting people to work and school. Electric buses can help provide that, altering the way many currently get to work. Transportation is often a barrier for many of our citizens.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

I will work with other county supervisors and members of the public by educating them about incentivizing manure digestors on our area farms--whom do not currently use that system for their energy purposes. We could offer subsidies for this, which could afford energy to other area citizens as well. Climate change is an important topic--one that requires education and introduction of opportunities for discussion of options. I also believe that the Dane County Board and the Mayor of Madison's ofﬁce, along with the Dane County Exec Parisi, have prioritized climate change and renewable energies--I'm excited to work alongside them on the Dane County Board.

Jeff Weigand — No response received.

District 21

Andrew Schauer — No response received.

District 22

Maureen McCarville — No response received.

District 23

Chuck Erickson

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

Yes. I will support any initiatives proposed by myself, another Supervisor or the County Executive that will reduce Dane County government's contribution to warming the climate. I will also support any initiatives which will well help Dane County as a whole to reduce emissions, including promoting and expanding mass transit, more paths for bicycle and pedestrian commuting and recreation, and higher density in our communities to encourage alternative forms of transportation for getting to work, school, entertainment and recreation. This has been my position since I was ﬁrst elected to the Dane County Board in 2002. Before being on the County Board I was active in the local group of the Sierra Club and traveled to Sweden (at my own expense) to learn about 1he Natural Step (TNS), a scientiﬁcally based sustainability model, used by governments and businesses.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

One impact of a warming climate is more rainfall and Dane County is experiencing stronger rainfall than we have in the past. In my role as Chair of the Dane County Lakes & Watershed Commission, I was a member of the Lake Levels Task Force which was formed after the flooding in 2018. We had two additional options to consider to address flooding: 1) dredging & 2) pumping. Both would move excess water out of the Yahara chain of lakes to reduce the negative impacts of flooding on neighborhoods and our community generally. While we are not pursuing the second option (pumping) due to environmental reasons, we are in our second year of dredging in the Yahara River. Before dredging, the Land and Water Resources Dept. (LWRD), had two options to deal with flooding. They were: 1) aquatic plant harvesting, and 2) adjusting the level of three dams. Two dams are in the Yahara River and the third is the Tenney Park dam. I have voted for more aquatic plant harvesters over the years and I have supported funding that would reconstruct all three of these dams. To summarize, we will have three tools to address flooding, a direct impact on our community due to climate change. I have supported all three and they include: 1) Dredging; 2) aquatic plant harvesting; and 3) adjusting the dams. All three I have supported in past terms and will continue to do so in the future.

In my work on sustainability and environment conservation, I have always included all members of our community. Speciﬁcally, The Natural Step (TNS), which was passed by the Board and implemented as Dane County’s sustainability model, has four system conditions. The fourth system condition basically states that, “All people have the ability to meet their basic human needs” or “there are no structural obstacles to people’s health, influence, competence, impartiality and meaning.” While things like recycling or saving electricity are important, we need to have social sustainability in order to have environmental sustainability, or environmental conservation.

A speciﬁc example of my efforts in this area is Dane County’s $1.2 million grant to the redevelopment of the Bayview Community. I introduced a budget amendment for the 2020 budget this funding and it was passed by the County Board. Bayview is located near my own neighborhood and technically part of my neighborhood association. The Bayview neighborhood includes 101 units of low income housing including a community center. Three fourths of the residents are people of color and largely southeast Asian. Most residents use Section H vouchers to cover their rent. Given the location, the community experienced flooding in 2018. The redevelopment will tear down all 101 existing units and the community center, and will include 130 units when ﬁnished, ranging from handicapped units and two and three bedroom units. Additionally, in 2021, Bayview received a $400,000 grant from Dane County for green infrastructure including stormwater runoff and water inﬁltration management. I supported this grant funding.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

I will encourage all Supervisors to help support initiatives through 1 on 1 conservations, educational options and numbers. With TNS, there’s an environmental component but also a monetary savings. If another Supervisor is only concerned about the bottom line, the policies I have initiated and supported over the years save money, as well as the environment. I also apply this to my constituents and the public at large. Ultimately if we have a majority of the County Board, we can implement our policies.

District 24

Clint Keaveny

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I support continuing to expand Dane County’s use of compressed renewable natural gas (RNG) collected at our landﬁll. Within the next 5 years, I would like to see that all Dane County vehicles are either RNG-powered or electric. I also wholly support Dane County’s goal of achieving one-third of our power from wind and one-half of our power from solar by 2030, and I will prioritize taking the steps to achieve this goal.

Transitioning to clean power should be seen as an investment rather than an expense. The more expertise Dane County develops in the Green Economy, there more we will be able to develop jobs and businesses to support our residents.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

Within our lifetime, Dane County will go from having 10-15 days of 90F+ temperature, to 30-40 days of 90F+ temperature. Without immediate action, marginalized communities will bear the brunt of this heat, as low-income areas have less tree cover. Dane County must immediately prioritize planting trees to ensure that all neighborhoods have adequate shade as our climate grows hotter.

Worsening toxic algae blooms on our lakes are another consequence of a hotter climate. These algae blooms are a serious threat to human health, and have previously been the cause of the death of beloved pets. In the short term, we need to install Clean Beach Treatment Systems to ensure that families have clean water to swim in all summer long. In the long-term, we need to invest in sustainable technology that reduces the cost of preventing agricultural Phosphorus runoff, as well as creating economic incentives for farmers to follow best practices that protect our lakes.

Lastly, continuing to improve our storm water management is essential to prevent extremely damaging flooding as more intense rain events become common.

True climate justice begins by recognizing that marginalized populations are disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change. Action must be centered around both mitigating the effects of climate change on marginalized groups, as well as providing economic opportunity.

Switching to clean energy, improving our flood-prevention infrastructure, and innovating in waste diversion technology will all create new, Green Economy jobs – these opportunities need to include folks who have historically been excluded.

This means being proactive in communicating opportunities, new programs, and ways that the County is working to make sure we all adapt to our changing climate. Dane County will only succeed with deep community engagement, and I will prioritize ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to participate and have their voice heard.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

The impacts of climate change are becoming more obvious each day – I will prioritize communicating how mitigating these changes will improve quality of life for everyone, and demonstrate the economic beneﬁts of being leaders in the Green Economy.

As folks see both the consequences of inaction, as well as the beneﬁts of being leaders in clean energy and sustainable technology, I am conﬁdent that we can develop consensus across the County on these important topics.

Sarah Smith

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

In my ﬁrst term on the County Board, I have supported a number of environmental initiatives which included voting for 2020 RES-181. I serve on the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee and have also supported solar farms throughout the county to provide renewable energy locally. My voting record is clear- I am committed to continuing our efforts that reduce and eventually eliminate emissions that contribute to climate change in Dane County.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

Climate resiliency is critical as the severity and frequency of weather events like flooding increase. We need to be strategic to preserve existing green space and improve the resilience of our infrastructure and housing stock. Flooding is the number one climate risk facing Wisconsin and Dane County, which is why I’ve taken action to prevent increased flooding risks. I authored the $2 million budget amendment to preserve the San Damiano property on the Lake Monona shoreline to prevent increased flooding that may have resulted from removing the trees, paving, and developing the property. I will continue to take action to prepare our community for increased climate risks like flooding, drought, wildﬁre, severe convective storms, and more. We really don’t have any time to waste.

Here in district 24, we have experienced climate change impacts differently across different neighborhoods. During the 2018 flooding, the Belle Isle and Pirate Island areas of Monona each experienced flooding. Bell Isle primarily consists of lakefront homes, while Pirate Island primarily consists of rental properties. We all came together in 2018 to help everyone respond to the imminent flooding, but we can’t afford to wait until the next climate disaster to provide emergency support for marginalized communities. Strong guidelines for land use, increased investments in resilient infrastructure, and more resilient multi-family housing will help ensure that everyone in Dane County can weather storms regardless of income.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

Thankfully, Dane County has a County Board that is largely progressive and committed to climate change mitigation. I have been able to work well with my colleagues on the county board to preserve green space, support renewable energy, and double down on our commitment to eventually eliminate emissions in Dane County. But we need greater public participation and buy-in for radical climate initiatives to be successful and that will require us to bring more people to the table and actively listen to their needs. I am committed to continuing that work to involve everyone in our community to advance climate justice.

District 25

Carlos Umpierre — No response received.

Tim Kiefer

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

We on the county board play an important role in holding the county’s executive branch accountable to the county’s Climate Change Action Plan. If we as county board members don’t refer to and cite from and quote from the plan, it will ultimately become just another report gathering dust on the shelf.

One speciﬁc example comes from page 119 of the Climate Change Action Plan, which requires the county to “establish a schedule to convert county-owned farmland, currently leased for row cropping, to regenerative agriculture.” It has now been two years since the Climate Action Plan was published, and to date no such county-wide schedule exists. I have repeatedly asked the county’s Land and Water Resources Department to write this schedule, and some partial progress has been made. This is shown in the most recent county board resolution for crop leasing, 2021 RES 290, which outlined how most of the farmland lease agreements included in that resolution were transitional to regenerative agriculture uses, including prairie restoration.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

There is a big difference between preventing climate change and adapting to climate change. Preventing climate change means reducing and ultimately eliminating new greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Current atmospheric CO2 levels are about 418 ppm, and the “350 Madison” name refers to the goal of getting that level to under 350 ppm.

Adapting to climate change, on the other hand, means mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, without necessarily reducing greenhouse gas levels. In the short to medium term here in Dane County, the most dangerous effects of climate change are likely to be torrential rains and flooding. I support county purchases of key parcels of vacant land and wetlands, which can serve as stormwater buffers and catchment basins. Doing so will mitigate the effects of major rain events, such as the August 2018 storm that caused widespread flooding throughout Dane County. I also support taking a look at possible revisions to our county zoning code, in anticipation of more severe flooding in future decades.

Climate change will affect everyone on this planet, and low-income communities and minorities are likely to be hit hardest. At the same time, people who are struggling to pay the rent and put food on the table are likely to focus on more immediate problems than climate change. We need to approach climate change with this understanding in mind, and work together to ensure that no one is left behind.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

Here in Dane County there is broad agreement that climate change is a major problem. However, we in county government serve under the Wisconsin state government. Under Wisconsin state law, county government has only those powers granted by the state government.

Too often we in Dane County have looked at the state government as an opponent rather than as a partner. We need to face the reality that we are going to have to work with the state government, and that the statewide politics of Wisconsin are quite different from the politics of Dane County. The reality is that climate change will impact both Republicans and Democrats.

We all need to work together, instead of turning climate change into a partisan battle against one another.

District 26

Holly Hatcher — No response received.

District 27

Kierstin Huelsemann

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I am an advocate for non-motorized vehicle infrastructure, community walkability, and public transit. We need to collaborate with municipalities to advance regional transit, despite state legislative barriers to creating a regional transit authority (RTA) in Dane County. Our family beneﬁted from federal and county funding to put solar panels on our home. I would love to see such funding expanded and made accessible to more homes/families in our county. I also think we need to look at emissions and discharge policies, including regulating PFAS and other forever chemicals. We need to make sure we are protecting our soil and water and cleaning up toxic contamination. I also support investment in renewable energy, and energy efﬁciency to transition to clean renewable energy throughout the county. I will oppose the construction of new “dirty energy” infrastructure in our county as well.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

By advocating for all of the things I listed above. I also recognize that my perspective comes from direct experience and observation, and there will be more to learn as I serve on the board. I will continue to listen and engage those that study these issues, and learn more about the scientiﬁc data and practices that evolve from research done by those with the knowledge and understanding.

Historically environmental pollution (chemical, sound, etc) has disproportionately impacted minority and low income communities, including many that my family has lived in over the years. In order to equitably address climate change we must center these communities in our efforts to address climate change and clean up in these communities.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

I will continue to advocate for climate justice and engage in meaningful conversation, with the intention to build understanding, with those that may disagree with me and other advocates.

District 28

Bill Brosius — No response received.

Michele Doolan — No response received.

District 29

Dave Ripp — No response received.

District 30

Jerry O’Brien — No response received.

Patrick Downing — No response received.

District 31

Todd D. Kluever — No response received.

Jeryy Bollig — No response received.

District 32

Mike Bare

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

Everything the County Board does should have a climate analysis done before passage. The County’s existing Climate Action Plan should be rigorously pursued, and I support it fully. We have no choice. We must pursue its recommendations with vigor. The Plan should not sit on a shelf and be ignored or simply lauded as an accomplishment in and of itself. It should be living and breathing and updated and responsive to the changes we see. The Board must provide the County’s Ofﬁce of Energy and Climate Change the resources it needs to succeed in its mission.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

Yes, there is much we must already be aware of and respond to. I have been in touch with constituents who continually or newly experience adverse effects from flooding and other severe weather events, which are increasing in intensity and frequency because of climate change. We should review lake levels, flood plain viability.

It is a troubling fact that communities who are already struggling or oppressed bear a stronger burden of climate change. The Ofﬁce of Energy and Climate Change must be cognizant of this fact, and include the voices and representatives of those communities in its work. The Board must also ensure equity in outcomes in everything it does, and especially in measures related to climate change.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

We must have the information about current effects and forecasted effects of climate change, as well as resources available to reach out to constituents and colleagues. The Ofﬁce of Energy and Climate Change can help us with this. I’m also fully open to suggestions on prudent next steps in terms of policy and community outreach, and invite anyone interested in this topic to please be in touch with me.

District 33

Dana Pellebon — No response received.

District 34

Patrick Miles — No response received.

Herb Taylor — No response received.

District 35

Michael Engelberger

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I am very supportive of reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. Reducing carbon emissions is a necessity, not only locally but worldwide. We need to get a handle on this situation before it is too late. I will lead by example. I recently installed an 8.4kW solar array at my home in Stoughton. I will be promoting these types of initiatives to my constituents and in discussions in county meetings. It is very satisfying and gratifying to monitor my system to see the actual savings monetarily in addition to the positive effects it has on the environment. I will be supportive in taking the lead on solutions and initiatives to support the Dane County Climate Action Plan any way I can. I am a former member of Sustainable Stoughton.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

I will be leading the charge for solutions on many levels. We need to address flooding caused by climate change. We need to look at areas such as transportation to reduce the number of vehicles on our roads. We need to lead the charge on converting to electric vehicle usage. We need to promote a society that gets the general public to consciously address all types of measures that can be done individually to reduce pesticide usage, plant more trees, recycle and use more organic packaging and the like. We need to change the way people think about life and climate change for future generations.

This problem exists because we have not put the proper policies in place at the state and federal level to address the injustices. We have become a country politically taken over by corporations whose only aim is to proﬁt with total disregard for doing anything but creating more wealth for a select few. The people in this country need to reclaim their constitutional right to govern themselves. Until this is done and until we start electing politicians who will govern “for the people” our severe racial disparities will not have justice. Capitalism needs to be regulated by the people. It is done in other countries where the people rule, and they have much more civil societies than ours. People need to be much smarter and much less gullible if we are to survive as a democracy.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

This is an educational issue. I will lead by example and try to educate people on the issue. Most current board members fully understand the issue. It is more a matter of educating the masses, addressing injustices in our society and ﬁnding a way to stop the nonsense of misinformation, serial manipulation and cultish behavior the radical right wing of this county is preying on to a large percentage of our population nation-wide. If we can ﬁnd a solution to this, we can make the changes necessary to address all of the disparities we have in this country including climate change. By implementing and following through on the Dane County Climate Action plan we will see more than just a beneﬁt to the environment. We will also see economic, social and health beneﬁts making a better society for all. We need to make that known in our education process on the issue.

District 36

Andrew McKinney — No response received.

Melissa Ratcliff

If elected, how will you support Dane County’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the county’s carbon emissions?

I continue to support all initiatives that will prevent climate change and work to repair the damage that has already occurred. I sponsored a resolution for the 90+ acre solar farm in my home District in the Town of Cottage Grove that will provide enough power for all county facilities.

I also support the County leading by example and was a cosponsor of a budget amendment to provide additional funding for the Sustainability Committee so departments have resources to make our county facilities have sustainable measures like LED lighting, energy efﬁcient appliances, green vehicles, etc.

As a supervisor, how will you help Dane County adapt to the climate change impacts that we are already experiencing?

I support the measures taken that will help prevent flooding and reduce the amount of leaves and salt that go into our lakes.

Additionally, the effort to save our planet will take a collaborative effort from all of us. I am working with community groups, speciﬁcally the Friends of the Cottage Grove Library, to hold an Earth Day event with Dane County Waste & Renewables Department’s Trash Lab at Cottage Grove School on April 23rd from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will help educate the community on the impacts of climate change and how to practice a more sustainable lifestyle to keep our earth healthy for generations to come.

I was the sponsor of a $10,000 budget amendment to provide municipalities, tribes, community gardens and non-proﬁts the opportunity to apply for grants ranging from $500- $2,500 to help cover expenses in providing a compost site in their community/neighborhood. Eligible expenses include signage and construction/material costs associated with the creation of compost drop off areas at the applicant’s location. Additionally, Dane County Department of Waste and Renewables is willing to provide technical expertise to help set up drop off areas, create messaging to citizens, complete WDNR permitting and ﬁnd compost sites to take the material.

How will you work with other county supervisors and members of the public who do not prioritize climate and climate justice issues?

One of the most important aspects of climate and climate justice is education and awareness of the issues. I will continue to talk with my colleagues, residents, local elected ofﬁcials and community groups to help them understand the issues and prioritize helping the environment, doing our part to reduce our impact on the climate, and working on initiatives that keep our lakes, air, and water safe and healthy for all.

District 37

Kate McGinnity—No response received.

Steven Schulz—No response received.

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