February Newsletter
Hope
We are not giving up folks! In fact, we are gearing up for years of activity and growth. We need to win Supreme Court and School Superintendent elections on April 1 as well as elect local candidates. The forces against us want you to be afraid and mired by the chaos and uncertainty. We need to stand up and fight for justice. We have a plan of action and the first item is to elect Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and elect a progressive for the non-partisan State School Superintendent.
“Hope is being able to see the light despite all of
the darkness”
Urgent Priority: Primary Election
School Superintendent
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
In Kewaunee County the only election on the Spring Primary is for State School Superintendent. This is a non-partisan election, though it is clear there are political underpinnings by the candidates. Three candidates are on the ballot: Incumbent Jill Underly, Jeff Wright and Brittany Kinser. We believe both Underly and Wright hold progressive values. The Democratic Party of WI has endorsed incumbent Jill Underly. Check out the candidate websites:
Nonpartisan Voter Guide
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has created a spring primary voting guide which includes school superintendent candidate interviews. All responses come directly from the candidates and are unedited by the League. All candidates were invited to participate and were given the same character limit on their responses. The League never supports or opposes any candidates or parties. (Note: Brittany Kinser did not respond to interview requests.)
Member Meeting
Speaking of Democracy
Mark your calendar for the next membership meeting:
When:
Tuesday, February 18th
6:00PM to 8:00PM
Same day as the Spring Primary!
Where:
Vintage Brick Venue (formerly The Blue Door)
208 Ellis St, Kewaunee, WI 54216
Source: Rethinking Schools
School Vouchers
The Slow, Stealthy & Strategic Threat
From the Rethinking Schools website: “From the decimation of welfare programs, to attacks on public sector unions, extreme gerrymandering and the mass incarceration of people of color, Wisconsin has been a petri dish for right-wing causes for more than three decades. This is perhaps most clear in the state legislature’s growing use of tax dollars to pay tuition at private, religious schools while straightjacketing funds for public schools.
Public funding of private school tuition in Wisconsin---known as voucher programs and sometimes disingenuously referred to as school choice---was originally sold to the state legislature in 1990 as a small program to help a few non-religious community-based schools serving low-income kids in Milwaukee. Step by step, the right wing has marched toward their strategic goal of taxpayer-funded vouchers for all students at all private schools.
Today there are almost 400 private, mostly religious schools throughtout Wisconsin, annually receiving roughly half a billion dollars in taxpayer money.
We live in a world where, in so many ways, the once unthinkable is becoming reality. The message from Wisconsin to other states considering so-called voucher or private school choice programs: Beware. Well-funded right-wing forces have their eyes on dismantling our public schools.”
Click here to read the full article.
Stop in the Steele Street office to look up, for any Wisconsin school district, the dollars diverted for the voucher program. You might be shocked.
Contact Your Legislator
You may be feeling overwhelmed by the political news coming at us. You may have issues that you are passionate about and want to have your voice heard. Call your legislators and demand action. Have the following numbers handy, add them to your phone contact list:
Sen. Tammy Baldwin Green Bay Office – 920.498.2668
Sen. Ron Johnson Oshkosh Office – 920.230.7250
Congress Tony Wied De Pere Office – 920.301.4500
Rep. Joel Kitchens – 608.237.9101
Sen. Andrew Jacque – 608.266.3512
Our Office
305 Steele Street, Algoma Suite 102, first floor.
OPEN: Monday 3-6PM Friday and Saturday 9AM to 1PM
Best door to enter is the middle door on the Third Street side. The front door on Steele Street is not always open, like on Saturdays.
Why stop in?
Recent referenda to alter the state constitution have been on the ballots. When’s the last time you read the constitution? Stop in and pick up a copy.
Want to understand the Electoral College and the numbers from the November election? Member John
Rybski has written “Elected But Not A Mandate”. Pick up a copy.
Want to know more about the School Superintendent candidates? Pick up a copy of the League of Women Voters Non-Partisan Voter Guide.
Have a cup of coffee and a snack and a chat with the staffer! Walk around the room and see the postings.
Check if you are a member or are due to renew your membership. Pick up a renewal form.
We need help to staff the office, orientation provided. Please contact kcdpwi@gmail.com and offer to volunteer.
Comfort Food
We have some wonderful cooks in our membership! How about sharing some of these recipes! Some of these treats might even be available in the office! Here is her mother’s recipe for Blonde Brownies from member and Volunteer Coordinator Ann Lindholm.
Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1 ½ tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt—sift together. ¼ cup melted shortening, 2 eggs, tsp vanilla—mix together. Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir in 1 cup chopped nuts and ½ cup chocolate chips. Bake in greased 9x9 pan, at 350 for 25-30 minutes.