Isaia Ben-Ami
Policy director
Democrat
Madison
Elected Experience
None
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
Experience. I have worked in the Legislature for the last six years, most recently as a policy director for the assistant minority leader. I have the most state-level legislative experience of anyone in this race. For the first time in a long time, Wisconsin has a chance at a Democratic trifecta. That means we have an opportunity to invest in a Green New Deal, fix our school funding formula, and restore workers' rights. We need someone committed to building coalitions and power so that we can make progressive policy a reality. I have worked in Democratic leadership, and worked to elect Democratic lawmakers around the state. I know what it takes to be effective, and efficacy is what we need in this moment.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
Housing costs. Rents are skyrocketing, and property taxes are pushing many residents out of their homes. We need to fix our school funding formula so that we rely less on property taxes and more on high-income earners and rolling back corporate tax breaks. We also need to protect our tenants from onerous rent increases and build more housing that is actually affordable for the workers within a community. This can be done through a tenant bill of rights that protects tenants and allows consideration of affordability in our building approvals. Lastly, we need to build more housing. Not just high-rise, high-price apartments, but condos, duplexes, and cooperatives. We need to grow our housing stock so that more people can own a home in the community.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
We must be dedicated to ensuring the freedom of working people. Everyone deserves the freedom to access healthcare, housing, and education. Everyone must have the freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water. Freedom takes positive policy change to ensure. Freedom is not guaranteed by shrinking government; it is created when we generate the conditions for everyone to live a dignified life. That means instead of cutting government as we have, we need to grow it. Grow our government into an entity that represents the interests of people, not profits. One that will stand against corporations seeking to exploit our people and our planet. One that fights to make life better for our neighbors. One that provides a better future for our kids.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Because of the Toledo War, the Upper Peninsula (UP) became part of Michigan instead of becoming a part of the Wisconsin Territory. Ohio is the reason the UP is not a part of Wisconsin.