Joan Fitzgerald
State representative
Democrat
Fort Atkinson
Elected Experience
Wisconsin State Assembly (2024-present); Jefferson County Board (2019-2024)
Q&A with the Candidate
Why should voters elect you?
When I first ran for office, I promised to bring responsive, common-sense representation to Madison, and I’ve worked hard over the last two years to do just that as your voice in Madison. Visiting schools and local businesses, meeting with local elected officials, engaging in the communities and meeting voters at the door have given me so many opportunities to hear directly from you and understand your concerns. There are important issues we need to address — public school funding, support for local EMS/Fire, healthcare affordability, and so many more. I’m ready to get back to work creating solutions and making Wisconsin work for everyone.
What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?
There are two big issues in my district that I think are important. First, I hear from folks in my district repeatedly that healthcare has become too expensive. Last session I introduced legislation that would bring down the cost of prescription drugs by putting caps cost, regulating pharmacy benefit managers and establishing a prescription drug import program, and legislation that would create a Badger Care Public Option. Second, municipalities are struggling to provide basic EMS/Fire protection and struggling to fund road maintenance or replacement. On the state level, we need to provide more funding through the LRIP and ARIP programs and make it easier for small municipalities to access that support. We need to find more sustainable ways of funding these important services.
How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?
Wisconsinites expect that their elected officials will work hard to solve problems, they want us to work in a bipartisan fashion and pass legislation that makes this state a great place to live, work and play. Unfortunately, that is not how government has been working in Wisconsin. Under Republican leadership, the Senate and Assembly have become less effective because of extreme partisanship. Moving forward, we need to recognize that good ideas come from both sides of the aisle, that the public deserves the chance to make their voices heard through public hearings, and that good, robust debate of topics is healthy for our democracy. We can do so much better for the people of this state.
What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?
Greendale was built as one of three government sponsored “greenbelt” communities during the Great Depression. My parents built a home there in the 1950s. The downtown area had everything a community needed — village hall, library, hardware store, department store, schools and post office, all surrounded by homes affectionally known as the “Greendale Originals.” If you meet a fellow Greendale person, you know the question to ask is, "What section did you grow up in?” The streets are organized in somewhat alphabetical order — the original streets are the A, B and C sections. The D and E sections that followed is where my parents built their home. I love living in Jefferson County now, but I enjoy telling the story of my original hometown.