Rachael Dowling

Why should voters elect you?

For too long, we have watched the cost of everyday life rise while too many government decisions happen without enough public input, accountability, or common sense. I believe government should listen first, act responsibly, and reflect who it serves. That means standing up for working families, seniors, homeowners, small businesses, and everyone trying to build a stable life in our community. I’m not running to protect a political party. I’m running to protect the people who live here.

What is the top issue in your district? How would you address it?

The top issue in my community is the threat of data centers. As data centers and other large-scale developments expand, we must ask serious questions before moving forward:

• ​How much water will they use?

• How much electricity will they consume?

• Who pays when demand increases?

• What safeguards are in place to protect residents from higher utility bills?

​Growth should not come at the expense of local families, small businesses, or our natural resources.​

How should Wisconsin government operate differently than in the past?

Wisconsin government should operate with more transparency by making single-issue bills the standard. The failed $1.8 billion tax relief and school funding proposal is a good example. It combined school aid, special education funding, rebate checks, property tax cuts, and tax changes for tips and overtime into one package. Those issues deserved separate votes. When too much is bundled together, legislators are forced into all-or-nothing decisions, and voters lose clarity and the deserved relief to our communities. Single-issue bills create clear votes, stronger accountability, and better government.

What is your favorite fun Wisconsin history fact?

Wisconsin packs more dairy cows into each square mile than any other state.