As the trees start budding, and the birds start migrating back to Wisconsin, we begin to sense that signature smell that announces the arrival of spring. With the changing of the seasons (even as some seasons have become shorter and warmer), there are also changes happening within local governments across the nation. Local elections are happening on April 4th this year, and you do not want to miss them.
Local government elections can include the elections of city council officials, school board members, mayors, local judges, and more, depending on the exact location. Local elected officials are crucial for decision-making in communities across the state, and you, as a citizen, have a responsibility to vote for the ones who are making a difference towards protecting our environment. City councils and mayors have the power to promote clean energy, stand up to polluting corporations, and regulate practices that are known to degrade our natural resources. School board members are tasked with increasing the value of a public education while making sure everyone has equal access to that education, and the local judiciaries uphold and control the enforcement of important legislation that our state government has passed. We need local government to work together to achieve common goals, and in the current state of affairs on a national level, it is even more important that local communities come together to show that they care about clean water, climate change, and protecting wildlife.
While the federal government may be demonstrating a disheartening disregard for the environment, and at times, even basic science, it isn’t time to quit.
There have been many examples of local officials using their power for good across the state, including the Milwaukee Common Council recently voting (February of this year) to ban toxic, carcinogenic coal-tar sealants on pavement across the city. Ald. Jim Bohl spearheaded the effort, and he, in an article for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, called coal-tar sealants an “immediate health and environmental threat,” for which a “citywide ban is the best first stem we can take.”
In other areas of Wisconsin, there are other projects being taken on by local elected officials in the name of fighting for the environment. In Madison, there is an upcoming Common Council vote (March 21) to set 100% renewable energy goals for the city. In Bayfield, the county is fighting for the authority to protect their water from polluting factory farms.
These environmental warriors are all around us in our local governments, but for them to keep doing the good work that we need them to, they need our votes and our involvement. We can ask those running tough questions about the issues that our communities are facing, and we can ultimately choose the people who we believe will represent our concerns and act on them.
In Wisconsin’s spring elections for this year, there are four offices up for election: the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Supreme Court, Court of Appeals Judge (Districts: 1, 2, and 4), and Circuit Court Judge. Judges make up a large portion of the offices up for election, and because of their power to settle cases, judges are responsible for upholding our laws that protect our environment and regulate those who would profit from damaging it. They need to be individuals who respect environmental law and are committed to enforcing it.
The ballots for local and state contests are available here beginning on March 14th. You simply enter your address, and your ballot will be populated with the candidates and choices that you will face come April 4th. If you don’t know anything about the candidates you see on your ballot, don’t worry! You can always research them! A quick overview of candidates is provided through databases of political candidates like this one, but for more in depth research, you might want to try a Google search to see if their name has been in the news recently. If you have doubts about their stance on a certain issue that is affecting your community, reach out to their campaign team to get an answer and to figure out for yourself whether they are on your side or at least listen and converse with their constituents.
Polling places are determined by your address, and you can find your polling place here. This link also generates directions to your polling place and provides the hours that it is open on voting day, April 4th.
Local elections are historically known for low voter turnout, but we cannot let this year be more of the same. Local officials have important decisions to make that affect our quality of life and our local clean air and water. We know that some candidates have a commitment to the environment and some do not. This is the year that we mobilize our communities to select officials that will create positive change!
Steps you can take to engage in the April 4 elections:
Research the candidates up for election on your ballot on April 4th.
Talk to your friends and neighbors about the issues that face your environment in your community and the stance that local candidates hold on those issues.
Get in touch with candidates and ask them what they will specifically do to protect clean air and water in your community.
Vote on April 4th for the candidate who is the most prepared and the most committed to fighting for the issues concerning natural resource preservation near you.
By Sal Divita, Chapter Political Intern