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My opponent has posted a page to his website that mischaracterizes my record in a way that blatantly deceives the people of District 34. I have been and will always be a champion for the most vulnerable in our community and for hunger relief.
From the beginning, my goal was to run a positive campaign focused on the issues and my record as a member and Chair of the County Board. As a dedicated public servant, I am disappointed that Mr. Wreh chose to run a negative campaign instead of one based on the free exchange of ideas and facts.
It is, however, despite my disappointment, necessary to take the time to convey the actual facts related to my record as a long-time and continued supporter of Dane County food banks:
Mr. Wreh is referring to 2024 budget deliberations. Here is a detailed explanation.
The County Executive provides the County Board with a budget proposal by October 1st of each year. The County Board then deliberates on and amends the proposed budget. Through 2023, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) federal pandemic response dollars had been completely allocated; there were no more funds to allocate in 2024.
By the end of 2023, several projects/efforts had not moved forward or didn’t need the full allocation we had provided, leaving $7.6M of ARP federal pandemic relief dollars to be reallocated to other things or be returned to the federal government if not committed by the end of 2024. The table below shows how the Executive proposed reallocating those funds and what was adopted by the County Board through amendments as part of the 2024 budget.
To be clear, Second Harvest received significantly more funds in either scenario. The Board balanced several fundamental needs.
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The County Board made adjustments to fund Homeless Outreach and Services, the Bayview Foundation, and the USDA Food Systems Plan to connect local producers to those with food insecurity in our community. These amendments passed by an 8-0 vote in the Personnel and Finance Committee and by a 24-11 vote by the full County Board. I stand behind these programs the County Board voted to support.
Seeing some of the violence that has occurred in other neighborhoods underscores why we need organizations like the Bayview Community Center, which “supports its culturally diverse, low-income families in realizing their aspirations by providing affordable housing, fostering cultural pride, and building community through the arts, education, and recreation.”
It is also disappointing that Wreh’s campaign conveniently neglects to mention that on November 16th, just days after the budget was passed, I sponsored a resolution to provide an additional $1,767,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank using interest earned on ARP funds. That contract also would: “prioritize people experiencing homelessness, emergency shelter locations, and homeless services.” The combined nearly $4.5 million ARP and $1.7 million in interest earnings provided Second Harvest $231,000 more than the Executive’s original proposal.
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For reference here is a detailed accounting of the over $38 million, and I voted in favor of for Second Harvest Food Bank:
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CARES: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act