Pasch Weighs Political Options After Redistricting
In only her second term, the Whitefish Bay Democrat has already been elected to the position of assistant Assembly Democratic leader.
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In only her second term in the state Assembly, Democrat Sandy Pasch has been elected by her colleagues to the post of assistant Assembly Democratic leader.
Now, under the Republicans' redistricting plan, her political career may transform again, as she decides whether to stay in her newly Republican-heavy district or run in another district.
In a 10-minute video interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Pasch said she is "keeping her options open" until the legal challenges of the redistricting plan are resolved. The redistricting plan would eliminate Shorewood from her 22nd Assembly District.
Some have speculated that Pasch would run in the new 10th District, which includes Shorewood and Milwaukee. That seat is currently held by Milwaukee Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Coggs. Kristopher Rowe, the organizer of the effort to recall Alberta Darling, has also announced his intentions to run for that post.
"I know there are going to be other districts open in Milwaukee, so we're still working things out and seeing what's open and what's available," Pasch said in the video interview. "We all believe Milwaukee needs strong representation, Milwaukee needs diversity and Milwaukee needs voices — strong voices — in Madison."
Pasch said she is a co-author of a bill that would task a nonpartisan group with the redistricting process, which is currently run by political parties and breeding divisiveness, she said.
As assistant minority leader in the Assembly, Pasch's job is guide the mission and message of Assembly Democrats. She said the Republicans have not listened to Democrats on the mining bill or on a venture capital bill. When asked what Democrats should do if returned to power, Pasch told the Journal Sentinel that her party should repair that partisan breach.
"I think what needs to happen when Democrats regain control of the state is that we start working together, we start repairing the divisiveness that we currently have, that we start honoring workers and middle class families, that we have a blance of power between the different houses and the governor's," she said.
Bob McBride
7:12 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Assuming the redistricting holds, it should be interesting to see how receptive the 10th district is going to be to having Elizabeth Coggs challenged by either Rowe or Pasch.
N. Peske
10:25 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
I truly hope Sandy Pasch will be my representative in the future, in some way. She's an amazing person.
Ima Hippee
10:31 pm on Friday, March 2, 2012
Irrelevant = Sandy Pasch; not relevant : inapplicable <Sandy Pasch>
Shorelander
8:46 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
"I think what needs to happen when Democrats regain control of the state is that we start working together" -- Well sure, that's a swell idea. That "needs to happen."
Will it? When pigs fly.
One needs to take a look at the state government just 17 months ago, when the Democrats had Gov. Doyle, the Senate, and the Assembly. Did the Democrats "work together" with the Republicans then? Certainly not. Pasch said the same type of stuff when she was first running. She turned out to be a "team player," more interested in holding the party line than "working" together, as the 22nd would want.
Not that things will be any different when Rep. Ott takes over her district.
In conclusion .. go 3rd parties!
N. Peske
9:37 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Clearly, Shorelander, you know nothing of her record.
Bewildered
9:55 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Great record if you like raising taxes. She's the queen of "tax and spend" liberals. Just go away Sandy.
Bren
10:24 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Bewildered, I must ask the question, if liberals "tax and spend," why do modern Republican presidents (Reagan, Bush I, Bush II) run up deficits and "liberal"//Democratic presidents pay them down? I'm interested in your response, as Republicans are calling for Pres. Obama to cut spending, cut the deficit, but said nothing to Pres. Bush as he created a record deficit.
Ima Hippee
1:46 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Bren,
Where is Obama's deficit today? Just a little more than Bush? A little bit more? Tiny bit?
Shorelander
7:05 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
N. Peske: Could you post any vote where Pasch went against her party? Serious question.
Keith Schmitz
10:09 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Most of the so-called Obama deficit is made up of carry over from the Bush administration -- the two wars, the tax cuts, Medicare Part D and the economic mess from the Wall Street collapse.
What ever was run up by the Obama administration was to save this economy from total collapse.
dills
9:25 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
The article says Pasch believes Milwaukee needs diversity, but is open to running against Elizabeth Coggs. Why would she take on a leader in Milwaukee's African American community if she believes in diversity?
Bren
10:31 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
I believe it was indicated that options were being reviewed? I interpreted that to mean that the representatives would review the new districts to see where they would have the best opportunity for reelection.
The redistricting this time around was conducted under a cloud of secrecy and shame, moving 18 times as many voters around as needed. I believe this attempt at gerrymandering should be nullified and a bipartisan committee appointed to the task. There's an old saying, "the fish rots from the head." And the head of this state is Scott Walker.
Bewildered
9:51 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Aber Alert for poor Sandy. I thought we got rid of her last summer (by the way, gracious concession speech to Alberta...not). What a joke she is! No way would she ever beat Coggs. Time to fade away, Sandy.
Hambone
10:42 am on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Sandy should not even have to worry about changing districts. How blatent do the repubs need to be pushing their own agendas before all the people duped by them see reality. Districts are meant to be changed to reflect POPULATION shifts, not POLITICAL PARTY shifts. In their magnanimousness, they say " oh we would change the districts, but we're not allowed to anymore." Yet, when a judge tells them yes they can re-draw the districts, they refuse. It is all about their agendas and not about true representation. Figure it out people!!!
Ima Hippee
1:41 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Hambone,
Wait. What? I think you are talking about MKE County changing districts for their own good. Yeah. Let's redistrict er, er eliminate Joe Rice out of the picture. It is all about some agenda at MKE County and not about true representation. Not much to figure out there.
David Tatarowicz
2:46 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Representative Pasch did have a reputation for working across party lines before the Republicans shut the door.
She also had the guts to take on Alberta, fighting the good fight.
She is exactly the kind of person we need in politics and I think she has a bright future ahead of her, if she continues to serve.
Keith Schmitz
10:11 pm on Saturday, March 3, 2012
Plus she brings considerable experience in the field of health care.
Keith Best
12:20 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
Yeah, Pasch is so tolerant and wants to "repair the partisan breach." You see her idea of bi-partisanship is that both parties agree to do what Democrats want. And she still hasn't offered a concession to Alberta Darling.
As a leader for the Assembly Democrats, is she scoping out the best routes to run away to Illinois for them?
mau
3:30 pm on Friday, March 9, 2012
The roaches are coming out of the woodwork.