LETTER: Fair voting maps in jeopardy if Schimel is elected to court

To Ozaukee Press

Until now, I have never known real fear that the U.S. is in serious jeopardy of losing our democratic republic. Democracy has never been free or easy. It requires diligence and patience to overcome persistent threats to its existence by voting.

Fair-minded Wisconsinites of both parties worked for 10 years to overturn the Republican gerrymandered district voting maps. Finally, in December 2023, the Republican-dominated Legislature was forced to accept fair maps because of a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling. Brad Schimel opposed this ruling that gave district voters a more equalized voice in future elections.

Drawing voting district lines to favor any political ideology is profoundly undemocratic, no matter which party does it. Seventy-five percent of Wisconsinites want fair maps, which are now under threat depending on the outcome of the spring election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. Candidate Brad Schimel’s run for the court puts fair maps and democracy in jeopardy. Interests opposed to fair maps are heavily funding him.

The other candidate, Judge Susan Crawford, is fair-minded. I trust her to know the value of fair maps that allows for a mixture of Democrat and Republican legislators, which encourages working across the aisle to find reasonable solutions on cases coming before the court.  

Please ensure your support for democracy by voting to elect Susan Crawford to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Marcia Kaminski

Grafton