Candidate Profile: Bonnie Lee For State Assembly District 14

WAUWATOSA, WI—The 2020 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.
Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Bonnie Lee, a Wauwatosa resident is running for State Assembly District 14.

Age: 50

Party affiliation: Republican Party

Family: Husband - Matt Lee. Sons - Alex (22), James (19).
Occupation: Director of Outreach Ministries at Northwest Baptist Church - 2017 - present
Co-Founder of Learn For Life Kenya - 2015 - present
Previous elected experience: None
Family members in government: No
Campaign website: https://bonnieleeforwi.com/

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Economic Growth & Revitalization -2020 has been a very hard year, in all respects. We have faced a healthcare crisis that led to economic devastation and set the stage for societal unrest. From day 1, I will start working to restore a sense of hope and confidence in our communities. My background in nonprofits and ministry has prepared me to do just that. I am committed to convening groups of people to work together to accomplish goals that are important to the people of our state. For the good of all our people, our state government needs to work together, each branch carrying out its assigned role. We need an approach that balances the needs of our economy with concerns for public health.

Our people are our greatest asset in this politically diverse district. People are hurting, businesses are struggling. We need to create a pro-growth climate that incentivizes workers by opening up access and opportunity to all job seekers. No amount of stimulus will ever compensate for a functioning economy.

Attracting and retaining residents and businesses is crucial to our district’s economy. Our district’s strong local governments and schools and the nearby medical complex have the potential to draw people to our area.

I will support small and medium-sized businesses in our local communities:
Protecting those businesses that are responsible with their reopening practices from lawsuits.
Keeping taxes low to create a climate that attracts businesses and workers to our area.
Working to expand employment opportunities for job seekers of all abilities, including people with disabilities and the formerly incarcerated.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a conservative, I am for limiting, not expanding, the role of government. That means I look to people and communities to come up with better solutions than the government. When there is a problem, I believe people have the best ideas and the most motivation to make improvements. For example, my opponent's voting record shows that, like many Democrats, she favors property tax increases as a way to fund a variety of issues that arise in our communities. Wisconsin already has the fifth-highest property taxes in the nation. Instead, I would like to look at reducing regulations on businesses so that they can function more efficiently and effectively, allowing the economic engine to generate more revenue. This benefits the communities where these businesses are located, and beyond.

My opponent also has been silent on the issue of public safety during this very turbulent time in Wauwatosa. We should all defend people’s constitutional rights to protest but when those protests turn violent and destructive, that is not right and we need to speak against that trend towards anarchy and mob rule. Otherwise, we will see the destruction of our cities as residents and businesses move out of the area.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My work is focused on development - both locally and internationally - and it has given me insights and experiences that I genuinely believe make me the best person to represent this district:

As the Director of Outreach in my urban/suburban church, I bring diverse groups of people and organizations together to address community issues on a larger scale. I have focused on building teams to address literacy, job preparedness, financial education, maternal and infant health, affordable quality housing, and ministry to inmates.

As Co-Founder of a nonprofit working in Africa, I know how to leverage every penny to improve people’s lives while remaining accountable. I understand the pressure on small businesses and nonprofits to manage limited resources - efficiently and effectively. The organization I co-founded is focused on economic development in Kenya through skilled trades and entrepreneurial training. I have helped catalyze partnerships on the ground, from county-level government to senior Embassy staff, as well as local experts and national curriculum writers to guide our efforts in providing relevant skills in their local context. Much of this experience is translatable to equipping our young people in Wisconsin with 21st Century skills.

My local and international community work has brought me face to face with people on the margins of society. I’m very aware of the need for better access to quality healthcare in our urban and rural areas. Additionally, through my husband’s work with a healthcare company, serving both as a physician and in a high level statewide administrative leadership capacity, I have witnessed the challenges facing healthcare providers as they seek to provide care all over the state as well as funding issues faced by hospitals.

As one who has spent countless hours serving in area schools (Wauwatosa district schools, as well as MPS and Milwaukee charter schools), I’ve spent a lot of time observing the education system and listening to students, parents, and educators.

I will bring that knowledge & experience to Madison to improve our education system for all children.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

Please see my responses in Question 1, above.
Additionally, two agencies had great responsibility and require resourcing - something that could make a big difference if we face another similar crisis:
We should appropriately fund the Wisconsin Department of Health Services: PPE, testing, contact tracers, and public health workers deployed to train vulnerable populations (seniors, nursing homes, prisons). We must make sure the Department of Workforce Development is equipped to deliver UI benefits promptly.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

I am extremely concerned about the strife we are seeing that keeps erupting into violent protests and destruction around the country. I fully support efforts that build strong, vital communities. I currently am working to bring law enforcement and leaders in our minority communities together for moderator-led discussions.

I support efforts that increase community engagement by law enforcement. Efforts that build interactions between the local community and police force can be extremely impactful. For instance, the Community Oriented Policing (COP) Houses, modeled after a Racine area program, builds trusting relationships between police and residents in higher crime areas. Another promising program, Wausau’s Crisis Assessment Response Team, provides additional training to law enforcement to equip them to address mental health needs in the community, as well as working with homeless individuals.

Community leaders, police, legislators, and concerned citizens need to explore substantive ways to help all residents and business owners feel safe in our district. I am very open to hearing voters’ thoughts on this and other issues during the campaign.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:

Education - We need a strong education system where all children have access to an excellent education. We must find a way to close the academic achievement gap. I will support all kinds of schools in our district so that every student has the greatest opportunity to achieve their potential academically, as well as thrive emotionally and socially.
I will support options for families to send their children to the school that best suits their child’s needs.

I will work with schools as they assess how best to care for students with special needs, in particular disabilities and mental health issues.
I will work with schools to engage with private sector industry to create programs that equip students with 21st Century skills, investing in: apprenticeships programs, tech ed grants, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.

Healthcare - As I am talking to voters in the district and listening to their concerns daily, the three important areas people are looking to improve are access to healthcare, affordability of healthcare, quality of healthcare.

Our healthcare workers rank among the best in the world, but access to healthcare is still a real issue in our urban and rural areas. I will advocate for rational policies to advance quality healthcare delivery throughout our state.

I commit to supporting policies that make WI an attractive place for healthcare workers to live and work in urban and rural areas.

I will make sure that BadgerCare remains funded and available for all who need it.
And as Republicans have already done:
I will support funding for hospitals across the state, and
Work to lower healthcare premiums for Wisconsinites.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Building strong communities is my passion. Through my work locally and internationally, I have witnessed how essential healthy communities are to meaningful lives for many of us. A lot of elements need to be working together: safe neighborhoods, opportunities for gainful living, inputs into the labor market, economic vitality, strong education systems, and access to quality, affordable healthcare. When these gears work in sync, the result is a functioning economy. When one breaks down, there’s a domino effect.

For this reason, I emphasize public safety as the framework for important discussions about economic growth and revitalization, education, and healthcare. We all want to be able to count on safe neighborhoods to live in and places for our children to play. The perception of unsafe communities hurts neighborhoods and businesses, which negatively impacts everything else funded by property taxes.

I am committed to finding ways to foster stronger relationships between our residents and those entrusted with our safety. I will work to strengthen those relationships by encouraging opportunities for communication, education, and community interaction. My endorsements by the Milwaukee Police Association, the Wauwatosa Peace Officer Association, and Waukesha County Sheriff Severson provide me with valuable access to work with people in those agencies.