Candidate Profile: Patricia Stone For Tosa Alderman District 3

WAUWATOSA, WI — The 2022 election is heating up in Wisconsin and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Voters will also decide the outcome of state representative, senate seats and local government and school boards.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Name

Patricia A. Stone

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position sought (including ward or district number if applicable)

Alderperson - District 3

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Jason, husband (42); Harrison, son (11); Josiah, son (8)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.A. - University of Minnesota (History, Political Science); M.A. - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Urban History); J.D. - Marquette University (Law)

Occupation

Attorney (12 years)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

https://www.facebook.com/profi...

Why are you seeking elective office?

Having grown up in a neighboring suburb, I, along with my family, moved to Wauwatosa to join a diverse and thriving community. I have watched, however, as the same people, year after year, run for alderperson and serve on Common Council. I believe the best government is run by the people of the community through an ever-changing composition of leadership. The role of existing leadership (in addition to governance) should be to identify future leaders and promote such evolution. The incumbent in District 3 is looking to serve for two consecutive decades on the Common Council. New and changing representation helps to ensure all voices are heard.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Ensuring that parcels of land are zoned appropriately and that the zoning of that land includes all relevant components to ensure development aligns with neighborhood expectations. I would propose a review of all zoning classifications to make certain that the classifications are consistent with the character of the community, and review the specific restrictions within those classifications to confirm that no legal aberrations are possible.

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

I believe I have the education and career background to provide valuable insight in the governance process, as well as a strong motivation to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure all community voices are heard. Having studied post-WWII housing patterns during my graduate program, I understand the enormous impact governments can have in creating inclusive or explicitly exclusive communities. I know Wauwatosa to be a community that values diversity and inclusion. However, even the best intentions may have unintended effects that are disproportionately impactful to certain at-risk communities. It is important that we identify policies that are impactful and balanced. As an attorney, I work to balance equity and fairness everyday, and endeavor to help people who have been harmed through the acts of others.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Tim Hanson has been in office since 2006. If he is re-elected, he will have served for two decades in office. That is, quite simply, too long for any officeholder. This does not speak to Mr. Hanson's competency or his clear love for this community. Rather, I believe the best government is one where representatives serve for a short time, seek out others who are similarly qualified to lead, and step aside when their time has concluded to permit new voices to be heard.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I believe the city of Wauwatosa needs to continue to look to ways to minimize its footprint on the environment, starting with mandates for new retail/commercial development (pervious surfaces to minimize storm water run-off, use of green materials, etc.). I also believe the city needs to continue to assess ways in which the community can be more ethnically, racially, and socioeconomically diverse. In addition, I believe significantly more needs to be done to ensure the Wauwatosa Police Department treats all residents and visitors fairly and, perhaps most importantly, proportionately to any presumed danger that arises. The city also needs to identify ways in which the Police Department can effectively reduce crime, rather than being seen as solely a reactionary force.

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

After my graduate degree program, I worked as an advocate for affordable housing. In that role, I often worked with state code developers to ensure that outside interests (specifically, manufacturers of certain products), did not succeed in mandating their products be used in residential settings. These products, while providing few tangible benefits to consumers, often drastically increased the cost of new construction and remodeling. This required me to fight for what I knew to be right, and quickly identify the motivations behind all of the interested parties. The importance of identifying varying motivations is key, in my opinion, to learning whether a given policy proposal is as beneficial as is being claimed, or whether something else is at play.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never Settle for Confusion. If you do not have absolute clarity on a given issue, get it. Ask questions, do research, figure out what is happening and why at every turn. As an alderperson, it is my responsibility to every single constituent that I do whatever is necessary to fully understand all issues presented to me. Only with that level of clarity can one competently and comprehensively vote in a manner that is best supportive of District 3.

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

My husband and I located our family of two boys in Wauwatosa because of its diversity, its proximity, and the strength of its neighborhoods. As an attorney, I fight for clients that face an uphill battle against entities that have infinitely more resources. As an alderperson, I believe it is critically important that the residents of the community are heard on their concerns, and actions are taken on their behalf. I will do everything I can to ensure all voices are heard on every issue that matters to the residents of District 3.