Two Former State Legislators Elected to the Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board

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Press Release

March 11, 2013

CONTACT:

Jay Heck – 608/256-2686

TWO FORMER STATE LEGISLATORS ELECTED TO
COMMON CAUSE IN WISCONSIN STATE GOVERNING BOARD

Two recently retired Wisconsin State Representatives were elected to serve on the Common Cause in Wisconsin (CC/WI) State Governing during the most recent meeting of the board in late February. Donna Seidel of Wausau, represented the 85th Assembly District from 2005 to 2013. Kelda Helen Roys of Madison, represented the 81st Assembly District from 2009 to 2013.

Donna Seidel, a Democrat, was a candidate for the Wisconsin State Senate in the 29th State Senate District in the recall election of June, 2012. She is a Neenah native.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point in 1972, Seidel began her career as a police officer with the Wausau Police Department. She later joined the Marathon County District Attorney's Office responsible for sexual assault and abuse investigations as well as victim/witness advocacy. She then served 16 years as Marathon County Clerk of Courts before being elected to the State Assembly in 2004 where she served until January of this year. Seidel has been involved in numerous community organizations, serving on the boards of United Way, The Womens' Community, Festival of the Arts and as a member of the Northcentral Technical College Board of Trustees.

"My entire career has been devoted to working with and for communities throughout this great State. I'm excited to now be part of the Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board and have the opportunity to continue these efforts," Seidel said.

"Reforming political campaigns and elections in Wisconsin is fundamental to restoring citizen confidence in state government and democracy. Wisconsin was once the envy of the nation in the way that we conducted our elections and the public-policy process that followed. No longer. I want to help CC/WI work to restore a bipartisan consensus about the necessity of having honest, accountable government in our state," Seidel added.

Roys, a Marshfield native, is a longtime advocate and community leader. An attorney with Wheeler, Van Sickle & Anderson, S.C. in Madison, she recently finished serving two terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where she served as Democratic Caucus Chair and Ranking Member on the Committee on Elections and Campaign Finance. Prior to her becoming the youngest legislator in Wisconsin, Kelda was executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin. In her recent campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, she refused to accept corporate PAC funding and spoke out boldly for comprehensive campaign finance reform.

Roys said: "I'm honored to join the bipartisan Common Cause in Wisconsin State Governing Board. Leaders on both sides of the political spectrum recognize that, to function effectively, our democracy must limit the corrosive influence of money in politics, expand transparency and accountability in government, and ensure fair elections and broad participation."

"I know firsthand how our current system of privately financed elections discourages good people from running for office, and makes it challenging for elected officials on either side of the aisle to achieve their public policy goals. Common Cause in Wisconsin is a much-needed bipartisan voice in the Capitol for common sense reform and good government," she concluded.

A former Republican Cabinet Member and a former Republican State Senator are slated for election to the bipartisan CC/WI board this Spring and Summer.

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Jay Heck, Executive Director
Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703

608/256-2686