Candidates in Milwaukee’s 11th AD share views on DEI and marijuana legalization, but differ in approach.
Amillia Heredia, 25, of Milwaukee is an intern with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors working on getting her second masters degree from UW-Milwaukee. Sequanna Taylor, D-Milwaukee, 40, has served one term on the Milwaukee School Board.
Taylor and Heredia both spoke to WisPolitics.com about their campaign platforms for the Aug. 13 primary.
The winner of the primary will determine who holds the 11th AD seat. The seat is currently held by Dora Drake, D-Milwaukee, but she is running for the vacant 4th Senate District. The 11th AD is contained in north-central Milwaukee County and is 89% Democratic.
Neither Heredia nor Taylor support GOP efforts to reduce or eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion positions in the University of Wisconsin system. Heredia, a first generation college grad, said she has used pretty much every DEI resource available to her during her time at UW-Milwaukee.
“Without those different DEI resources, I don’t know that I would have graduated,” Heredia said.“I don’t know that I would have stayed. I don’t know that I would have been as successful as I am today. I owe half of my academic success to all of the beautiful people who are working in DEI positions here at UW-Milwaukee. And it is disappointing, scary, disenfranchising and oppressive that we have folks trying to work against DEI positions here on campus.”
Taylor said her experience seeing other cultures and traveling has proved the importance of diversity.
“I think we all can take a step in the right direction, finding out about other cultures and their beliefs,” Taylor said. “To me, that’s what makes us America.”
On legalizing marijuana, both supported legalization for recreational and medical purposes. Taylor pointed out revenue lost to Wisconsin’s neighboring states from Wisconsinites traveling to buy marijuana. In 2023, Illinois collected $36 million in tax revenue from Wisconsin residents purchasing marijuana. At the Milwaukee County Board, she was one of the cosponsors of a bill to reduce the maximum for marijuana possession to $1 for possession of 25 grams or less.
“It is something that we can do,” Taylor said. “Once it’s a controlled substance, the amount that goes out and the revenue that can come in can further bring economic development.”
Heredia said Wisconsin is doing itself an injustice by not legalizing marijuana.
“As somebody who lives with mental illness and somebody who has family members and friends that live with chronic pain, it’s important that everyone has the ability and opportunity to live a good quality of lif”e,” Heredia said.
In addition:
- Neither candidate supported the GOP led effort to bar transgender athletes from women’s sports.
- Both candidates would prefer to eliminate Wisconsin’s ban on abortion after 20 weeks.
