Q&A with 81st Assembly candidate Peng Her
What are
your top three issues, in order of priority?
I have a father who was a school teacher, a sister who is a principal and three other siblings who work in the education field. As you might imagine education plays a very important role in my family. I honor them and all educators by making sure we fully fund our schools by fighting to eliminate the revenue cap, make funding equitable for schools, invest in early childhood education, shift the cost from tax payers back to corporation for fair taxation. A quality education system is the foundation of a strong democracy and healthy economy.
As a small business owner and member of the City of Madison Economic Development Commission I know first hand the challenges businesses face in Wisconsin. I will fight to attract and retain jobs in Wisconsin and invest in our state's human resource by investing in continuing adult education such as MATC to prepare our workforce for tomorrow's economy.
Not only will I fight to pass comprehensive health care I will introduce legislation to eliminate "cherry-picking," discriminatory charges, refusal of coverage for medically prescribed care, and revocation of insurance when a consumer contracts a serious illness. Health care should not be about economics. It is the right of every Wisconsin citizen to have health care.
What separates you from the rest of the field?
I'm not a lobbyist or a Capitol inside. What I am is a fighter. I am fighting to give a voice to the people. My goals and my legislative agenda are based on my experiences as a devoted father, husband, small business owner, home owner, and progressive community activist. I pledge to hold regular listening session with my neighbors in the 81st district to listen to their concerns and issues.
We need to elect a people's progressive candidate who is willing to fight for the everyday person, for the workers who must work two jobs to support their families, for the grandparents who cannot afford prescription drugs, and for the parents seeking to meet the ever-increasing costs of higher education for their children.
Wisconsin can not afford business as usual at the Capitol. My family and I came to America with nothing but the clothes on our backs. With hard work, determination and perseverance I was able to put myself through college working for a Pella Windows factory, obtain a graduate degree, and start a successful business. It was not easy, but anything is possible if you put your mind to it. I want to apply my hard work ethics and honest morals in representing the people of Wisconsin. I believe the sum of my life experiences and my proven record of commitment to community service has prepared me well for this important job
What most frustrated you about the Legislature in the last session?
I was most frustrated by the games played by Assembly Republicans. From the stalled budget process to the failure to move forward a serious comprehensive health care plan, Assembly Republicans treated the last Legislative session as a political game rather than do the business of the people. But nothing typifies the games played by Assembly Republicans more than Rep. Steve Nass and Sen. Glenn Grothman's baseless yet relentless attacks on the University of Wisconsin System. Instead of working on ways to improve education for Wisconsin, they are more interested in punishing the UW, including de-funding the UW Law School.
I am not afraid to fight for the needs of the people and stand up against the likes of Rep. Nass and Sen. Grothman. I will bring real change to the Legislation. We need a people's champion more now than ever otherwise it will be business as usual.
Endorsements:
The future of our state's education is an important issue for me as a father of three young children and I'm proud to have the endorsement of school Board President Arlene Silveria and former school board members Bill Keys, Bill Clingan, Shwaw Vang and Ray Allen. I am also proud to have the support of many community leaders, activist, and neighbors including:
Former Madison Ald. Andy Heidt, Disability Rights Wisconsin attorneys Todd Windstrom and Jeff Spitzer-Resnick, Centro Hispano Executive Director Peter Munoz, Madison Jewish Community Council Executive Director Steven Morrison, former Outreach Executive Director and Host of Forward Forum on WTDY and The Pulse 1670 AM John Quinlan, The Rainbow Project Inc. Executive Director Sharyl Kato, Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools Executive Director Cindy Crane, Dane County Mental Health Director Bill Greer, Dane County Mental Health Director of Clinical Programs Linda Keys, Dane County Human Services Deputy Director GP Foster, Madison Area Land Trust former President Niel Moser, Latinos United for Change and Advancement (LUChA) President Sal Carranza, Latinos United for Change and Advancement (LUChA) former President Alfonso Zepeda-Capistran, former aide to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz Annette Miller, Jim Powell of Madison Environmental Justice Organization, Madison Environmental Justice Organization Executive Director Maria Powell, former Dane County Sheriff candidate Robbie Lowery, MATC Foundation Board member Ashok Bhargava, Outreach Development Director Nikki Baumblatt, Nuestro Mundo Inc. Board member Dan Guerra, Sheryl Spitzer-Resnick, MATC Foundation Board member and community advocate with Madison Obihiro Sister City Inc. Jo Oyama-Miller, activist for AIDS Walk Wisconsin and AIDS Bob Bower, Community leaders and YWCA Women of Distinction Award Recipients Mai Zong Vue and Theola Carter, Freedom Inc. director Kabzuaj Vaj, Madison Poet Laureate Fabu Carter-Brisco, Kajsiab House manager Doua Vang, community leaders Agnes Cammer and Wa Seng Vang, Friends of Troy Gardens board members Marge Pitts, Martha Worcestor, Anney Pryor and Bob Gragson, Willy Holden, Asian Wisconzine magazine owner and editor Heidi Pascual, Capital Hues editor and publisher Jonathan Gramling, community leaders Wa Chue Her and Addrena Squires.
*All titles are for identification purposes only, no organizational endorsement should be inferred.
Age: 36 (July 23 birthday)
Political
Experience:
I am a proud graduate of the Paul Wellstone Action, a national center for training and leadership development for the progressive movement because I am a believer in grassroots organizing. I am a former member of the Dane County Human Services Board and Northside Planning Council. I am a current member of the City of Madison Economic Development Commission, Friends of Troy Gardens, Vice-Chair of Communities United of Dane County, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, and Wisconsin Organization for Asian Americans.
My proven record of commitment to community service, leadership, and experience has prepared me well for this important job.
Occupation:
My broad life experiences are what empowers me to represent the district. I put my self to college by working at Pella Windows factory. I was an instructor at Central College in Pella, Iowa. In addition to my role as an instructor I provided counseling and mentoring to high school students in the Upward Bound program.
Upon receiving my M.S. degree in physics I worked as an assistant scientist at Argonne National Laboratory. I also worked as applications engineer at Stress Photonics before my position was eliminated due to the downturn in the economy. As the project coordinator at the Madison Children's museum I help to create the first ever traveling "Hmong At Heart" exhibit.
Currently I am a small business owner opening the restaurant called Taste of Asia restaurant in 2004. I also do consulting work as a cultural broker, cultural diversity training, and translation services for schools, law firms, and organization. In addition, I am a community activist advocating for the needs of the community. Last but not least, I am a full-time father devoted to my three children and husband to a wonderful wife, Mai Zong Vue.
Family:
Happily married with three wonderful and rambunctious children ages 7, 5 and 2.
Her and family
