The Wisconsin AFL-CIO Labor 2014/Workers’ Voice campaign is in full swing across the state and volunteers are working the phones, leafleting worksites and knocking on doors in every corner of Wisconsin. The race for Governor is a dead heat and voter turnout will undoubtedly be the deciding factor. Last Saturday dozens of volunteers were active in Madison doing the needed work to elect Mary Burke as the next governor.
Beverly Woldt spent several hours calling voters at the Labor Temple in Madison on Saturday. Scott Walker’s $800 million cut in education funding prompted her to get involved with the campaign.
“We are going to fall farther behind if we continue Scott Walker’s education cuts. I have two nephews who are teachers, so that motivates me to volunteer to help elect Mary Burke,” said Woldt. “Voters that I have talked to are very enthusiastic about the election,” she said. “Scott Walker is so out of touch with real people and voters are reacting to that.” Woldt said when asked about Scott Walker’s recent comment saying that minimum wage laws don’t serve a purpose.
Simon Rosenblum-Larson is 17 years old and is a senior at West High School in Madison. He can’t vote in this election but his advanced citizenship is making a difference. Rosenblum-Larson participated in the 2011 protests over Act 10 and marched on the state capitol with 150 of his schoolmates. He lists a number of issues as motivators for him to get involved in the campaign.
“We have a very economically segregated society under Scott Walker,” Rosenblum-Larson said. “I think this election is a turning point for Wisconsin. We need a movement forward on equal pay for equal work and so many other issues,” he said. “Electing Mary Burke is our chance to fix Wisconsin.”
Bill Connors is a retiree that has stepped up in a big way with the program. “This is my fourth election cycle volunteering with this program,” said Connors. “This is important work because Wisconsin has gone downhill under Scott Walker. This is an effective program and a lot of smart and energetic people are involved. And they are hustling,” he said.
The side that turns out its voters in the biggest way will be the winner on November 4th. This fact is not lost on Beverly, Simon and Bill or the hundreds of other volunteers that are working to make history and end Scott Walker’s tenure as governor. Wisconsin is ready.
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