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Right out at seven thirty nine, welcome our guest.
He's running for the 21st Wisconsin Senate candidacy.
He's running for that seat.
And it's Trevor Young, thanks for joining us.
Donand is an honor to be on the show.
Thank you.
You said you were here when you were a kid, huh?
Then here once when I was in high school, and there was a focus on community feature for
young people, and it's good to be back.
Now I will give you a dollar for every time somebody mispronounced your last name.
How much money would you be making off me?
Oh, we could fund the campaign.
We could fund the campaign.
Yes, I always have to spell JUNG after saying Trevor Young.
So that's good because when I do all of my notes and everything, I speak into
my phone to do it.
Right.
And I have to say Trevor Young.
I won't print right.
Right.
Yeah.
There's a lot of corrections.
Were you born?
I was born in 1995, and I was born halfway across the world.
So in Krauznodar, Russia, so my mom was not in a position to take care of me.
So I was placed in an orphanage until I was two years old, and my dad traveled halfway
across the world and saved me from a life of poverty and oppression and brought me to
the center of the universe, Racine, Wisconsin.
How long have you been here?
My whole life.
My whole life.
I went off to university at UW-Moake, Proud Panther, and came right back to Racine after
graduating with the degree in urban studies and urban planning.
Whoa.
Okay.
So now you're in the transportation department, right?
Yes.
So leading public transportation for the greater Racine area.
Okay.
What did you do before that?
Well, I served two terms on the Racine City Council, but professionally, I worked at
Carthage College doing employer relations, talking to employers about recruiting skilled
talent to feed a pipeline for talent for employers across Southeast Wisconsin that Carthage
had internship programs with.
So that informed an experience of what can we do to attract the next generation of talent
to make sure that Southeast Wisconsin is competitive.
So between that and my work in local government, it's been a real education.
So you worked for the city now.
You've been in an aldermen.
What district was it, by the way?
I district nine.
So Proud, Western Scene Guy.
So I actually went to daycare at Atomit, Lutheran, and lived right across the street on
the right avenue when I was on the city council.
So when people would ask my local cred, you know, how are you connected to this neighborhood?
I would always say I didn't go very far right across the street from daycare.
I ask everybody who gets into politics the same question.
Why would you want to get into it?
Because 50% of the people are not going to like you for whatever reason.
It just works.
I like that.
Right.
Same thing with this jockeys.
People are going to like you for playing the beach boys or whatever you play.
So why'd you get into politics?
Well, good question.
So I owe everything to my hometown.
You know, growing up in Racine, I had this kind of all-American childhood, little league
baseball, product of the public schools, you know, took classes at Wisdom Art Museum.
You know, attended the Racine Theater Guild.
So growing up here, I had this real sense of gratitude.
Like, wow, this community saved me.
Thank you.
No, just volunteer.
It took classes with Mrs. Mount, you know, that was my, you know, theater days.
And so growing up, it was like, wow, like this is a pretty special place.
And you know, my family has been here for four generations.
My grandma actually owned a bar in downtown Racine.
So as any good Wisconsinite, I have, you know, that experience growing up at the end of
it, the bar at the tavern.
And so just this sense of community, the sense of gratitude.
So growing up, I wanted to give back.
And so looking at, you know, how do we solve problems at a neighborhood level?
I went off to university to study urban studies and urban planning because I think that that's
where you make the biggest difference.
And because of that, that inspired me to get involved in politics because I see if everybody
works together is focused on the right issues, we can really make a difference in people's
lives.
So the 21st district and compass and compasses Racine, what else is Racine?
So the north side of the city of Racine up to Caledonia, wind point goes all the way
out to Raymond and then north into Franklin, Hills, Corners, Greenfield, Greendale, so the
Southwest suburbs of Milwaukee County.
So it is a 50-50 district.
We are going to have to earn every vote and talk to people where they are and focus on
things that are important to families, you know, like affordability, like housing, like
good paying jobs, making sure we're taking care of the most vulnerable.
So it's going to be an exciting one.
And I'm really grateful that this is a fair district because the people of Racine and
Wisconsin deserve an actual voice and an actual choice.
Okay.
So now people here, the assembly, the state assembly, they hear the state senate, do you guys
vote on this?
Well, obviously you can vote as the whole body.
But what's the difference is just the size of the area that assemblyman and state senate
people covers?
That the only difference?
Yes.
So for every state senator, there are three assembly people.
So there are three districts per state senate district.
So in Racine, we have Angelina Cruz and then we've got two other members of the assembly
and the rest of the district.
And so it is a bigger area covers, you know, geographically and population wise more.
And so that just means that we're going to have to get out there and talk to as many
people as possible before November of next year.
Well, you got to have some energy to run for office, huh?
Oh, yeah.
I've got my cup of coffee from Wilson's right down the street there.
So look at you.
Yeah.
So we're ready to go.
Trevor Young is my guest.
He is currently working for the city of Racine in the transportation department.
What is it?
Jack tenel.
So it's the transit department and I'm the transit and mobility director for ride Racine,
the public transit system in Eastern Racine County.
Look at that title.
Whoa.
Yeah.
Quite that.
I mean, when you have a little hand in there, that's that shows you've made it.
Kind of.
Mine is DJ.
DJ.
That's as long as it is.
Okay.
And you're running for the state senate 21st district, which encompasses Racine and
part of Milwaukee County.
We've got to know you in the first section.
Let's talk about some of the issues.
What's wrong that you want to correct and what do you want to add?
What's going on with state of Wisconsin?
Yes.
Great question.
So, you know, I see places like the neighborhood I grew up being left behind.
The state of Wisconsin has a responsibility to make sure that we've got great schools,
that we've got safe neighborhoods, that everybody has a chance to succeed and support
themselves and their families.
And I see that ideology and partisanship are really getting in the way of that.
And, you know, you've got for almost, you know, over a decade now, this philosophy that
says if we, you know, engage in austerity and we cut, cut, cut that, you know, will rise
to the top.
And that lab test has shown to network.
You know, we've got, we used to be one of the top 10 states for public education.
Now we've fallen down to, I think, 27.
We have shared revenue, which supports public safety at the local level and make sure that
we can keep our police officers and our firefighters paid.
That has been cut over 20% in real dollars since 2010.
And so we are trying to do more with less and it's harder to preserve a certain quality
of life and make sure that we're developing the next generation of talent that can grow
the economy.
And so for me, it's about making sure that we get the basics right.
More for our neighborhoods, more for our schools and more for working families so that
we address this crisis of affordability.
And healthcare is a major part of the state because the state has health plans and a lot
of people are panicking over the cost of healthcare.
I hate to sound like an old, old guy here.
My mother took me to the doctor's when they had big bruhaha was going out of the doctor's
office.
They raised the rates from $4 to $6 for a visit and they had to pay cash.
Well, that's exactly right.
The father's was screaming at this poor reception just to add nothing to do with this whatsoever.
But nowadays you go to the doctor, it's a couple of hundred dollars.
Well, that's exactly right.
And you've got senior citizens, people who have worked all their life, people who are
expecting, you know, basic medical care to be accessible to them.
They're getting letters in the mail from their insurance company and from their hospital
system saying that they're going to have to look for a new plan.
And here we are in the richest country on earth in a great state.
I believe the best state in the richest country on earth.
And you've got senior citizens that are panicking about where they're going to be able to get
healthcare.
That is just wrong.
And you've got other states across the Union, Republican, Democratic states that have
decided to work with the federal government, bring in resources to make sure that they
can expand access to basic healthcare.
But Wisconsin is one of the few states that has said that they're not going to do that.
And so for me, this isn't about left right.
This is about bringing resources in to make sure that families can support themselves
and get access to basic services.
How do we talk to each other?
Now, I don't know how it is in the state assembly and state senate here in Wisconsin, but
I watch what's going on in the Congress in Washington.
Nobody will talk to each other.
It's horrible.
You got the Republicans and Democrats.
They're bickering on everything.
They won't talk.
They won't have meetings.
They hate each other.
They don't hate each other, but they don't like each other's ideologies.
So they bickering fight all the time.
How do you plan to stop that?
Is that bad in Wisconsin or not that bad?
Well, I think it's potentially getting there.
And we just have to make a choice in this election to stop the nastiness.
I think people are sick of the anger and divisiveness and the name calling.
And instead of doing that, we should be spending our time talking to people about what's really
important.
And I announced my campaign.
We talked about the five T's to the success of Wisconsin, Southeast Wisconsin, number
one training.
What can we do to make sure that folks have the skills that they need to support themselves
in their families?
Gateway Technical College was the first publicly funded technical college in the United States
of America.
We've got a tradition of this.
Let's keep it going.
Number two, talent.
You know, we've got to build infrastructure and a quality of life that attracts skilled
workers so that employers decide to move here.
Tourism.
I think this is the most beautiful state and we live in the most beautiful part of it.
What can we do to leverage that so that visitors fuel quality of life for residents?
And then technology, you know, we've got this technology revolution happening right now.
What can we do to make sure that we capitalize on that to provide better services to the
public?
And then finally, transportation, you know, I work in the field and, you know, when transit
stops, opportunity stops.
We've got to make sure that people can get to where they need to go.
Doctors appointments, jobs, schools.
And if you combine those five things, which I think Democrats and Republicans, when your
brass tax comes down to it, can agree on this.
And we can actually solve problems rather than becker.
And I think that once you leave the nastiness aside and talk about the issues that are important,
that's what we need in Madison.
So right now, we have a very democratic governor that could change because he's governor
Evers isn't running again, he's going to be tough to work with the Republican governor.
Well, right now, the Republicans control the state house.
Well, I want to work with everybody.
And I hope we can bring down the temperature.
And again, focus on the things that matter because that's going to be the only way we
make a difference in people's lives.
And if you're not getting into this to make a difference, I don't know why you are because
it is tough.
And you are putting yourself out there.
And if you don't care about that stuff, there's so many other things that you could do.
So I would hope that Democrats and Republicans can come together to actually get stuff done.
And maybe I'm naive, maybe that's being young.
But I think we need a new way of doing things because the old way is not working.
You know, I would last nine seconds in your job.
I'll tell you what, because I'd be telling everybody what I really think.
And if somebody started up with me in the state house, I'd be screaming at them, yelling
at them, you know, nine seconds, and they throw me right at that, they get the sergeant
alarms to get me out of that place.
You have to have a sense of humor.
That is for sure.
No, you got to patience.
Yes.
And that's one thing I probably don't have enough of.
So you don't have anybody you're running against yet, right?
Officially.
Officially, we are the only candidate in the race.
So it was held today.
You'd win by 100%.
But a landslide.
Yes.
A landslide.
In a 50-50 district, I do not anticipate that that will be the case.
I think that we're going to have a spirited debate, a great campaign season.
And whoever gets out, talks to the most people, has a positive message for the future.
I think that person is going to win, and I hope that's me.
So it's a year away.
A year away?
Yeah.
It is.
Yeah, and some change.
Wow.
The year when you're getting started early.
That's right.
What we have to.
I think that the biggest challenge for us is going to be introducing ourselves to folks
in the district outside of where I served as Alderman and outside of where I've engaged
mostly, which is the city of Racine part of the district.
But I'm excited about that.
My favorite part of this work is listening to people, hearing what their challenges are
and figuring out what we can do together to solve those issues.
You sound like a real positive person, and I've met you before.
We've met before different events around, and you're so smiling and positive about
everything.
Not to be.
I think we need a little bit of that.
You can't be grumpy and do that job.
No, no.
Well, and you have to like people, and I love people, and I think that people are just sick
of the anger associated with politics, and it's turning people off, and I think in order
for us to have a healthy democracy, we need there to be a positive, engaging vision
of what local government, state government, the federal government can do for people.
Do you have aspirations to really go up the ladder?
You are a young guy.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
You really is.
You know, one thing at a time, obviously, I mean, the world is everything for you now.
You can take anything you want.
Honestly, Don, it is just about making the difference.
You know, I could run for dog catcher, and if you told me that that would help my hometown,
and that would help the people of, you know, Wisconsin, I would go for it.
Did they still have a dog catcher?
I don't know.
I think that there's like maybe one elected dog catcher left in the country, but I mean,
there used to be something on the ballot.
Exactly.
You got to like the dog catcher.
Exactly.
But they don't have it anymore.
No, I mean, my aspirations are really just like the results of the work, not the office
themselves.
Now, obviously, one of your goals is to get a democratic majority.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
So how far, I don't know how far away we are.
How many seats do you need?
Now, you got the assembly and you've got the state Senate.
So how many seats does it take?
Yeah.
Because it is just not even a handful of seats.
So four seats are competitive now in the state Senate.
And if we flip all four, we've got a pretty strong majority for the state Senate.
That's it, just four.
Just four.
Okay.
And I think it actually takes two to flip just to get the bare minimum to have a majority.
But four are competitive seats this year around, and we are the most competitive seat in
this state of Wisconsin.
Okay.
You got one that left.
Give a pitch to people.
Not a year away, but you can never stop.
You know, never start too soon.
Give a pitch for yourself.
Yeah.
My pitch is that people are tired of the nastiness and that we, if we focus on affordability, good
paying jobs, skills training and quality public education, that the quality of life in Wisconsin
can be better than it is now, and that we have an obligation to look out for our neighbor
and take care of the most vulnerable.
Hebert Humphrey once said that we judge the quality of a society by how we take care of
those at the dusk and dawn of their lives.
And I take that philosophy seriously, and that's why I'm engaged in public service.
Good for you.
Trevor Young.
He is going for the 21st Wisconsin State Senate District, the elections about a year
away.
Not about.
It's over a little over a year away.
And he's running down.
You're the only candidate so far.
So good luck, my friend.
Well, I'll be back.
Yeah.
This has been an honor.
I'm excited to continue the race.
Does it look different when you were a teenager walking around here?
It does.
The lights are a little brighter.
That's about it.
Everything else is the same.
Nothing's a computer screen.
Yeah, you switch the bulbs.
You don't have to run the lights.
Yeah, look at that.
Thank you, Trevor.
I do appreciate it.
Thanks, John.
