You
you
June 1st
2024
If it's seven o'clock on Saturday morning, it's time for this week in
Milwaukee Shaw. I'm your host Don Brown. And I'm joined by my faithful producer, the mighty
Max Martinson. Max, are you today? I am doing fantastic. It's a beautiful day outside
today. And Max is sporting a Toronto Blue Jays jersey. Very cool. He got it at, um, am
fam when he was at a Brewer's game. It was at a Roger Center. Oh, last year, the brewers
were playing at Toronto. I stand corrected. Even better though. Yeah. Wonderful city and
a great little vacation for you. I bet. Yeah. When with my best friend from California, he flew to
Milwaukee. We drove there. So did you happen to get to the Toronto Science Center? I know
it sounds we did not. That was awesome. We got to, we got to Niagara. There you go. Um, we got to
CN Tower. Uh, did you get to the, um, the, the, the hockey hall of fame, the NHL hockey
school? It was fantastic too. Yeah. Yeah. He wasn't, my friend wasn't a huge hockey fan, but I enjoyed it
because I just love it. I love sports in general. Same here. Oh, this is the beginning of a beautiful
relationship. Max, Max is fairly new to us here at WAUK. And, um, more on Max, but we're both
coming to you live and local from the office of former Alderman Don Paul Brown here in the, um,
W a UK studios in downtown right around the corner from the Adora Yalman's Park, where we are
proud to honor our suffragette heritage here in the Shaw and, um, speaking of suffragette
heritage, it's, uh, it's another election year. And my original list of guests were three
candidates, two candidates for the 82nd assembly seat, challenging incumbent Scott Allen,
who will be my guest next week. The first guest, 18 year old Samuel Domingo, I believe that's
all he is. Sam had a family emergency. So he will be joining us next week in the final
half hour after Scott Allen. And covering that interview will be James Santel, because I'll
be leaving a little early to attend my son's graduation from Wauksha South High School.
That's right. Next week is graduation day for all the Wauksha High School. So can you believe
it already halfway through the year? I mean, this year is kind of by pretty quickly, huh?
Yeah. I feel, I mean, being even my first year in college, it feels like it was, uh, yesterday
that I just got done with the first semester. Yeah. Right. Right. Now that, now that, like,
now that I'm off for some, or it's like, I don't know what to do with myself. Like it's like,
when's the next project? What do I have? Well, I'll play for you here, though.
Max, I guarantee you that. So, but who is still coming is, um, Samuel's opponent in the
Democratic primary. Um, no stranger to politics or to local government. Um, Kevin Riley
is my, will be my first guest now. He was my, originally my second guest, but Kevin should
be here around the, uh, in the second half hour, if you will, in this first hour. And then
in the, um, the next segment will have Megan Locke, who was originally a, also a candidate
for the second district, but she decided to jump over to the 28th, uh, district senate
seat held by incumbent, uh, Julian Bradley. So we look forward to seeing, uh, Megan and
getting to know more about her as well as getting no, to know more about Kevin. We've
got, uh, some, some local news, including sports. It's been a great week for, uh, Waukesha
North. Uh, we're going to talk about a Celtic farewell at Waukesha South High School.
And, uh, great news about a guest I had on back on February during black history month,
uh, local young, young talent done well. And, um, Scotty summer, a new promotion from
civic media will be catching up on as well as, um, our weekly farmers market segments.
And, uh, Jane, Matt near one of the great legends of radio and the host of Matt near on
air that airs, uh, 10 to 12 Monday through Friday, uh, we'll be running the exhibit our,
our booth at the farmers market will be calling in at the first of the second hour and also
in the, about, uh, eight thirty five. So she's going to give us some great news on this
beautiful Saturday. It looks like great weather for a farmers market. Maybe a little cooler
than we'd like, but still it's, um, I love that little, the cooler weather in the, as
they were approaching summer on these Saturday mornings. Yeah. My dad, uh, my dad's perfect
temperature is about what it is today. 60 degrees in cloudy. That's, uh, he'll be out
and about in that kind of weather. But, uh, we're going to talk about sports. How about
the brewers? What two straight series wins? Two one over the red socks, three one over
the cubs, putting up a league high this season and hits last night with 20, believe it was
23. So what was the final score last night? Last night it was 12 to five. Wow. Cause I,
when I, I, we went to get carried out at mainstream. Have you had the burgers at mainstream?
I, I'm in Milwaukee. I know, but you got to go to yourself to, um, to come to, you know,
maybe, uh, maybe catch lunch here after you're done with, uh, uh, so Max is here inside
the mornings. He does my show and he does, uh, amicus, a lot of review with James Santel,
which goes from, uh, nine to 11. So you maybe get over, I'm sure they open 11, 11, 30
gave yourself a burger at mainstream. It, uh, you won't be disappointed. Let's put it
that way. So I was getting carried out in, uh, when I was watching the game, it was five
to four socks and, um, the brew crew had a chance. There was two outs and, uh, two ducks in
the pond for the brewers, airmen and second and third for those of you don't get my baseball
lingo. And, um, I forget the batter, but he struck out a beautiful curve from the White
Sacks picture. So wow, they, so that was later in the game. I thought that, so they put
in the seven run or eight runs. Yeah, it was, it was six in the seventh and then two in
the eighth and they put up a league, league high and hits for this season with 23. So 23
hits. Yeah. They didn't, they didn't hit a single home run last night was all, all just
singles and doubles. That's just that. That's wonderful. You know, it's, it's such a great
time when the home team's doing well in baseball really makes it fun. And, and highlights like,
yeah, Christian, yeah, let's five for six with five RBI last night. It was electric. So,
you know, the big star living up to his building. I know he had struggled for a bit after injuries.
You know, a season or two ago, but he's like kind of back to his prime, if you will.
Yeah. I mean, he started out the year with like an OPS of 1100. Wow. And then he had that
injury. So it's dropped a little bit, but I think it's back over a thousand after last night
if I'm not mistaken. Okay. Good. Well, I love to hear that and happy for the brewers. And,
you know, it's also a good kind of segue for me. I wanted to dedicate a few minutes on the show
to talk about. It was announced this week that Major League Baseball will be
in, I don't know, in integrations right word, but they will be including the data from the old
Negro League Baseball years with the, the, the, the Major League Baseball, meaning that certain
record holder, record holders change. So like Josh, Josh Gibbs and the legendary catcher and slugger,
kind of the, the Babe Ruth, if you will, of the old Negro leagues from the homestead grays.
He now has, I guess, the highest slugging percentage. Slugging a batting average.
Oh, yes. And I think they have like 800 home runs or something insane like that too.
I don't, I'm not entirely sure, but somewhere around there. So I think that's important,
but I also hope that this is a segue into a bigger problem we have in America. And that's with,
you know, youth baseball, youth sports has become like a 17, 18 billion dollar industry.
And basically it's become the new Jim Crow because sports that were accessible to me and people
in my generation where, you know, 25 bucks got you little league. And they'll still, and also
wreck baseball, which was every day in the morning, Monday through Friday. That a lot of towns
had put on all that is vanished. Now it's like, you know, $25 won't even get you a good pair of
socks. It's like you pay outrageous amounts of money to be in these youth baseball clubs.
And it's basically pricing out a lot of lower income people. And unfortunately a lot of people
of color and I can count on three of my kids played youth baseball at different levels. Two of them,
you know, kind of advanced a club. The other kind of decided to focus on dance where she excelled.
But in in baseball and softball, I think I could count on one hand.
Um, um, hang on, hang on, Kevin, hang on, Kevin Rally just said no, no, no, stay right there.
Can you let Kevin and Max Kevin Rally's here a little early, which is good. So filling in
it for his opponent. So, um, anyway, I think we've, I'd love to see major league baseball play a
leading role in terms of making youth baseball. Come on in, making youth baseball accessible
and affordable for all American youth. It is our national pastime. And it's not that every kid has
a chance to make major league baseball, but every kid should have a chance to play the great game
to learn about it. And, um, you know, one of the beauties and why it is a great American pastime is
I got to play my career ended at sophomore year after JV baseball, but I, I was a traditional
three-ainting ball player. So, I don't know, Max, you remember what a two-inning ball player was was,
you know, there was always that kid that didn't have an athletic bone in his body, but just
loved the game and wanted to play. And the little league rules were that every kid in the team
has to play, you have to have every kid has to play at least two innings. Yep.
Doesn't you can do about that. And, um, I was about a three-ainning three or four-inning player because,
I was a good fielder and I could catch flies and I just, I was so afraid of hitting. I was
afraid of you to get hit or afraid of striking out. And that fear just like wiped me out. And once
in my middle school years when I overcame that fear, I was lights out. And then I was working out
for football and then I could, when I hit the ball, actually left the infield. And so my,
my last year of like youth baseball, which is ninth grade, I was an all-star. My team won the championship.
And so it was just a great way to finish. And also, you know, I ran a five seven forty, but
again, when you're playing in practice, there's a lot you can do to overcompensate that. If you know
the game and you're passionate about it, and you're paying attention. And so not much got passed
me. I was able to and that's why I think every kid as it should deserve a chance to play baseball. I'd
love to see our rec program expand here to offering it every day in the mornings, nine to 12th.
Now it's very sporadic. I think it's like weekly. And so anyway, enough on that. Um, Kevin Riley has
just joined us. How many minutes before the minute and a half? Yeah, minute 30 minute 30. Okay. So, um,
yeah, let's, let's go ahead. And so our first guest was supposed to be our second guest.
Comes from a prestigious walk a shop family. His brother, as many of you know, is our,
has been our mayor and is, is it his third term that he's in? Is that right, Kevin?
Okay. Can you hear Kevin? Okay. I don't think there you go. Yeah. Yeah. Sean's on his third term.
And his third term. So, but this is Sean's brother, Kevin, who, um, well, tell us about yourself.
I know we have a minute. So we'll continue. But give us your elevator pitch in 30 seconds.
Well, I'm a walkie-shock kid. And I'm running for the 82nd assembly, which is the newly redistricted
assembly district. It's the first time in some time that walkie-shoes had an assembly district that's
all in the city. Usually they had us cut up into pie pieces. Sure. And so I'm anxious to, uh,
to represent walkie-shock. Awesome. So Kevin's going to tell us more about himself.
And, uh, why he wants to be your state assemblyman. Um, and, uh, as well as more about his career and
experience. And this is, you know, growing up in walkie-shock. As this week walkie-shock continues here
on WAK 540 AM 101.1 FM this shot and the Civic Media app.
WAK 540 AM 101.1 FM. That's right. It's this week in walkie-shock. I'm your host Don Brown. And, um, my,
my new tradition is the, um, the second leading song is from walkie-shoes favorite son.
Uh, Les Paul and his wife Mary Ford with the world is waiting for the sunshine. And once again,
it works. You know, when I was getting on a bed this morning, it looked cloudy. Look like a thread of
rain or it may have even rained earlier. But, um, the sun is fighting its way through the clouds
in a beautiful Saturday morning in the, in the 60s. So, you know, not a bad start to a day. A great
time for the farmer's market. Jane Matt near will be calling in, um, at about eight o's, about eight,
ten, uh, on the show here to give us an update and she'll be calling back to give us another
update. So that's exciting. And if you're listening to us on the radio, you can also catch us on
the Civic Media app. Please download it because you can also call the show from the Civic Media app.
It's really easy. You'll see an old telephone icon there and you click on that and it'll get you
through the max. We'll patch it through to me. And, um, there you go. And so, but, um, Kevin, I got
to ask, you know, you grew up here. What did, what did, what did Les Paul mean to you?
Well, rhubarb red. Um, I really only knew of him as a, uh, long, long far away part of our
history. Right. Because, uh, by the time I started growing up here in the 60s, I'm call street,
just a few blocks from here. Um, uh, Les, Les Paul was long gone. He was taking the show on the
road. Yeah. He was in New York or Nashville or LA or, or selling guitars all over the world.
But I did know that he invented the electric guitar and I used to go by the club 400 and I,
you know, that was the, the local lore. Sure. That, that walk down the tracks actually was something we
took regularly from my house on my call street through Carroll College and then down, down across
Grand Avenue. Now Carroll University. So, yes, that's gonna, uh, that, that kind of shows my boomerage.
Yeah. I got, I used, I was, uh, actually having some flashbacks when I came in here because I
actually, uh, was a, uh, DJ on the radio back in the late 70s and the early 80s. So I,
I spun records out at UW-Wakishaw, which I attended for a year and then I, uh, also spun records
for the Carroll College radio station. So, Kevin, you'd appreciate that one of the stations in the
Civic Media stratosphere empire, if you will, is WRJN and Racine. And you can get it from the app
and the reason I mentioned this is, and I talked about this last week is they returned to their
original format, which is news and, and music. And it's, the music is just fantastic, especially,
you're like myself, we both love the oldies and, and any given time you tune in WRJN from the app
and you're gonna hear some great songs that talk about blasts from the past and flashbacks and
kindering up great memories. And the news reporting is great too. I mean, Don Rosen and the rest of
that team there. So really proud to be a part of that, uh, have that affiliation and also have that
access, um, through the app. So, um, so Kevin, tell us more about yourself. I mean, you grew up here
in Wakishaw. You had a career, you said you worked for the county. My last, my last paid job
was working for the county. I worked for Wakishaw County for 16 years. Okay. I was a psychiatric
technician on the mental health, in okay, at Wakishaw County mental health. Sure. Sure.
And, uh, that was a great, great job. I loved it. I got to use all my different skill sets.
Um, I'm a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. I've been clean 35 years.
Congratulations. Thanks for sharing too. Oh, yeah. It takes a lot of courage. Yeah, it's,
I'm only bringing it up because it, it references the job. Sure. Uh, so, um, being in recovery for a
long time and clean that made me, uh, very insightful and effective dealing with people on the
mental health unit that were dealing with drug and alcohol issues. And I think I have some,
if not gradient site, at least the some empathy for the, sure, for the situation. And then, um,
I've also done martial arts all my life. So, uh, the psychiatric technician job was basically,
it was, uh, doing some of the regular CNA work, uh, hot, you know, nurse, I've got a certified
nursing assistant license and all. And I've done that work. I worked in hospice for a long time
before that. I work with developmental disabilities. I work with traumatic brain injury.
And, uh, end of life care. So I'd been doing hospital, mental health. And I also did corrections
work too. I worked in corrections. But anyway, so I was the physical, the mental and the, uh,
the empathy made me ideal for the position, which was to help people deal with some of the hardest
times of their life. And sometimes that involved being completely, completely afraid or completely
angry and sometimes out of control. So sure. Well, and so it's fair to say that mental health
would be an important pillar for your, your campaign and how we could maybe be doing better at the
state level. Uh, only in as far as it pertains to all the other health services and the universities
and the schools and the municipalities and the police and the fire, the, you know, the,
uh, one of the big things that I want to address is the shared revenue and the,
the reimbursement of counties, municipalities, schools and universities by the state. Right now,
they're sitting on a five billion dollar. It looks like a slush fund. They won't call it that.
But that's what it looks like. It was paid in over the, they had it up over eight billion at one
time, I believe, but it's basically been going up and up over the last 20 years. They came up with
some formulas that limited the, uh, municipalities and the counties and the, and then they kept, kept,
kept cutting funding to the universities. And these were taxes that we always paid in thinking,
we've paid our tax dollars down all this time, thinking we're adequately funding our schools,
we're adequately funding our municipalities, our health care, and we were. But what they did was
they were hanging out, they were skimming it off the top and they created this big pile of money
and they were, it's supposed to be shared among all these Wisconsin entities that we paid our tax
dollars for. And they have been giving it back. The universities are a great example.
When I went to school at UW-Wakishaw and then on to UW-Ashkash,
we were funding our state universities at 40%. And now it's down to 14%. And
that's just not right. You know, our kids and our grandkids should have the same opportunities
that we were to, to not only go to a, to a good school, but also, um, not be bankrupted by it.
And, uh, you know, that's why I'm, that's why I'm running. So yes, and answer to your question about
a mental health. It's, it is a big part of it. Yeah. So we're going to continue talking with Kevin
Riley, candidate for state of sent, why, why he wants to run and what, uh, how he can leverage his
experiences, uh, to do, to do better by, um, the, the people of Waksha in the 82nd district. And
Kevin's a graduate of Waksha South High School and I thought he'd appreciate there was an
emotional send-off on Thursday night with the Waksha marching band for their seniors. It was called
the Celtic Farewell. And it was very emotional moment. We, we saw it on social media. I encourage you
to check it out. You can find it on a lot of Waksha South pages and, uh, was not a dry eye in the
house from what I understand. And, uh, um, Kevin, I know is a fellow Irishman very passionate about
his heritage. And, uh, I think you would enjoy that Celtic Farewell. So, but, uh, this is only the
beginning for Kevin Riley's campaign for, for state assembly. So we look forward to learning more
about it here in this week in Waksha on WK 540 AM. What a 1.1 and FM in the civic media app.
Hey, listen to this week's Waksha with, uh, Don Brown. And I'm joined by the Mighty Max,
my producer, uh, comedy live and local from the office of former Alderman Don Paul Brown. And
I played this walk out song, uh, won't back down by Tom Petty. Um, I'm purposed to speak of former
Alderman. I, um, I had, uh, an opportunity to meet up with, uh, my former Alder, uh, Kathleen
Cummings, who, as many of you know, a few weeks ago, was, um, found that guilty in a election fraud
trial. And so it was just a really, you know, we were good friends on the council. You know,
we didn't agree on everything, but, um, there was no denying her her passion and commitment
on the public service. And, um, she has, um, she will be appearing on, uh, some of the civic
media shows when she's ready. And, um, it was just great to see, she looked like 10 years younger
and like the way to the world, you know, off of her shoulders. And, um, so, uh, great to see her.
And, um, we have Kevin Riley here, candidate for 82nd, uh, district. But, uh, before we
resume the conversation with Kevin, I wanted to wish the best of luck to the Waksha North,
North Star track athlete, athletes, excuse me, competing this weekend at the state competition
and lacrosse. They had a really nice send off. I believe that, that took place on, on Thursday.
And, um, so, um, happy and proud to say, even though I'm from Black shirt nation,
proud to say, go, North Star is all the best. And, um, congratulations. Also go out to
Don Rydomsky and the Waksha North, North Star baseball team, winning the regional championship,
on Thursday night in a five to four nail blighter at Waksha West against the Wolverines of
Waksha West. And, uh, the atmosphere was electric. I don't think there was an empty seat in the house.
And, um, very emotional game. And with the bases loaded in two outs, um, relieving pitcher,
Cooper has, uh, got the third out with a deep fly to right field. And, um, that end, it was caught
and that ended it. And, um, congrats also to the starting pitcher, AJ Curtis, who spread three runs
across, um, five, uh, innings. I think it was five and two thirds innings actually, uh, before
the lefty Cooper has came in. And, um, so many great highlights. Don Rydomsky's sons, sophomore,
uh, Tommy Rydomsky's second base had a, um, um, uh, an RBI single earlier in the game to kind of get
things in motion for, uh, the nor stars. So they play in the sectional championship at the,
the docown stadium out there in O'Connor, because it'll kind of lock her Delafield out there. Anyway,
uh, that's Tuesday. Um, so again, good luck to, uh, the baseball nor stars in addition to the track
nor stars. And, um, anyway, Kevin Riley, uh, was, was kind enough to join us earlier after Sam
Domingo had, uh, post-pone, uh, due to, um, uh, personal reasons, but he'll be joining us in the last
half hour of this week and walk shot next week. And Jim Santel will be, uh, asking the questions.
He'll be filling in for me so I can leave early for my son's graduation for Waukesha South.
So congrats. Thank you. Yeah. We're really excited. He's going to go to O'Clair for football and, uh,
secondary education. Oh, that's amazing. Can that be greater? Yeah. Yeah. So, so Kevin, um, why do you
want to be, um, a assemblyman? And let's call it a assemblyman. State rep is just so, it doesn't
give you the, you know, representative Riley doesn't sound as good as a assemblyman Riley if you win.
Correct. I'll take either one, uh, you know, if that's an, don't call me late for dinner, right?
That's an endorsement done then, then, then thank you. Yeah. No, I cannot confirm or deny that.
Just, you know, kidding. It's fun to dream, though, you know, I'm just kidding. Yeah. Uh, yeah,
I don't care too much about the title. Um, but, uh, I definitely want to step up and, and represent
Waukesha in Madison. It's kind of a perfect time for me. I've been a single dad for a lot of my
life. And then I was working, uh, in the healthcare field and the mental health field for many years.
And, uh, I really wasn't in a position to take on something like this. But then I retired, uh,
two and a half years ago to take care of my mother. She was living at the Abelon. And, uh,
I was her caregiver the last, uh, most of the last four or five years. And, um, she passed away
this past summer. Uh, I remember, yeah. And she was kind of famous here in Waukesha. We used to speak
Galic together and sing Patty Riley songs. Yes. She was, if, if you've been to any of the Irish pubs
in Waukesha, there's a good chance you knew my mom, either as Peggy or grandma or just that
crazy lady that goes up in jigs and dances and sings with the, with the bands. Sure. Sure.
So when I remember when chill was open, I think that's what was called behind daddy.
Chills. Chills. It was a weekly Friday tradition where, um, your brother Sean, the mayor would take her
out for, um, cocktails at Friday nights at chills. Yeah. She would also, uh, she had, and, and I,
I think I can tell this story now that she's passed away. But, uh, if you're listening at the Abelon,
please forgive me. But, uh, she would go in one door when we drop her off. And then she'd sneak out
and then go out the back door where there was no cameras. Nice. Because she didn't want her,
her friends in the building to know that she was out so late. She was still, yeah. So it was,
it was kind of a big turnaround from when we were kids and we would come home,
check in with my parents. At the front door, I lived on a two level and then we go downstairs
and then we go right out the back door and then head out for some more, uh, fun and for, for
validity. So it was, it was a good turnaround. It was pretty often that we would drop peg, peggy off.
And then we would, uh, circle the block once and we would see her, uh, on our little,
pushing her little scooter across the street to chills. Nice. Yeah. So, okay. Yeah. She,
she was, she was finally remembered. And so, would she, would you say she was an inspiration
for you to participate in public service? And, um, my whole family was my, my father, uh,
actually started his career here in Waukesha as a assistant district attorney.
I think that was way back before I, maybe before I was born, maybe 1959. Sure. And then, uh,
he worked at district attorney's office for some years and then ran for DA. And I think that would
have been 64. Okay. Um, maybe, maybe later. Yeah. But close to that, I was a toddler. And
if it did, did he win in 64? No, that was, that was the interesting story. He lost. I remember
Sean telling me that it had a lot to do with his Catholic faith or his Irish Catholic heritage.
That was, um, head, even though Pat Lucy was our governor. Yeah. Kennedy was in the white
house or he had already been in the white house that. Well, my dad, my, my dad was always a
spiritual person. He was, he would, we always thought he went to work early. He would, he
would be up and out of the house by like some crazy hour. I'm sorry. What's that, Max? Uh,
we finally found the Google link for the, uh, okay. So we'll be on the join stream yard. Yeah.
So I'm sorry. Keep talking Kevin. How are we doing on time here? Got about six months. Oh, great.
I'm sorry. Continue, Kevin. My apologies. So anyway, he would leave, we were thought he was
leaving for work, but actually it turns out that every day he would stop at church and meditate
and pray. And if there was a service, he'd, he'd be there for the service and he'd do that almost
every day. Okay. Um, and I probably, Max, that's in the chat here. Is that what you sent the link?
Okay. I sent it directly to you. Yeah. I see it now. Okay. Thank you again, Kevin. See,
this way, Kevin, we're going to get in video too. Oh, great. If I can figure this out here.
So anyway, uh, my father was always, but uh, he was also pretty much into the deep into the
philosophy. He would, he would explain, say, Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas and, okay,
we actually debated the great Catholic thinkers at the breakfast and the dinner table that was not
unusual. I mean, for some reason, this links that opening, Max, could you just send it via regular
email to, to, is that possible? Great. Thank you. Sorry about that. So we want to get you
in video here, Kevin. Okay. So, but continue. Yeah. Uh, I was trying to explain the joke to my
wife this morning that I've got a face for radio. And, uh, my wife is a venous, from Venezuela.
She's a US citizen. Okay. But, uh, sometimes humor doesn't always translate. And it took me a
while to explain to her what the meaning of a face for radio was as a joke. Sure. But anyway,
my dad was a deeply spiritual person. Um, I assumed every father was like that growing up.
Of course, there was so many of us that we were kind of a tribe to ourselves. But, uh, sure, sure.
Anyway, he ran for DA and he lost. Okay. And initially he was, he was, you know, he said he was
crushed by it. But, uh, almost as soon as the results were announced, he got a call from, uh,
I think it's Bill Hippenmeyer, uh, who was a very, uh, very well respected attorney here in
Waukesha and had one of the most prestigious law firms in town. Uh, and I guess he asked my dad if
he would come on as a partner. And so my dad went from, uh, losing the DA to getting partner
in a prestigious Waukesha law firm. Um, and he said it was, it was, it was, it was wonderful.
It couldn't have worked out any better for him. But I do know that he always had his dream was
always to be a judge and to, uh, maybe even aspire to the state Supreme Court. Um, he had a real,
real keen legal mind. Um, and he loved debate and he loved philosophy and logic and,
anyway, but, uh, then they had nine kids and, and he said, I never could have afforded. Sure.
All you guys, um, on a, a judge's salary. So it was actually a, a godsend that, uh,
uh, that I didn't get it, uh, that I, that I was unsuccessful in politics. Sure. Sure. Um,
interesting. Yeah. I believe one of the, some of the, uh, I don't know which governor it was,
but at one point, one of the governors was, uh, quizzing whether my dad would be open to an
appointment. And, uh, at the time, I think he had, uh, four kids in high school and two or three
kids in college. Okay. And he did the math and he said, I can't do it right now, governor.
I can't do it. Yeah. Well, and, uh, family first, at least that's the apocryphal story that I've
heard. So I, I couldn't verify that. But that's, that would not surprise me. That's accurate.
Yeah. And if you don't mind, and we talked about this, um, speaking of family history,
there were rallies for at least two generations where, um, members of the Republican Party,
your brother Sean drew international attention when he left the party as a result of the events of
January 6th and Washington DC in 2021. But, um, you are running as a, a Democrat.
I am. I am running as a Democrat. And the rallies have historically been, uh, fairly, uh, well-connected.
Uh, can you let Megan and Max, sorry about that. A well-connected, um, Republican, uh, family. In
fact, um, my father was the campaign manager for Glen Davis, who was the congressman from Wisconsin
for, I want to say three or four terms. Sure. And then, um, he was best friends with, uh,
Odie Fish, who was very influential in state Republican politics and also, um,
national Republican politics. I believe he, I'm not sure which Republican convention he was
involved in, but I think he was a chair for one of the Republican national conventions. Sure.
Sure. And my father was connected. He, he golfed with, I, I know he golfed with Nixon and Ford.
And I think he golfed with some of the other presidents. But, uh, Gerald Ford was at our house
when I was a kid. Uh, yeah. So I was, it was deeply entrenched to be part of the Republican Party.
But the odd thing is my father was also famous for his St. Patrick's Day parties.
And as well as all the influential Republican people, all the Democrats would come to his parties
as well. So this was a different Republican party. My father was part of, there's a greater camaraderie
back then. Yes. It was let's, let's fight fair. Let's get in the ring. Let's exchange blows
in a, in a fair manner. Let's get work done. And then, but when the, when the bolts over,
we tap gloves and we agree on who won. Yeah. And you don't, you hold up the arm of the other
person who won that one because next time it's going to be you. And sometimes you live both arms.
And you know, there was a very well-documented, um, kinship between, um, President Reagan
and Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, a couple of years and they got a lot of work done. Now,
whether you agree with the progress of that work or not, there was a, it was definitely a lot more
bipartisan cooperation and willingness to get things done for the greater good. And we haven't
seen that in almost a generation now. Yeah. With some exceptions. But, uh, um,
I, I sit on a number of boards at the, uh, for the city. So, I apologize. We're going to continue,
we're going to let Kevin continue here as well as how he plans to kind of break up some of that
grid lack, um, if he becomes our, uh, but this next day to Sebblin, stay to Sebblin for the
82nd District. Stick around for this week and watch on WUK 540am 101.1 FF.
Do you recognize this one, Kevin? I do recognize it, but I'm maybe a little ahead or past your time.
The killing moon by Echo and the Bunnyman. Ah, yes, I do remember Echo and the Bunnyman.
My, uh, my, uh, radio shows were, uh, uh, at the time they were, you know, the DJ could do their
own format. Okay. Especially for college radio. Sure. So my, uh, my genre was odd and obscure.
So I tried to play anything that the other people weren't playing. So I was playing reggae and I was
playing college radio. Great British punk. And I was playing German techno. And I was doing all
these, all these bands from around the world that other people weren't even aware. We're a
John right at the time. Very cool. So and now you are a candidate for the 82nd, uh, District
challenging Scott Allen incumbent. Now we, we say incumbent, but even Scott has acknowledged that
with the, um, the fairer maps being redrawn as they say that the district has about 40 or almost
half less than half to somewhere in that 40s number percentage wise of Scott's original district
has, has changed. And so in a lot, in a lot of ways, it's, um, he's running as a first time candidate.
At least for people he's representing for the first time. And then secondarily, he is, um,
it's just a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a, makes for an interesting competition. Is that
fair to say? Um, yeah, I don't, I don't need to look at Scott's situation. I'm just looking at mine.
Sure. Um, I'm, well, I've always been for Waukeshaw. Um, I ran all three of Sean's, uh,
election campaigns. I've been always been interested in followed Waukeshaw politics, the
municipal scene. Um, so my, my interest is really the city of Waukeshaw. And I've,
it's a new district. It's the first time Waukeshaws had had its own. I mean, before we were kind of
cut up into pie pieces. Yeah. If Scott had a piece of that pie, I'm not sure whether he looked at,
like you said, it was under 40 or under 50% of his district. So I don't think he looked at the city
of Waukeshaw is really his concern. But that's what I'm planning on doing is representing the
city of Waukeshaw in the state assembly. Correct. House. Yeah. Terrific. And what would you say,
are you like your three major platform? Like what are the things you'd like to get done as our
state assemblyman? Well, number one, number one, address that revenue sharing issue.
Right now, the state is like I said, sitting on over $5 billion that we've paid you and I done. And
all those Waukeshaw residents paid in in our taxes over the past 20 years with the understanding
that that money was going to our universities, going to our schools, going back to our municipalities
in our counties, which do our do our most of our social services, we thought they were we were
funding them, but they weren't. What they did was they put these crazy caps and formulas on
that limited and sometimes they cut programs so that like today, like I said, 14 were at we're
funding our universities at 14% closing down UW-Waukeshaw, which just broke my heart. Sure.
That we are going to regret that so bad in five years, 10 years, 15 years. I'm looking toward
addressing this because right now what we're doing is we're borrowing against our kids' futures.
We've paid this money in and we should be funding our universities and taking care of our
health care and our wreck programs and funding all the programs, the police, the fire.
And what they're doing instead is they're hamstringing and limiting. There's a number of different
formulas, but there's other states that do much better than us, particularly like Minnesota.
Their taxes are about the same as ours and yet their outcomes are vastly different.
I've heard some really interesting comparisons between Wisconsin and Minnesota in terms of
their approach to things. Now, would you also say kind of breaking up the gridlock or the
the really bipolar the polarizing partisan vitriol? How do you feel? You're mentioning how you
could be a champion on that based on your family's experience and your own experience.
Well, like I was referring to before, I sit on a number of city boards. I sit on the public works
board. I sit on the transit committee board and the board is zoning appeals. And on those on
those boards like the city of Waukesha, we have people that are from the far right parties,
from the far left parties. That's what I enjoyed about my time in the council. You'd have some really
unusual alliances, although getting work done. Although, technically, most people would consider me
because of some of the positions I take on the left, I feel like I'm in the middle because I work
with people on both sides and we get the job done. And we can, like I was talking about before,
we can discuss our differences in a fair, equitable manner. And I get along with these guys,
so we can have a disagreement. We can vote against each other. We can maybe even, you know,
not agree strongly on something. But then after the meeting's over, we're shaking hands and we're
talking about our kids. And we're talking about our pets and our parents and we care about the city.
So I don't, I don't see any problem. I'm not going to go to Madison with the idea of breaking up
the gridlock because I'm just going to stay who I am, which is a guy who fights fair,
stands for his issues and doesn't take it personal. Yeah. So in the minute and a half,
we have left Kevin. What is it you want the voters in the 82nd district to know that we haven't
covered so far here in the show? Just I'm a walkie-shock kid. I grew up playing wreck baseball. I was
rarely put in, but that was because my skill level was so bad. I walked to the YMCA here. I played
in Carroll College as my playground. I went to Randall School as a kindergartener. I then went to
St. Mary's School, Catholic Memorial, had some rough times and had to change schools. I went,
I graduated from South, came a black shirt. Yeah, I was very grateful for that opportunity and
I was very grateful that we were funding our schools at the time. Now it's because of a bunch of
the formulas, the public school kids are really getting a raw deal. Especially the state mandates where
they say that the schools have to provide all these specific services for, for special needs
kids and emotionally challenged kids, et cetera, behavioral challenged. Kevin, we have to have
you back on the show again, closer to the primary and the other things. Kevin Riley, candidate for
the 82nd district, who has described that running as a rally in walk-shows is somewhat a running
as a Kennedy in Massachusetts. We wish you the best luck with your campaign. Megan Lachson
studio and she's on next our candidate for the state senate. plus Jane Matt near will be joining us
from the the farmers market in our second hour here on this week and walk shot in W-A-U-K
by 40 a.m. 101.1 FM the shot and don't forget the city media. Yeah.
June 1st, 2024. If it's eight o'clock on Saturday morning, it's still time for this week in
walk-a-shot second hour. I'm your host Don Brown. I'm joined by the mighty max martinson on the board.
And we're coming to you live in local from the office of former alderman Don Paul Brown here in the
W-A-U-K studios in downtown walk-a-shot right around the corner from the Adore Yalman's park where
you're proud to honor our suffragette heritage here in the shot. And my guest here in the second
hour is Megan Lach, our candidate for the 28th district of the state senate challenging
Julian Bradley. But first, I am proud to introduce our today's ambassador from the farmers market.
Jane Matt near Jane, are you there? I am here done and it's not raining yet. So if you want to come
down to the walk-a-shot farmers market. And there's a bunch of people here already. I think everybody's
trying to beat the rain. Not supposed to come in for a couple of hours. It's a really lovely
morning down here at the walk-a-shot farmers market. And everything you need, seriously,
from fresh flower bouquets to beautiful radishes and onions. Everybody's got lettuce. There are
mushrooms for sale. The pickled variety. The fresh variety. There's jewelry. There's pottery.
Just about everything that you're looking for. If you want a little snack, there's a couple of
food trucks down here. It's going to be a lovely, lovely morning. No bugs and no mosquitoes.
It doesn't get much better than this. And also, if you want to come by and stop by the civic
media tent, we have some little snacks for the kids. We have some candy. We also have treats
for your dogs. And if you come by with your dog, I would love to take a picture of your dog.
We're going to start a gallery of the dogs of the walk-a-shot farmers market all throughout the
summer as W-A-U-K is out here. And also, if you stop by the W-A-U-K civic media tent,
I will show you where you can get a maple bacon scone that will likely change the course of
your entire life. So, I hope to see you down here this morning. It's going to be a lot of fun.
We're here at least while the weather holds. Hopefully it'll hold off until the very end.
But for right now, Jane Mattenair, come on by, say hello, civic media W-A-U-K tent out here at the
walk-a-shot farmers market in downtown walk-a-shot. Thank you so much, Don. We'll talk to you soon.
Thanks, Jane. We'll see you about 834. Jane Mattenair, host of Mattenair on air Monday through
Friday, 10 to 12. And she's also joined by Greg Bach, who's also, they make a wonderful team.
And it's a really terrific show. I highly encourage you. And you can also, you know, please
download the civic media app too. It's a great way to catch Mattenair and air and all the other great
civic media programming. And speaking of civic media, they have a new promotion called Scotty Summer.
Civic Media's next text-to-win contest. It starts Monday, June 3rd at 7 a.m.
And tune in and text in for a chance to win prizes like Wisconsin Dells prize packs,
Brewers Club level tickets. Max, you know, Max was talking, sharing his excitement in the first
hour about the brewer's success. Plus the chance to win the Scotty Summer staycation. So more on that,
be sure to tune into civic media starting June 3rd Monday, June 3rd at 7 a.m.
And I believe that's the Pat Critello show for those of us here in North news with Pat Critello
and Greg Bach as well. So so much to look forward to here. But I also look forward to my next guest
here, Megan Lack of now we're civic media. What's the company work for? Civic Plus. Civic Plus.
But she's not here to talk about Civic Plus. Although it's they make software for governments.
Is that right? Yes for local government city and county level. Very cool niche. But she is here
in a different capacity. She has initially she had announced her candidacy for the state assembly
seat. I was going to do battle with Kevin Riley and Sam Domingo. But then she decided to
there was an opening for state senate challenging and coming in Julian Bradley. And so
she's she's jumped up to the the senate opportunity. And so tell us about yourself Megan.
Yeah. Good morning, Don. Thanks for having me. Yeah. Thanks for being here. That's a beautiful day.
And it was great hearing about the farmers market. I actually passed it on the way here.
And yeah, there's a lot of people there already and it reminded me to go by later this morning
before I have to pick up my daughter. Nice. But yeah, about myself. I was born and raised here
in Wakstra County. I grew up in Delafield. Went to Katamurian High School. And after that, I went to
you know, you don't be River Falls. A lot of people don't know where that is. But way up, you know,
just out of Hudson, Wisconsin. And started marketing and then decided to spend some time on the
west coast on the east coast and came back here in 2016 resettled because, you know, families here.
And then I had my daughter and boom, here we are seven years later decided to run for senate.
Love it. So how old is your daughter then? She's seven. Seven fantastic. So she's been helping out
the campaign. Oh, yeah. I've been joking that she is. I've got the best doorbell ringer.
But in all reality, she loved it for about the first two weeks. And then she was like, Mom,
can I stay home? And I was like, yeah, that's fine. That's my daughter was the first running for
Alderman. So I managed to get her to help me go door to door. And so it is fun when you get the kids
involved. Yeah, they enjoy it. And it's a nice surprise for people because they always wonder
when they open the door, they're like, are they selling something? Why are they here? And then
they're like, Oh, there's a child here, you know, it's a little bit more exciting. So changes things
up. So let's cut to the chase Megan. Why do you want to be the next state senator for the 28th
district? Which by the way, covers Waukesha. And there's three assembly districts. And that
includes the 82nd district here in Waukesha. So it covers most of Waukesha, right?
It does. Most of the city of and village of Waukesha, it's assembly districts 82, 83 and 84.
So that goes all the way in the north from Waukesha down to Waterford and then west to McWanago
over to Muskego. So very big territory. And to really answer your question, it goes back to
a very simple thing. And that's love. And that might sound a little corny. But I was thinking about
this before actually going to the drag event hosted by the Waukesha Dems in December because I had
an opportunity to speak there. And I was laying down with my daughter doing my best not to fall
asleep myself because as a parent, you know, the worst thing you could ever do in the evening. Sure.
But yeah, it comes down to my love for her, my love for the state and for my family and friends.
And maintaining the freedoms that they have now. And making sure that everybody has the opportunity
to love who they want, read the books they want, have the equal opportunity to education.
And those things are slowly being shipped away right now. And growing up, I was always blessed with
big opinions. Sure. And when you have big opinions, the best thing you do about you can do about
is it actually takes some action. So I've done that in numerous ways, whether that's leadership through
work. I've also been on H.O.A.s. I'm currently on the Academy of School District Financial
Advisory Committee. And now it's time to take some action on state level.
So you're still a big fan of kettle marine athletics?
Big fan. The lasers. And actually, I haven't been able to enjoy it yet. But they actually just
got a brand new stadium. And something that I always like to say, especially from a financial
standpoint, is that for football? For football. Yeah, box stadium is brand new since inception. A
lot of that had to do with safety reasons with the bleachers. Okay. But it also came down to a
lot of people are like, are there is my tax dollars? And no, it was all donation funded.
Yeah, it's all getting new bleachers put into. So that's exciting. Yeah. So it's great. You're
true to your school, which may cost you some votes here in Warkishov. It's KM. But that's okay.
Yeah. But that's how you speak the truth. So how are you doing on time, Maxi?
Sounds great. Hey, then before I forget, Max will not be here next week. We have four minutes.
Max is going to be helping to broadcast the circus parade in this hometown of Barraboot.
Tell us about their effect. So excited. Yeah. So circus parade is next week.
Parade starting at about 11 a.m. Downtown Barraboot. They're expecting quite a few people this
year. I think a little bit more than they were even last year, which was supposed to be an
up year because of all the hype of it being the last year of the elephant. So no elephants this
year. But they got a bunch of bunch more stuff planned. We're going to start production on that
here coming up this next week and should have everything ready for Saturday.
Would it be giraffes? I am not sure. They were. We did have a giraffe one year. I remember,
I think it was our second year or at least my second year helping with the parade.
But yeah, there's no elephants this year. I remember last year was a huge spectacle because
they were going into retirement. And I remember it was so hot that day that they actually had to have
a water truck in front of the elephants to spray water on the ground. Now it would have been a fun
gig. Hosing the elephants during the parade. So I would have dressed up for that had like fun gear
on. I made that a neat thing. So well, thanks for sharing that Max and Max will not be here next
week. But we will our guest is Scott Allen and are the incumbent in the 82nd district assembly.
And then the other challenger who couldn't be with us this morning, Samuel Domingo, the young
Sam Domingo will be here in that last half hour. We'll be interviewed by James Santel feeling in
for me in the last half hour. So I make my son's high school graduation. So and that you have a long
way to go before your daughter's graduation. So how will what will be I'm sure people may ask,
how do you plan on balancing that? That you know, as a parent and someone that'll be traveling
to Madison frequently. Yeah, a lot of that has to come down to two things. Support with work
because you know, not everybody has the opportunity and flexibility that I do. I work from home.
So they are absolutely on board, but also it comes down to familiar support before I even decided
to run for office. I got their support because I am a single mom and it is a balancing act for
any parent, but it also comes down to prioritization and making sure that we can still do what we've
always wanted to do. But really, she's excited for it. She doesn't really know what it is. Sure.
But we've been talking about it. Now, you know, we were just talking about, you know, getting all
of these signatures in and now we're done with that. She's like, we don't have to do that anymore.
No, not for another four years. How many signatures do you have to get for Senate?
For Senate, it's a minimum of 400 and a max of eight. So I came in at 556 and there were only about
18 that were disqualified. So I think we're at 536. So you're good. Yeah, that's. Yeah, for
for city councils, only 20, but the snag is is that it you only have from like December 2nd
to like January 1st to get them. And what the holidays, it's not always the easiest thing
collecting, though, is even if it is 20 signatures. I was sure. And walking around in the cold
is never fun. Yeah. So it's one thing you have in common with Kevin, because Kevin Reilly,
who was on earlier that candidate for the second assembly, he was a single parent too.
For many years, raising blue, three children. And so you have one thing, the only thing you don't
have in common is Kevin has deep roots in Waukeshaw while you're from Waukeshaw County. Tell us
a little bit real briefly and then we'll continue on what your plan is for, you know, getting yourself
getting people more familiar with you here in the Shaw and other parts of the your district.
Yeah, it's actually really simple. It's just showing up in meeting people and even going through
the signature process of going door to door. I had an opportunity to really have some great
conversations. And people are very engaged in what's going on. And they're excited to see that
people are out there. We're going to learn more about those conversations that Megan Lock Canada
for State Senate had with some of the neighbors here. And also a little bit more about her platform
in what she looks to achieve should she become the next State Senator here. And this week in
Waukeshaw by 40am 101.1 FM this Shaw and this week media app.
Hey, listen, this week in Waukeshaw and I I'm your host down Brown and I am on the road to
Shambhala and my guest is as Megan Lock Canada for State Senate, 28th district and can't forget
the mighty Max Martinson clad in a blue jays jersey on the board, but he got that blue jays jersey
when he road tripped to Toronto to catch the brewers at Roger Stadium. Is that what they call that
Roger center. Yeah. Okay. I think that I'm a blue jays fan.
Pretty soon here. No, no. Hey, so real quick, Max. I got a text here from Triple G Greg
Lonsoniter. He said he sent some text to the main studio line. He's got some events he wants to
announce. If you see, if you're able to access those that be go ahead and chime in, let us know.
And in the meantime, Megan was we were talking about your campaign trail and what's a
what what are some of the things constituents are saying? What would they like to see in our
State Senate? They'd like to see some action in our reality because they're tired of things being
one sided and I agree with them. We have the fair maps now, which is incredible. You know,
that was almost a decade battle from a legal standpoint. Oh, yeah. But it really comes down to
having fair representation. You know, we don't want it to be one sided, whether that be them or
Republican, it needs to be an equal balance of both so that all voices are heard.
Terrific. Now, it's no secrets. Walkershot County, City Walkshaws is pretty red,
although we've seen and we started talking about this with Kevin that City Walkshaws becoming
a little more purple. You know, what is your message for getting through to a lot of voters about
why they should take a hard look at your campaign and what you're able to do for them?
Yeah, it really comes down to the fact that
what I'm running on is general well-being for everyone. It's not specifically a democratic agenda.
It's one of my favorite quotes is actually from Mickey Kendall. I don't know if you've ever read
the book Hood Feminism, but it's a really incredible book on her experience growing up in the
South Side Chicago. But it's, we rarely talk about basic needs as a feminist issue. Right. And
that food insecurity and access to quality education, safe neighborhoods, a living wage and medical
care are all feminist issues. And those in its core are really what I'm running on and making sure
that everyone has access to those basic needs to live their life how they choose. And it seems
really simple, but at the same time, it's a it's a big uphill battle because of modern
legislation, but also what's been happening over the last 50 years, especially with the overturning
of row. Yeah, I'm glad you mentioned you obviously had some hot buttons with me with food insecurity
because it is it is it is an issue here in in the city, walk, shalom, but I would have to imagine
throughout the state too. Yes, it's become a big problem. And any specific ideas like how you
would plan to attack that or what how you would form alliances maybe to help improve the situation?
Sure, a lot of that comes down to safety within schools and making sure that we have
common sense gun laws because both our teachers and our students need to come home. And that's a
concern that all parents have every day. You know, there's people that even take photos of their
children every day so that they know how to identify them by what they're wearing. And that's a
terrifying thought. Sure. But also from an educational standpoint of safety, being able to
for teachers to be able to teach what they want to and what they should. Historical fact, you
know, those things shouldn't be things that we're deciding for teachers. So things like bookbans
and things like, you know, the don't say gay bill in Florida that some of those thoughts and
legislations are starting to come here to Wisconsin. And we need to protect those things because
teachers need to be able to talk freely about things that are happening. And I understand there's
restrictions within that that makes sense. But at the same time, teachers should be able to acknowledge
that there is more than just your standard family. You know, I'm a single parent. And that's a
different type of family. It might be a gay couple or even a single father. You know, every family
looks a little bit different. And to talk about that from a general standpoint should be just fine.
You know, LGBTQ issues are not just
outside the box. They are very real families and very real people that need support. And so being
able to have conversations within the education system shouldn't be limited. Okay.
Terrific. Hey, just taking a break for a quick second to announce that the City of
Waxha has a new strategic plan. They recently adopted it. You can actually see a video about it
on the city website. The plan is a roadmap for progress that will guide decision making and
resource allocation to achieve the city's vision. The new plan focuses on four key strategic
priorities, financial sustainability, service and excellence, people centered development,
and engage community. Each of these priorities has specific goals and objectives for implementation
as well as metrics for measuring progress. So the city looks forward to implementing that over
the next five years and will report regularly on the process of those initiatives.
So you see what's going on here at the city level. Does that resonate with you at the state level
or these things that we should be focusing on, financial sustainability, service and excellence?
Yeah, I think all of those things resonate on both the local and the state level. And that's
another opportunity that being a state senator can focus on because one focusing on what our local
needs are here in Waxha and further out in the 28th district. But also from a state level
is being able to have those conversations because while the city of Waxha, I consider a part of
Metro Milwaukee is a larger city with a lot of city issues, but also taking into account things
that are outside of what we currently have here. We're surrounded by agriculture. And a lot of
things that people aren't talking about is what's happening with agriculture. And you talked
about food insecurity and what's going on from a federal standpoint. But here at a local
standpoint is also supporting our farmers. Going to River Falls, it's an ag school in addition to
being highly focused on education. But it allowed me to get really close to some friends who do run
local family farms. And from a broad standpoint, family farms are suffering, whether that be in
the beef or dairy industry, but they're being pushed out. And I just read a statistic the other day
that nationwide, there were 140,000 local family farms that shut down in the last year.
That means that when it comes to where we're sourcing our food is becoming smaller and smaller.
And having local access to food is incredibly important from a food source standpoint,
but also when you start to think about corporate infiltration into what's happening on a local
level. So those are other things that can be that I can impact as a state senator.
Fantastic. So you really did your homework on this?
Oh yes. Lots and lots of studying. And you know what? The more I learn, the more I need to know.
Sure. I mean, did you always, because for me, you know, me at a young age, I think I read a book
about Robert Kennedy, a children's book, and that, and I was like, maybe 10 or 11 in that spot.
I was like, I want to go into a public service. I want to be an elected official. I want to, you know,
be a community leader in one capacity or another. And you always had, you know, like from your
youth and interest in serving to be a public servant and elected official. I've always had the draw.
And actually, it's funny. Some of my earliest political conversations were actually with my
grandmother. I would, that's fantastic. My Irish grandmother. Yep. Mine is English. And she
actually grew up in Kansas and then found her way to California. Sounds good. Her 20s.
We're going to continue the story about Megan's family. I like where this is going here.
And this week on WUK 540 AM 101.1 FM this shot. And don't forget the civic media app.
Hey, listening to this week in Waukesha. And for those of you who don't remember.
This is a 10 years after what the song is up to change the world. And that's what my guests
were talking about. At least changing the world in Wisconsin. We had Kevin Riley on earlier.
Candidate for 82nd Assembly. And now we have Megan Locke. And pronouncing it's Locke, right?
Yes, it's Locke. Spelled LACH. Yeah, I always say Bach with an L.
There you go. Ah, Bach. One of my favorite mash episodes. But Megan's running. She's
challenging incumbent Julian Bradley for the state Senate 28th district. You'll be running in
the Democratic primary unopposed. Correct. Correct. Yep. And so that will then likely be a victory.
And then you'll be challenging in the general election. Julian Bradley. And so you know,
I get is in Julian Bradley. His campaign. They've been invited to appear on this show. But I
have not heard back. So we'll see what how that goes. We have a caller. Of course, it's Jane
McNair from the Waukeshaw Farmers Market with the half hour update. Jane, tell us what's going on
there. It is such a perfect morning here, Don. I'm serious. If not too hot, it's perfect.
There's no bugs. I can't think of a better time for you to head down and join us here at the
Waukeshaw Farmers Market in the parking lot of the Waukeshaw State Bank right along the river
here in downtown Waukeshaw. A couple of things to consider. Not only do they have beautiful
bouquets of fresh flowers, they have beautiful hanging baskets. So if you're looking for something
for your backyard, you haven't picked one up yet. Because that's where I'm going right after I
get off the phone with you. They have these gorgeous hanging baskets for $30. Nice. Vegetables down.
Fresh asparagus, radishes, all kinds of lettuce. The largest carrots I think I have ever seen.
One carrot can probably feed five. There's also fresh honey. There's pottery. Of course, fresh
bakery. David, who's with me and did our setup today. What this incredible pull apart cheddar
biscuit thing. It's remarkable. And of course, the maple and bacon scone that could possibly change
the course of your entire life. Stop by the civic media tent and say hello. We've got some treats
for the kids. We have dog treats. Speaking of your dog, there's a place here where you can get your
dog's nails trimmed. There are a couple of places here where you can get your knives sharpened.
This is one stop shopping. I'm telling you a jewelry stall. Everything you're looking for. Not to
mention all the incredible food. There's Thai food. Then there's wail and food, including empanadas.
And then hot dogs and burgers. There's coffee, iced coffee, lemonade. You name it.
Come down and say hello. We are here at the Waukeshoff Farmers Market until noon today.
I hope to see you here. This is Jane McNair for WAUK Radio back to you done.
Hey, thanks so much, Jane. And you can catch Jane every Monday through Friday, 10 to 12 with
McNair on air with Jane and Greg Bach. And it's which is rhymes with Megan Locke. That's how we
pronounce it. But yeah, definitely check out Jane's show. She's really one of the great legends
in Milwaukee area radio having worked with TMJ for, I guess, close to 30 years. And she's been
involved with civic media for a couple of years now. And I really enjoy I catch up on all things
Wisconsin when I'm listening to McNair and air 10 to 12 Monday through Friday. And speaking of
shows, we, the office of former Alderman down Paul Brown here has been graced again with the
visit from one of my legal counselors, James Santel, who show Amicus, a lot of you, or as I call
Atticus, as an ode to Jim. And he's, he's graced me and my guess I'm showing this on the stream.
I had with this E Claire from Gloria Osos on Brady Street. It's as big as your head. I can't
wait to dive into that. So, but we wanted to continue this conversation with Megan Locke.
You're talking about how you, you, you used to talk politics a lot with your grandmother.
Did. Yes. And so yeah, let's continue that because we're going, I like to where you're going with
this. Oh, yeah. Um, so I'd occasionally spend weekends at her place. She lived about 10 minutes
from my parents. I grew up in Delafield. She lived in Wales just outside of the high school.
And I'd go over there and we'd say, we get ready for bed, we'll lay down and then we'd start
talking. And she always loved to talk about politics and just the impact that they had on various
levels. You know, it just, she became a single mother when my father was in high school.
My grandfather passed away. Unfortunately, but it really comes down to her just excitement
talking about politics and how in depth it would get. And we would, I think I was like 12 when
we started talking about it. And just, I got interested because of that. I had numerous family
members that were a part of the military. I thought about going into the military myself,
but that never really came to fruition for various reasons. But started paying attention to how,
you know, my big opinions could impact things because my mother always used to say from my grandmother
that if you don't, if you don't vote, you can't be word. Yeah, I can't say that on the air.
Yeah. But that's where it comes down to. And if you're going to have those big opinions,
you need to participate because then that's the only opportunity that you can take action.
It doesn't have to be in big ways like running for senate. It can be in small ways by getting
involved with your local church, with your local school, with your local HOA because that's always
a fun button for people. Sure. Yeah. I'm glad you said that. Yeah. I used to be on the board
of my HOA myself because those are all decisions that are happening around us that people don't
necessarily think about because they think about the federal, those big decisions. But it all comes
down to local government, whether that be municipal, state, etc. Yeah. I'm really glad you mentioned
to voting. And at the beginning of my show, I always, and at the beginning of second hour,
I always reference Theodore Yalman's park right on the corner and an honor of our suffrage
ad heritage. And not many people know, and I wouldn't expect you having grown up in Delafield.
Theodore Yalman was the president of the women's suffrage movement. She was a reporter for the
watchoffer. He meant a Carol graduate. And she was instrumental in not only helping us achieve
women's suffrage, but also having Wisconsin become the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment.
I actually have that ornament on my Christmas tree.
There was an ornament, huh? There was an ornament. My mother found it when we were in
watchoffer for the Wisconsin Historical Society. And they had it and she gave it to me as a
Christmas gift. I love it. I love it. Yeah. And so I really want to do more to embrace that heritage
and to celebrate it and bring more exposure and awareness to us. And we are referencing
Les Paul earlier. And he's the favorite son. And that's a great tradition. But also this,
I think Theodore Yalman, there should be a statue to her. I mean, the park is nice.
I agree. But I think having a big statue and in teaching it in our schools,
I get it's really important for not just women, but all people that know the importance of voting
and how important that franchise is for you, that right, that undeniable right. And the fact
that women in particular spilled a lot of blood for that right to vote. Not just for women,
but for a lot of other people. And quick segue, speaking of women heroes, one of my guests,
and I forgot to ask Jane about this, a regular exhibit at the farmers market for at least the
last seven years. She calls herself Sarah, Sarah the author that's the name of her stand.
And she also, she's Sarah Bradley and she gifted me this book. She was a guest on my show last
April 27th as we were promoting the, along with, um, Euro Kushner over from Alaska Fresh. So we
were promoting the upcoming farmers market, which is now in full session as we know. But, um,
I started reading this book and it's called Warren Roses. And the heroine in the book is her name is
Max Marchino. And she got the name Max, her full name's Max McGee Marchino. Her father, she was
the youngest of five girls and father wanted a son so bad that he basically willed the name.
I already had the birth certificate filled on everything. And so she was born Max McGee Marchino
after her dad's, one of her dad's favorite packers. And, um, even though she turned out to be a girl,
her dad had raised her in a lot of ways that he would raise a boy, taught her out of fish and hunt.
And, um, also had to defend herself when she was being bullied by a boy in school that later as
adults is kind of one of her big rivals in the county. And, um, she helps her ex-husband,
who's a former, um, who's a deputy sheriff of solved mysteries in the county. And so, really
enjoying this book. Thank you, Sarah. Stop by that booth and check out some of her literature. She's
a lot of fun. And, um, really enjoying this read, especially a good Wisconsin read. You're really,
and this, this, it takes place in a fictional county called Duck Lake County.
Excuse me, Black Duck County in Northern Wisconsin. So some good, good Wisconsin lawyers celebrated,
here, uh, in Sarah's books. So, but returning with Megan Locke, candidate for our state senate,
what have we missed so far? What have we covered with Megan Locke, the candidate, the person
that listeners should know about? Great question. I would say that
we need more people that are just average Wisconsinites taking place in our offices.
You know, I'm a single mom. I'm 38 years old. I work full time. And there's a lot of things that
impact me and those around me on a daily basis from a policy standpoint. And a lot of people
that you talk to, they say, oh, I'm not political. And I was like, can you explain that to me?
Yeah. Um, because everything that happens, uh, so you cloistered, are you like one of those, uh,
hermit, like, uh, missionaries, you know, you know, I give baby, but it also just comes down to the fact
that everything from a policy standpoint affects the things we do from the food we eat to the
books we read to the schools that were allowed to attend on various levels. And it just comes down
to making sure that all of those things are still attainable for everyone. Um, but also just
we need the average everyday person in there. A lot of times, you know, we get people that
are of a certain age at our certain wealth, making decisions about our everyday lives.
Right. And we need younger people of average means
being able to share what's going on around us and actually taking into consideration our constituents
and their needs. I'm glad you said and I would do one better in saying there's no such thing as
an average citizen. All of us have unique experiences that can contribute to the greater good. And
if you have children or even if you don't, you have neighbors that you care about, um, because
everybody cares about something. There should be a, um, a political aspect to this. And so, um,
Max is cutting in a song here, gratefully. And it's, um, one of my favorite beach plays songs,
God only knows it more. We're playing it as an old, um, today, regretfully, is the second
anniversary of my mother-in-law's passing, my mother-in-law Kathy and I, I'm pretty sure Rick
her husband's listening. So this goes out to you and to all of our family. Um, she's sorely missed,
but um, is very, very present in our lives and, um, never far from our thoughts. And so that song is
played with love in honor of my mother-in-law, um, Kathy who left us two years ago today. And, um,
just as the song says, you know, uh, God only knows where all of us and our family would be without
her and the tremendous influence on and love that she had for us. So, um, thanks for, um,
juxtaposing that, um, Max. And, um, I'm sure your, your daughter thinks the same way about you,
you know, God, I mean, and she's at the age where she still expresses it. She's not a tween or
teen yet. Oh, no. She's, she is amazing. And I know I'm biased, but she really is. Um, she actually
filled out a bucket list the other day for as a part of a school assignment and one of the things
that she was doing that she mentioned that she wanted to do this summer is hang out with mom.
And I was like, I will covet that and dig into that as often as possible because you're right.
At a certain age, they say it's around 12 to 13. It's really about development really, um,
and coming into their own, but they start to step away from their parents and they usually come
back, you know, I came back to my parents. I have a great relationship with them. But yeah, around
12, 13, you start to explore and pay attention to other people's opinions and how those get influenced.
So I will embrace all of that love and joy with her as long as I can. Sure. Oh, great. Yeah,
I think she'll have a big influence. I've, if should you be elected, I think she'll be great
having her opinions on what's going on in school and what, what youth are facing, especially
in this day and age where there's so much more social media they're dealing with and all these
other challenges with our current technologies are developing rapidly developing technologies.
Well, and another thing that somebody said to me the other day was, you know, don't be guilty about
the time that you're spending on this. And a lot of times mom's specifically feel a lot of guilt
for pursuing their own endeavors. And I was actually talking about this with my sister and I was
like, no, it sets an example for your children that you value them, but then you also value your
own experience because people are multifaceted. Yes, I'm a mom, but I'm also, I was, I was a person
before I became a mom and I still have a lot of those values and goals and ambitions that I still
want to pursue. And her getting to see me do that sets apart, you know, oh, I can do those things
too. The conversation continues with Megan Lack candidate for state senate 28th district.
And plus we're going to talk about a zoning update from the city walk shot and some other
local news. And don't forget, Atticus is on next with James Santel and there'll be a lot to talk
about with the current legal issues going on in our country today.
And again, as an ode to Theodore Yomans, it's we have David Bowie, suffragette city. And you're
here in the suffragette city here in Wackasha. And my guest is Megan Lack candidate for state senate.
But first we've got a call from one of our favorite listeners, triple G Greg Wantsoniter. Greg,
are you there? Hey, I'm here and I'll make it really brief because I appreciate that.
No, they don't have a lot of time left. But first of all, hello, Megan. I love what you stand for
and I haven't visited your website yet, but I will after this show. I'm sure you'll say what it is
again, so that we all know. But God, I just wanted to point out one thing, the Hope Center,
the new Hope Center in Wackasha is re you guys were talking about in food insecurity. I think
I have an email that the Hope Center is critically short of peanut butter and jelly and other
items. So as well as other food padries peanut butter and jelly seems to be a hot commodity these days.
And also just real quick, congratulations to Wackasha North High School.
Your alma mater performed in my alma mater. They performed in New York City this past week. So
go North stars. So awesome. So thanks Don for the time and Megan. I look forward to hearing more
from you and maybe visiting with you sometime at a local coffee shop. Well, that would be fantastic.
We'll try to make that happen yet. So we need to catch up too. So Greg, thanks so much for the call.
Greg wine's night or everybody. Wackasha North and Carol alum and working currently at
Carol University among other projects he has going on. So I was great to hear from Greg. And we
want to wrap up the conversation with Megan and yeah, I'm Greg made an interesting point.
Do you have a what's your website your URL or best way to for people to learn more about you
Yeah, great plug. Thanks triple G. My website is lock for Wisconsin. So it's LACHFORWI.com.
But I'm also on Facebook and Instagram as well as TikTok. So now that we're officially on the ballot,
one of the hardest ways to actually get younger people involved is meeting them where they're at.
So I'm going to start hosting some Instagram live or excuse me some TikTok lives and Instagram
lives as just a way for people to get to know me a little bit better. But it's also a way for people
much like myself to get to know me as well. Because a lot of times, you know, middle-aged people,
younger middle-aged people have young families and they don't have the opportunity to come out to
events and come and meet people because they're taking care of their families. So it's an
opportunity for me to meet them in their homes and have some great conversation.
Terrific. I like all of that. And one thing that didn't get a chance to cover with Kevin,
but I certainly want to try to circle the loop with him on that is what about economic development?
What could you do to influence economic development in Wisconsin?
Economic development in Wisconsin. A lot of it comes down to actually what a local group is doing in
Milwaukee. They are called Milwaukee. They've been around for I think 12 years now. Sure, I've heard
it. Yeah. But it's keeping in maintaining the talent that we have in the state. Because a lot
of times, I did the same thing. You graduate college, you go on to other states and then a lot of
people don't necessarily come back. So we want to keep our educators, our healthcare workers,
you know, our police and fire. A lot of times those people find life in it and other places.
But keeping them here, I think, from a workforce standpoint, is a key factor.
I mean, people still view Milwaukee as a rust belt city, but it actually is a tech belt city.
It is. It's been growing there. It's been growing there. Yeah. It's been a decade.
Whatever we can do to market that and promote that and create more awareness and excitement.
Because it is a great area for young people to live. Not just Milwaukee, but even here in the
Shaw and this university city. There's a lot for young people to do and still having access to the
great Milwaukee right next door or close. Oh, yeah. I love being 20 minutes from the
Chicago and the Twin Cities and you're really in a great place geographically. And so I think
whatever we can do to promote that is important. And switching gears to just one second,
the city of walkshaws in the process of rewriting the zoning code. The purpose of this project is
to make sure that the codes are up to date, reflect modern practices and help position
our city for the future. If you go to the city website, there was a survey. You can complete
in English or Spanish about, you know, what you'd like to see happen with the code.
Very important stuff. And then don't forget we've got the pools open next Saturday.
And then there's a Buckner Fest. I believe it's taking place either that day or the next day.
And I'm sorry, Friday, June 7th is when the pools open. Saturday, June 8th is Buckner Fest.
And then tribute Tuesday opens June 11th with the Eric Clapton tribute band. So lots of
you here in the Shaw and you know, returning to Megan made some good points about economic
development. What are some of the other issues we haven't covered that you'd like your listeners to
know about and why they should seriously consider your candidacy? Yeah. My top four are always going to
be public education, healthcare, specifically women's reproductive rights and then the separation
of church and state because a lot of our legislation, we need to remember that religion is a beautiful
thing. But we also have the freedom of religion in this country and we cannot make legislation
that is focused on one particular religion's viewpoints because not everybody believes in those
viewpoints. So maintaining that separation also helps us with our schools and many other
economics. That's great. Megan Locke, candidate for 28th district state senate. Thank you for
joining us. Thanks to Kevin Riley, candidate for state assembly 82nd district. Incomments,
Scott Allen of the 82nd assembly district is my guest next week along with Sam Demiko,
another challenger and remember safety is everyone's responsibility and thanks for joining us. See
you
