The Wisconsin State Legislature has ended its 2010 session as of Thursday, April 22 (with two all-nighters during the final week to finish up their business). There are several work sessions scheduled for May, but the Legislature will next officially meet, with newly-elected and returning members, on January 3, 2011.
All 99 State Assembly seats and ½ of the 33 State Senate seats, and all eight Congressional seats and one U.S. Senate seat, are up for election this year. In addition, it’s been 26 years since we’ve had a gubernatorial race without an incumbent. Campaigning on all levels now starts in earnest, leading up to the primary election on September 14 and the general election on November 2.
So it’s a big election year for Wisconsin. Candidates will be energetically campaigning, speaking, writing, debating and fundraising throughout the state. The gubernatorial and Congressional races will be big news, and there will be many hotly-contested legislative races as the Democrats work to keep their majority in the Senate and Assembly, and the Republicans work to become the majority party again.
2010 is a very important election year in Wisconsin, and therefore it is an important year for envisioning the future. This election season presents Wisconsin’s arts sector with a golden opportunity. From now through the general election on November 2, all of the candidates for Governor, Congress and the Legislature are going to be talking about their dreams, ideas, and plans for Wisconsin’s future in their debates, speeches, forums and white papers.
We want the candidates to know that now, more than ever, investment in the arts, arts education and creative economy is not separate from the overall priorities of the state-it’s vital to the overall health and well-being of the people of Wisconsin. We want them to include the arts, arts education and creative economy in their ideas, dreams and plans!
Categories: Advocacy, Creative economy, Leadership