For Immediate Release Contact: Elizabeth Coggs for State
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Ecoggs4senate@gmail.com
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"No Taxation WithoutRepresentation"
Milwaukee– It’s funny how a complex examination of redistricting and elections can betrivialized and reduced to an out of context comment about "looks."Much has been made of a comment I made at a recent community meeting, whenasked about the division within the Democratic Party. I have shared my concernswith the party and my view/opinion may not be popular with others. I understandthe history of the battle for our community's representation, my mother MarciaCoggs was this state's first African-American State Legislator; her victory wasnot easy and it only came with the support of the community.
Every 10 years during redistrictingthere has historically been a lot of vigorous debate about representation,except this time, because of the secret and divisive process used by theRepublican Party. A civilized debate could have been held in appropriate placesuch as caucus or on the assembly floor rather than a community meeting orthrough sound bites in newspapers. Andin these particular debates the concerns of underrepresented communities couldhave been addressed.
In the 1980's there were fourAfrican-Americans out of 99 representatives for the state, and currently we haveeight. That doubling of representation happened through thoughtful discourse,hard fought elections and even lawsuits requiring that districts be reconfiguredto give communities of color the greatest opportunity possible to elect aperson who best reflects the interests of the demographics of that district.
The Democratic Party itself recentlyfought a legal case against the map designed for the state and ultimately won,resulting in forcing the state to reconfigure south side districts. And it is my opinion that in this electioncycle we could return to 1980’s level of representation if we do not vote and notto mention that this would be a disservice to our ancestors and the fight andstruggle they went through to increase representation for our community.
Moreover, my comments were not aimedat any one person or district, just at reminding our community about thestruggle those who came before us to get the representation levels we currentlyhave and how important it is for us never to forget that. Ultimately, the Voterswill decide who they choose to represent them, my hope is that norepresentation is lost for our community and the best people win so that we canwork diligently to address the needs of our community.
Authorized and paid for by ElizabethCoggs for State, Kaylynn Blackwell, Treasurer
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