My Platform

This is my platform and it spells out that which I believe – my values. These are based on what I have seen, experienced and learned, and I want to share these with you. Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope that you will consider getting involved in our campaign to restore respect for Wisconsin, one Assembly District at a time!

* Helping small businesses start and prosper – For nearly a decade I owned my own small business. I joined Forward Janesville and promoted my business by getting involved in my community and by joining a service club – Janesville Noon Lions. I worked hard to provide high quality customer service to my clients. I know what it takes to run a small business and how important small businesses are to our economy, our communities, to our way of life.

* Government’s responsibility of helping the elderly – For the past 4+ years, I’ve been playing piano at nursing homes and retirement communities across Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, providing entertainment for the residents. I see first-hand how important quality care is, as well as the difference between facilities that are able to better take care of their residents and those that are struggling. I understand the importance of making sure that those in the later stage of life are able to enjoy it and have a meaningful existence.* Preserving local control of our communities – Serving on the Janesville City Council, I have seen the damage that Scott Walker’s policies have brought to our local communities, taking control away from local governments, and inserting themselves in the relationships between the city councils and our unions. I understand the importance of everyone working together to achieve the best possible result, because we get further by working together to achieve our goals instead of by telling others what to do.

* The right of Wisconsin residents to cast a vote unrestrained - I place an extremely high value on the ability of voters and citizens to vote and to pick our government in the way that is free, accessible, and secure. I was born and spent the first 13 years of my life in the Soviet Union. When my family and I came to the United States in 1988, we came as refugees seeking the freedoms of democracy. The reforms instituted in Wisconsin in the last few months under the guise of fighting fraud, in reality have put in danger the ability of minorities, elderly, and the disabled to cast their

votes. My parents uprooted their lives to give me an opportunity to participate in the democratic process, and I consider the ability to cast a vote vital to a well-functioning democracy.

* The right of unions to collectively bargain – The ability of people to negotiate for their wages and working conditions, are essential to a quality working place. As a member of Janesville City Council, I have spoken strongly in support of unions and voted in favor of several resolutions supporting collective bargaining. Wisconsin has been the home to the union movement and our progressive heritage demands that we take a strong stance in protecting that which has been accomplished through much struggle. Unions improve the wages and quality of life for all working people–not just union members.

* The government’s responsibility of helping businesses create jobs – Throughout my time on the Janesville City Council, I have been involved in a number of initiatives that helped local businesses expand, and brought other businesses to our area. Janesville has been hit particularly hard because of the closure of the General Motors plant, but I am proud of how our community is making the transition to the future. I have stood up in support of private businesses, which are vital to our economy–local, regional and beyond.

* Universal access to quality healthcare – I believe that having access to all legal quality healthcare is not just a right; it is a necessity of the human condition. When our health is at stake, we should be able to go to a healthcare provider that we chose and get the best care available. As a self-employed professional, I saw my healthcare costs increase, until I was no longer able to afford health care coverage.

* Protecting the environment - In my work on the Janesville City Council and the Sustainable Janesville Committee, I have spoken strongly in support of protecting our environment, and supported the resolution making Janesville an eco-friendly

community. Over the last 4 years, Janesville has made a lot of changes in the way we handle waste and in how we use our landfill leading to improvements which will extend the life of our landfill.

* Importance of arts – As a professional artist and as the president of our local arts coalition - United Arts Alliance – I am one of the strongest and most out-spoken advocates for the arts in our community. I recognize the value of the arts to our personal well-being and to our communities, to children and to adults. I created the Janesville Area Creativity awards, which is currently in their 2nd year, recognizing creativity in our area while raising funds for art projects in the Janesville area.

* Value of quality public education – Scott Walker has worked hard to decimate public education in Wisconsin, and as a parent of a 5th grader, and as an actively involved member of our community, I see first-hand the opportunities that are being lost in Janesville schools. Protecting the ability of our children to get a quality education at public schools is crucial to the success of our children and the success of our society.

* Danger of money to politics and policy – Through a series of decisions on the state level, as well as by the Supreme Court, our democracy is in real danger of being sold to the highest bidder. I was fortunate to run for a local office that did not require a massive fund-raising operation. Now, that I am running for a position in the State Assembly, I find myself in the reality where much of any serious candidate’s time is spent raising money, instead of working to improve the community or even campaign. Our dependence and fear of big money is locking us into a cycle of an ever-escalating arms race where the best person for the job may never get the chance to serve. This reality is doing all of us a disservice and it has to change.

* Transparency in government – While on the council, I have spearheaded several changes to ensure greater transparency in the council’s proceedings. As a direct result of my efforts, every public meeting of the council, as well as study sessions, are now broadcast on the Internet, which was not the case previously. I believe in what Justice Louis Brandeis said, that “Sunshine is the best disinfectant” – if the public is given the chance to see the government proceedings, it will at the same time create an important opportunity for questions to be asked, while showing that the process is open and accessible to the public.

* Involvement in community – I have served as president of the Janesville Toastmasters, Janesville Noon Lions and United Arts Alliance. I volunteer in our schools and perform regularly at charitable events. My entire career of public service was done with no monetary compensation. At the same time, I disagree with those who say that serving on the council is a thankless job. I have a strong sense of gratitude to my community, which I made my home, and which allowed me to get involved and to continue to make such a difference in making Janesville a better place to live, work, and play.

* Creativity – As someone who came to Janesville from outside of the area, I believe that I have a special appreciation for what Janesville and Wisconsin have to offer. In my effort to promote Janesville, I created a TV program called “Discover Janesville”, featuring interviews with those volunteering and making a positive difference in Janesville. My program, which won numerous awards, was shown on the local public access channel, posted on YouTube and even available at the Janesville Gazette website. Concurrently with producing and hosting “Discover Janesville”, I created a singular plan to market our downtown business corridor, which I called The Janesville Mile. This idea was embraced by the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, which produced The Janesville Mile maps, now available throughout the downtown area. The Janesville Mile is also featured in the official guide to Janesville, and features its own arts festival called Art Infusion.

Janesville City Council, Janesville Noon Lions, Scott Walker, Supreme Court

2 comments on “My Platform”

kingpizzle7 says:

January 26, 2012 at 2:15 am

While I appreciate your services in our community it seems the real stance I've gotten here is Anita Walker. I'd like to hear more on actual topics. What legistration changes would make to take money out of local and state politics? Why is it that home owners pay more and more for property taxes with less value to the property and with less services.? What is tour view point on local business getting better representation in politics then the average citizen? If you oppose the new voter identification act then what are your ideas to change it but still have voter integrity? I also have questions and concerns with our state budget. We pay a ton of money for labor costs for state services which has to be one of the biggest issues inside the budget numbers. How or what are your ideas in controlling these costs that increase eponentually each year? I'm not trying to create unrest I'm a vote that has ideas and doesn't have representation for those ideas. Im a voter who doesn't care what party dies what or which administration did what, I'm more concerned with what's the plan and hers the solution.

Yuri says:

January 26, 2012 at 2:39 am

Great comment, kingpizzle7. Thank you for your interest and stay tuned.

2 comments on “My Platform”

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