Lena Taylor
Encyclopedia
Lena C. Taylor is a Democratic
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 4th District
since 2005. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 18th District from 2003 through 2005.
in 1984. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1990, and a law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1993. As an undergraduate, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority.
After law school, Taylor worked as a public defender
for more than two years, representing indigent citizens in need of legal services. In 1996, she opened Taylor and Associates Law Office, a general practice firm on the north side of Milwaukee.
in a special election in April 2003 and was subsequently elected to the Wisconsin State Senate
in 2004. When Democrats were elected to the majority in the Wisconsin State Senate
in November 2006, Taylor was chosen to Chair the Committee on Judiciary and Corrections, on which she had served for the preceding two years. In January 2007, Taylor was selected by the Majority Leader to serve on the powerful Joint Committee on Finance for the second time.
In addition to the Committee on Judiciary and Corrections and the Joint Committee on Finance, Taylor currently serves on the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems, the Legislative Council Committee on Affirmative Action, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), the Marquette Interchange Labor Development Committee, the Legislative Council Committee on Sex Offender Placement, Judicial Council, Sentencing Commission, and the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation.
During her first term in the Senate, Taylor focused intently on improving education in Milwaukee, working to create equity in school funding and to promote a positive learning environment for children.
's "Budget Repair" legislation which repealed collective bargaining on benefits for public employees.
Taylor made statements comparing Walker's proposed legislation to Adolf Hitler
's plan to eliminate unions. On her twitter
account she wrote ""LIKE HITLER in 1933, WALKER is busting unions."
As a result of her stance on the issue, Taylor (along with seven other Democratic senators) was subject to a recall attempt. However, her opponents were only able to obtain two signatures for her recall, as of April 7. Experts say that since Taylor is in a strongly partisan senate district, she is unlikely to be defeated in a recall election
.
of Milwaukee County but lost to Republican Scott Walker
, who was elected Governor of Wisconsin in 2010.
Lena C. Taylor - 10,042
Johnnie E. Morris
** - 7,735
James White - 3, 633
2004 Race for State Senate
Lena Taylor - 99% (No Challenger)
2008 Race for Milwaukee County Executive
Scott Walker - 59%
Lena Taylor - 41%
Taylor is a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
, a member of the advisory board for the Milwaukee Boy Scouts
, a member of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Alumni Association, and a member of the Democratic National Committee
. Taylor is also involved with the Milwaukee Unity Caucus, the Milawukee Child Welfare Partnership Council, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee AIDS Resource Center, the NAACP, and the Milwaukee Urban League, among others.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 4th District
Wisconsin Senate, District 4
The 4th District of the Wisconsin Senate is located in Southern Wisconsin, and is composed of parts of Milwaukee County.-Current elected officials:...
since 2005. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 18th District from 2003 through 2005.
Early life, education and career
Taylor is a life-long resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a graduate of Rufus King High SchoolRufus King High School
Rufus King International School--High School Campus, or Rufus King, is a public magnet high school located on the north side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, part of the Milwaukee Public Schools district. The school has been consecutively ranked the top public high school in the state of Wisconsin by...
in 1984. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1990, and a law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1993. As an undergraduate, she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority.
After law school, Taylor worked as a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
for more than two years, representing indigent citizens in need of legal services. In 1996, she opened Taylor and Associates Law Office, a general practice firm on the north side of Milwaukee.
Wisconsin legislature
Taylor was elected to the Wisconsin State AssemblyWisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in a special election in April 2003 and was subsequently elected to the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in 2004. When Democrats were elected to the majority in the Wisconsin State Senate
Wisconsin State Senate
The Wisconsin Senate, the powers of which are modeled after those of the U.S. Senate, is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature, smaller than the Wisconsin State Assembly...
in November 2006, Taylor was chosen to Chair the Committee on Judiciary and Corrections, on which she had served for the preceding two years. In January 2007, Taylor was selected by the Majority Leader to serve on the powerful Joint Committee on Finance for the second time.
In addition to the Committee on Judiciary and Corrections and the Joint Committee on Finance, Taylor currently serves on the Joint Committee on Retirement Systems, the Legislative Council Committee on Affirmative Action, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), the Marquette Interchange Labor Development Committee, the Legislative Council Committee on Sex Offender Placement, Judicial Council, Sentencing Commission, and the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance, and Job Creation.
During her first term in the Senate, Taylor focused intently on improving education in Milwaukee, working to create equity in school funding and to promote a positive learning environment for children.
2011 Wisconsin protests
During the protests in Wisconsin, Taylor, along with the 13 other Democratic State Senators, left the state to deny the State Senate a quorum on Governor Scott WalkerScott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
's "Budget Repair" legislation which repealed collective bargaining on benefits for public employees.
Taylor made statements comparing Walker's proposed legislation to Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
's plan to eliminate unions. On her twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
account she wrote ""LIKE HITLER in 1933, WALKER is busting unions."
As a result of her stance on the issue, Taylor (along with seven other Democratic senators) was subject to a recall attempt. However, her opponents were only able to obtain two signatures for her recall, as of April 7. Experts say that since Taylor is in a strongly partisan senate district, she is unlikely to be defeated in a recall election
Recall election
A recall election is a procedure by which voters can remove an elected official from office through a direct vote before his or her term has ended...
.
Political campaigns
In 2008, she ran for County ExecutiveCounty executive
A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...
of Milwaukee County but lost to Republican Scott Walker
Scott Walker (politician)
Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...
, who was elected Governor of Wisconsin in 2010.
Electoral history
2004 State Senate PrimaryLena C. Taylor - 10,042
Johnnie E. Morris
Johnnie E. Morris
Johnnie Elaine Morris-Tatum is a Democratic politician from Milwaukee, and a former member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.- Background :...
** - 7,735
James White - 3, 633
2004 Race for State Senate
Lena Taylor - 99% (No Challenger)
2008 Race for Milwaukee County Executive
Scott Walker - 59%
Lena Taylor - 41%
Personal life
Taylor and her son live on Milwaukee's northwest side.Taylor is a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Democratic Party of Wisconsin
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin. As of 2009, it is headed by state party chairman Mike Tate, who is the youngest chairman of a state party...
, a member of the advisory board for the Milwaukee Boy Scouts
Scouting in Wisconsin
Scouting in Wisconsin has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :...
, a member of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Alumni Association, and a member of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
. Taylor is also involved with the Milwaukee Unity Caucus, the Milawukee Child Welfare Partnership Council, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Milwaukee, the Milwaukee AIDS Resource Center, the NAACP, and the Milwaukee Urban League, among others.
External links
- Senator Lena Taylor at the Wisconsin State Legislature
- 4th Senate District, Senator Taylor in the Wisconsin Blue BookWisconsin Blue BookThe Wisconsin Blue Book is a biannual publication of the Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau. The Blue Book is an almanac containing information on the government, economics, demographics, geography and history of the state of Wisconsin. The book was first published in 1853...
(2005–2006) - Campaign 2008 campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign