AD 40: DeSanto (D) vs Helmer (R)
Receiving a high grade in previous sessions by co-sponsoring a variety of bills and leading the way on Industrial Hemp is Baraboo Rep. Dave Considine. He was critical in drafting our Industrial Hemp bill that was first passed into law and cosponsored adult use legislation three consecutive sessions. First elected in 2014, he will be missed in the Assembly and our constituent cannabis activists in the area will hold the new representatives to high standards.
His assembly district number was 81 prior to the new map implementation for the 2024 election. The district he lives in is now Assembly District 40. The new district is expected to carry Democrat from anywhere between 5% and 8%, but still is on the radar screen of most political junkies and watch dogs as a competitive race.
With the retirement of the incumbent and new district lines multiplied by the weirdness of Wisconsin elections…..who knows, but in my eyes the Democratic primary election decided who gets this seat.
Who has applied for the job
I know that the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network suggests helping friendly candidates out during this election season. Getting to know and work with a candidate before they get elected is great way to start a relationship and build political capital, which does not come cheap.
The Democrat
Karen DeSanto (D-Baraboo)
Job: Non Profit Consultant
Prior elected office: none
Other public service: President WI State Alliance of Boys & Girls Club 2 years VP WI State Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs 1 year Member: Baraboo Kiwanis
Education: Consumnes River College – GE Ringling Bros and Barnum and Bailey Clown College, Dale Carnegie Skills for Success, University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Stanford University, Lilly School of Philanthropy, – 2019 Cert Harvard Business School – 2021 Inclusive Leadership Cert American Management Association – 2022 DEI Cert
DeSanto was the most vocal so far of the candidates in the early August three way primary race. Megan from Grassy Barn from the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network had a chanc to speak with candidate Karen DeSanto about the subject of cannabis reform for Wisconsin. The DeSanto campaign provided Megan the following statement:
I support the legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes. Advisory referenda in Wisconsin about legalization have passed by wide margins. Our neighboring states have made it legal and are seeing economic benefits. Three of every 10 Wisconsinites above the age of 21 live within an hour’s drive of a legally-operating dispensary. It is time Wisconsin took that step.
Follow the campaign facebook profile and stay up to date on her campaign!
The Republican
Gerald “Jerry” Helmer (R-Prairie du Sac)
Chairman of the Republican Party in Sauk County. Campaign Facebook Page contacted and he said this about his stance on marijuana reform: My stance will be the will of the people. That was way back in April of 2024.
I heard this guys name before from an activist with the Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network. This activist indicated she had saw Helmer’s campaign sign on county property so she took it down and contacted him. He told her that he supports medical marijuana hands down, but not recreational marijuana.
I then got back to Helmer for clarification the best you can in these short conversations and replied that prohibition does not seem to be the solution nor is it working and that decriminalization for sure is a great start followed by legalization. The polling data shows the public supports legalization.
Helmer seemed to put on the will of the people brakes and replied “I take no objection to medical weed. As of right now I have no opinion on recreational.
On September 5th 2024 everything changed.
Helmer engaged with his facebook audience on the topic of marijuana reform and well, I guess we won, the will of the people won!
Activists in Sauk County and the municipalities within are on high alert to work on local decriminalization measures, that is for sure!
Map of the new 40th District of the Wisconsin State Assembly.
The following communities in Columbia County are included: Town of Marcellon, Village of Pardeeville, Town of Wyocena, Village of Wyocena, Town of Fort Winnebago, Town of Pacific, City of Portage, Town of Lewiston, Town of Caledonia.
The following communities in Sauk County are included: Town of Fairfield, Town of Greenfield, Town of Merrimac, Village of Merrimac, Town of Baraboo, City of Baraboo, Village of West Baraboo, Town of Sumpter, Town of Prairie du Sac, Village of Prairie du Sac, Village of Sauk City, Town of Honey Creek, Town of Troy, Town of Franklin, Village of Plain, Town of Spring Green, Village of Spring Green, Town of Bear Creek.
Please share with your friends and family in these areas.
Stay tuned and get active!
I will provide you additional 2024 Wisconsin State Election coverage throughout the campaign season. This next election is extremely important for marijuana reform and I will continue to bring you information as more candidates make their political moves.
In the event that we end up with divided government in the 2024-25 legislation session, the official formation of The Wisconsin Cannabis Caucus would be a must first step towards reform. The official establishment of this Caucus will represent the growing, bipartisan support in Wisconsin.
Although session as ended we still urge you to contact your elected officials. The top four action alerts are still functionable on The Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Action Network for you immediate use.
Sources: CNanalysis (Very Likely Dem +15) WisPolitics /2024 Assembly Races (55% Dem), Davesredistircing, PeoplesMaps
