By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
Last week was an eventful week on many fronts. Our community was both stunned and saddened by the untimely passing of Betty Jean Gillespie, the restaurant entrepreneur. My prayers go out to her family and friends during this difficult time of bereavement. Mrs. Gillespie will remain ensconced in our collective hearts, by virtue of the living institution that she leaves in her wake “Speed Queen”.
Our community also suffered another loss in the political sense week. State Representative Annette “Polly” Williams announced that she would not be seeking re-election to State Assembly this fall. Rep. Williams has been a member of the State Assembly since 1980, which makes her the longest serving woman in the history of the State of Wisconsin. (As a matter of fact, there are only five other members of the current Legislature that have more years of service.)
In her 30 years of public service. Rep. Williams has distinguished herself by carving out a unique legislative niche in the field of education. Without question, her signature achievement, as an elected official, was authoring the ground-breaking legislation that spurred the School Choice movement. (The first true Educational Parental Choice Legislation in the nation.)
Rep. Williams has surely made her presence felt over the years and has crafted an impressive résumé in the process. For instance, she was one of just ten Wisconsin presidential electors that cast their ballots to elect Barack Obama as the first Black President of the United States. And emblematic of her dogged determination, in 1982, she initiated a federal lawsuit that created a third seat (currently 17th Assembly District) for an African-American in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
I could go on and on enumerating Polly’s considerable accomplishments, but I won’t because of time and space constraints.
As a colleague, friend and admirer, I would like to say that Rep. Williams’ presence will be sorely missed at the State Capitol. Moreover, I wish her the very best (good health and happiness) as she prepares for the next phase in her life.
Representative Annette “Polly” Williams has championed a number of social and political battles in her day and has won most. She is richly deserving of our respect and prayers for a fruitful retirement.