Jeskewitz Receives Technical College District Boards Legislator of the Year Award

(MADISON)…..Rep. Sue Jeskewitz (R-Menomonee Falls) today received the 2006 Legislator of the Year Award from the Wisconsin Technical Colleges District Boards Association.  “I am honored to be recognized by the Boards Association in this way,” said Jeskewitz.  “For many years, I have worked closely with the Boards and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and I have great respect for all they do to serve our citizens and communities.”

Jeskewitz, a longtime member of the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities also co-chairs the Joint Audit Committee and the Speaker’s Taskforce on the Technical College System.  In addition to drafting legislation regarding Wisconsin higher education issues, Jeskewitz meets frequently with constituents, employers, board members, faculty and other stakeholders in the WTCS to identify concerns and facilitate problem resolution, rather than resorting to changes in law.

“Accountability is more important now than ever before because taxpayers have the right to know how and where their money is spent, and also because our state budget is stretched so thinly,” Jeskewitz stated.  “Sometimes we are able to brainstorm creative solutions informally, and other times legislation is needed to allow for adjustments to our constantly changing workforce and employer needs.”

Jeskewitz is frequently credited as the state legislator who is most knowledgeable about the WTCS, the State Board, the District Boards and taxpayer concerns of those entities.

The District Boards Association has given a Legislator of the Year Award nearly every year since the 1980s.  “Rep. Jeskewitz is tireless in her efforts to understand and learn about the colleges, to foster improvement, and to represent her constituents with great conviction and dedication,” said Paul Gabriel, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Technical College District Boards Association.  “She asks tough questions, but she is among the most dedicated and active legislators with whom we work.”  The District Boards Association includes all members of the state’s sixteen local technical college district boards.

This week, Jeskewitz also received the “Friend of Agriculture” Award from Volunteers for Agriculture, the political action arm of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.