Up Coming Election

You would have to be in a coma this time of year to not be aware of the upcoming elections this coming November. Yard signs are up, everyone you talk to has an opinion and Face Book is all a twitter with information. We were able to catch up with Nick Milroy (D-73rd Wisconsin district) who is running for another term representing residents from the northwestern corner of the state, including most of Douglas County and the northern portions of Washburn County, including Spooner, and Burnett County. He was first elected in 2009.

Born and raised in Superior to a working class family Nick has always called northern Wisconsin home.  He attributes his hardworking attitude and family values to his parents who were public school teachers and local small business owners.  Nick's wife, Julie, is also a public school teacher.  The couple have two sons, Maverik and McClane, and a daughter, Marleigh.  

Immediately after graduation from high school, Nick enlisted in the US Navy where he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.  Upon his return, he continued to serve in the Navy Reserve while pursuing his biology degree at the University of Wisconsin-Superior.  Nick was a dedicated educator while teaching biology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. 

Nick was then presented with the unique opportunity to use his biology expertise and to work in public service.  He was appointed to a regional board to reduce mercury pollution in the St. Louis River watershed and formerly served as an international representative on the Lake Superior Bi-national Forum.  He has also worked as a biologist for state, federal, and tribal agencies. 

The thing that has most prepared Nick in a practical sense for serving the people of his district in the Assembly is his service on the Superior City Council.  He is currently serving his third term in the legislature where he is dedicated to supporting working families and providing a voice for those who might otherwise go unheard.

Some of the questions we had for Milroy included;

(DW): What was the spark that started you thinking about politics?

(Milroy): When I served in the Navy, my eyes were opened to the wide disparities in opportunities that many of my shipmates had growing up in different parts of the country. Coming from Wisconsin, I didn’t realize how fortunate I was to have a high quality public education, clean air and water, and safe communities.

Returning home with a greatly expanded worldview, I soon realized that some of these disparities existed within our state. One of my deepest held values is that everyone should have an equal opportunity to achieve the American dream. When I realized this wasn’t the way our society was working, I became interested in public service to try my best to move us closer to a more perfect union.

(DW): What surprised you about the political world?

(Milroy): It would be how transactional public policy is and how powerful special interests are so entrenched in the process. I was also surprised by how many roadblocks legislators face in reaching their goals in passing legislation they consider non-controversial.

(DW): You heart seems to be very much based in the northwoods, did you grow up fishing and hunting, etc?

(Milroy): I grew up with a passion for fishing and spending time on the water. From a young age I would take every chance I could get to go fishing. 

I grew up a few blocks from the St. Louis River and would ride my bike down to fish all summer long. I also would fish often with my father and grandfathers in my formative years. I didn’t get into hunting until I graduated from college and had the time and resources to invest in these experiences.

Today I am an avid multi-species hunter and fisherman. My greatest passions are chasing muskies, Lake Superior trolling and whitetail deer hunting. I enjoy wilderness camping expeditions year round, whether it’s in the Canadian bush or just in my backyard with my young children. I am also a music aficionado and have an extensive collection of recording from early twentieth century through today. I often go out of my way to catch live performances of artists that I admire. In my spare time I also coach youth baseball and hockey.

(DW): Where are you in the birth order?

(Milroy): I am the middle child of five children.

(DW): Who influenced you to be the person you are today?

(Milroy): My parents. They both are first generation college graduates and worked as school teachers and small business owners. While I was growing up, my father owned and operated several taverns and a pizza parlor while working full-time as a public school teacher. He often would spend his days teaching, head to the pizza parlor to cook from 4-10, followed by tending bar at his tavern from 10 until close.

In addition to raising five children, my mother worked several jobs during my youth, usually only one at a time. She owned and operated a children’s clothing store, taught in public schools and would clean office buildings for extra income. 

My parents are the hardest working people that I have ever met and still had time to take us to swimming, hockey, baseball, football, soccer, etc.

We also attended church every Sunday morning. My parent’s deep faith instilled morals and a sense of social justice that greatly shaped who I am today.

(DW): Not only do you have the pulse of your district, you, no doubt, have a good read on the state of Wisconsin. What do you see that this state is doing that’s brilliant, and what are the areas we need improvement on and is it being addressed?

(Milroy): Wisconsin has a long tradition of providing some of the best education in the country. Our K-12 and University of Wisconsin System has defined the Wisconsin ideal and given opportunities to generations of citizens to be successful and have moved Wisconsin forward.

Unfortunately, in recent years, our educational system has been negatively impacted by budget cuts and policy changes. Our reputation is in jeopardy as we continue to lose high quality teachers and professors. This will have a lasting negative impact on our economy and we must do everything we can to turn this trend around.

(DW): If, for some reason, you had to go into another business, what would it be?

(Milroy): I have a wide array of interests and would likely start a business either in manufacturing, agriculture, or commercial fishing.

Nick is well positioned to utilize his natural resource expertise and life experience as a member of the Committees on Natural Resources, Environment & Forestry, Veterans & Military Affairs, and Mining & Rural Development in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Nick also serves on the Legislative Council's Committee on State-Tribal Relations, the Sporting Heritage Council, and the Military & State Relations Council. Most recently, Nick was named Co-Chair of the Wisconsin Sportsmen's Caucus, a branch of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and he would appreciate your vote this November.