Milwaukee Post
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/334334
By MATT MASTERSON Conley News Service MILWAUKEE – If there is one thing the League of Wisconsin Municipalities' Jerry Deschane wants to accomplish, it is to make connections. The newly appointed executive director of the 116-year-old lobbyist organization spoke with The Post recently on how the league brings cities and villages together to make their voices heard in the state's capitol. "Making connections is the most important thing the league does," Deschane said. "Helping our members connect with each other, with experts and with legislators – I think that sums us up." Deschane said that the primary task of the league is to lobby in Madison for the benefit of local communities. He added that although membership is not compul- sory, every city and 99 percent of villages in Wisconsin are members of the league A former lobbyist for the Wisconsin Builders Association, Deschane has plen- ty of experience dealing with state legisla- tors. He called what the league is doing – putting local officials in touch with legis- lators – "grass-roots lobbying," and he wishes it was happening more widely. "Those one-on-one relationships where mayors, city administrators, clerks are talking directly to legislators and saying, 'Look, back home in Waukesha or Pewaukee or wherever, this is what (this legislation) is going to mean,' " he said. "There are 4,000 aldermen and village trustees in the state, and if I could get half of them to speak up on legislative issues, the Legislature would be more than happy to do what they needed to." The league, based in Madison, consists of eight workers and a 16-member board of directors comprised of mayors, village presidents and other local officials from across Wisconsin. Waukesha County Administrator Ed Henschel has been involved with the League of Municipalities since 1977. He said there is no doubting the impact it has had. "The operation of the Legislature has changed dramatically in the time I have been involved, particularly in the last 10 to 15 years," he said. "Because the Legislature now operates in a such a strong caucus system, frankly, I do not think we would have an impact without the lobbyists from the league and the information they share with us." Contact Matt Masterson mmasterson@conleynet.com 12 • Milwaukee County Post • June 20, 2014 League of Wisconsin Municipalities: bringing state government to local level Executive director seeks to reinvigorate local officials' involvement in state politics GRACE KNOW CHRIST MAKE HIM KNOWN GATHER GROW&SOW Summer Schedule Begins 9AM Worship with Communion Welcome To Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 3030 W. Oklahoma Ave. 414-384-3520 238736073 Greg's & 3050 E. Layton Ave. 483-5550 M-F 7am to 8pm• Sat 7am-7pm • Sun 9am-5pm ***1/4 mile east of the 794 parkway on Layton*** ©2014 True Value Company. All rights reserved. any gallon of EasyCare ® or WeatherAll ® Ultra Premium Paint With coupon. Limit 5 gallons. Valid at participating True Value ® stores 6/18/14-6/24/14. TrueValuePaint.com State License #957849 CreativeWoodProducts.biz Come See Our Showroom & Factory 9710 S. 58th St Franklin • 421-5500 M-F 9-4:30pm Sat. 9-12pm or By Appointment Let our professional staff help you remodel your kitchen or bath, or create a family or rec room with exciting cabinetry. Creative Wood Products will use its extensive experience to point out options and ideas to provide functional, long-lasting solutions to fit your lifestyle and budget...and dreams. • Design and installation of cabinets and countertops. • Select from various furniture grade hardwoods in a variety of wood types, stains and finishes. • Deal direct and avoid costly mark-ups. WE HELP YOU DESIGN IT T H E N W E B U I L D I T Exceptional Cabinets, Manufactured Locally.