High costs for childcare and health care are among the priorities the Democratic candidates in Wisconsin Assembly District 56 say they hope to address, if elected.

Grace Abitz and Shawna Riley are vying for a spot in November’s general election.

Here’s what they’re hearing from constituents, based on a questionnaire they filled out for the NEW News Lab. Their answers have been edited for clarity, grammar and style.

Grace Abitz

Please include relevant background information, such as your education, work and prior experience in elected office. Please be specific.

I earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental design and a business minor from UW-Green Bay. I’m a small business owner and have operated a coffee shop since 2016. I was elected as a Hortonville Village Trustee in 2023 and served until 2025.

What are constituents telling you are the main issues they’re facing?

Childcare is an issue in District 56. Parents share that one stops working to care for children, as the cost for childcare consumes entire paychecks. I know multiple childcare providers personally and they are operating on thin margins. We need some help from the state level to make childcare sustainable both for families and the owner/operators.

They’re worried about funding for public schools decreasing next year.

Folks with disabilities or who are caring for family members with disabilities are deeply concerned about the Medicaid cuts going into effect on January 1, 2027. I want to see the asset limit increase or be removed for people living with disabilities, and funding secured for the most vulnerable losing Medicaid coverage.

AI and data centers are also alarming to people.

What are the two main issues you see?

While attending regular village and town board meetings across District 56, I see local governments struggling to fund their own vital infrastructure. Roads, ambulance services, water/sewer service, internet access, culverts and winter snow removal are compromised areas due to chronic underfunding. The state’s shared revenue was frozen from 2003-2023, and we are tasked with catching up. Towns want long-term general transportation aids to help with road projects.

The second issue I see is people’s concern with privacy and constitutional rights. Flock cameras and 287 local police department agreements with ICE are controversial and do not make us feel safe. Rather we are under surveillance at all times. It is neglecting our constitutional rights for due process when a paramilitary police force can operate with zero consequences.

Why should somebody vote for you?

As a small business owner of 10 years, I’ve been a consistent and familiar face in District 56. I’ve volunteered over the past five years with local elections by hand delivering candidate information to people’s doors and reminding them of important election dates. I’ve supported community events by attending listening sessions about data centers, proposed school projects, flood relief laws and then sharing that feedback with neighbors.

I have a working knowledge of issues in the area and wish to represent all constituents. I will listen and ask questions to better understand what’s working well and what needs more attention from state representatives. I will hold representatives accountable.

Shawna Riley

Please include relevant background information, such as your education, work and prior experience in elected office. Please be specific.

I graduated from New London Sr. High School. I worked at a canning factory, a cheese factory and I drive a forklift. I have no prior experience in politics — I’m just an average person that has faced life’s challenges.

What are constituents telling you are the main issues they’re facing?

Health care. Badgercare needs to be expanded to work for the people.

AI data centers. They are horrible for the environment.

Private funding for private schools, Flock cameras and taxes.

What are the two main issues you see?

How unaffordable health care is and that insurance companies have way too much say in treatments when they are not doctors and they are making billions in profits.
Secondly, school funding.

We could legalize marijuana instead of allowing all that money to go to our neighboring states.

Why should somebody vote for you?

Because of my life’s challenges and struggles, life hasn’t been easy. l have suffered many of the challenges others have faced — loss of jobs, a sick child, dealing with a person that has dementia and having to find care for them — so l don’t feel that billionaires, corporations and our government should go out of their way to make it harder on us just to simply survive.

This questionnaire was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab, a consortium of six news outlets.