Sue Conley (politician) explained

Sue Conley
State:Wisconsin
State Assembly:Wisconsin
District:44th
Term Start:January 4, 2021
Predecessor:Debra Kolste
Office1:President of the Janesville City Council
Term Start1:April 21, 2020
Predecessor1:Douglas Marklein
Office2:Member of the Janesville City Council
Term Start2:April 2017
Party:Democratic
Birth Date:19 February 1960
Birth Place:Galesburg, Illinois, U.S.
Children:3
Profession:politician
Residence:Janesville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Website:Campaign website

Sue S. Conley (born February 19, 1960) is an American nonprofit administrator and Democratic politician. She is a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and president of the city council of Janesville, Wisconsin.

Early life and career

Conley was born in Galesburg, Illinois, and moved to Janesville, Wisconsin, with her parents in 1971.[1] [2]

Conley became involved in nonprofit management in the Janesville community and was executive director of the Rock County YWCA, and later, from 2002 through 2014, with the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin.[2] She retired in 2014, but continued to volunteer and offer her advice within the community, and served as interim executive director for several organizations over the next six years, including HealthNet of Rock County, KANDU Industries, and the UW–Rock County Foundation.[2]

Political career

Conley was elected to the Janesville city council in April 2017, and was reelected in 2019.[3] [4] At the start of the 2020–2021 session, Conley was elected President of the City Council.[2] [5]

In February 2020, Janesville's state representative, Debra Kolste, announced she would not seek a fifth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 2020 election.[6] [7] Conley and Kolste were friends, and Conley had already been contemplating a run for higher office. With Kolste's endorsement, Conley entered the 2020 campaign.[8] Conley was able to avoid a primary contest and secured the Democratic nomination unopposed. In the general election, she faced Republican former city councilmember DuWayne Severson;[9] Libertarian hopeful Reese Wood had intended to run, but failed to secure enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot.[10] During the campaign, Conley emphasized the need for redistricting reform, endorsing the so-called Iowa model of redistricting, utilizing a nonpartisan commission.[9] In the general election, Conley defeated Severson with 60% of the vote.[11] [12]

Personal life

Conley and her husband, Jim, reside in Janesville, Wisconsin. They have three children, Scott, Bernie, and Liz.[2]

Electoral history

Janesville City Council (2017, 2019)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 4, 2017 (choose four)| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, April 2, 2019 (choose four)

Wisconsin Assembly (2020)

| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, November 3, 2020

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2020 - 2021 Janesville City Council . City of Janesville . December 23, 2020 .
  2. Web site: Meet Sue Conley . Sue Conley for Wisconsin State Assembly . December 23, 2020 . en-US .
  3. April 4, 2017 - Spring Election - Results . April 12, 2017 . Office of the Clerk of Rock County, Wisconsin . December 23, 2020 .
  4. April 2, 2019 - Spring General Election - Official Results . April 8, 2019 . Office of the Clerk of Rock County, Wisconsin . December 23, 2020 .
  5. News: Janesville bars can sell prepackaged liquor under temporary ordinance change . . April 22, 2020 . Ashley . McCallum . December 23, 2020 .
  6. News: Kolste discusses dropping the 'Representative' from her name . . February 21, 2020 . Frank . Schultz . December 23, 2020 .
  7. News: State Rep. Debra Kolste announces retirement after 3 terms . . . February 20, 2020 . December 23, 2020 .
  8. News: Sue Conley running for Rep. Kolste's seat . . February 21, 2020 . Frank . Schultz . December 23, 2020 .
  9. News: Candidate Q&A: 44th Assembly District . . August 30, 2020 . December 23, 2020 .
  10. News: Third-party candidate wages write-in campaign in Janesville . . October 19, 2020 . Frank . Schultz . December 23, 2020 .
  11. News: Conley wins 44th state Assembly seat . . November 3, 2020 . Ashley . McCallum . December 23, 2020 .
  12. Canvass Results for 2020 General Election - 11/3/2020 . . November 18, 2020 . December 23, 2020 . 18.