Meet Kelda Roys, Democratic Candidate For Governor Of Wisconsin

WISCONSIN — Kelda Roys is a Democratic candidate for Governor of Wisconsin who will be on the ballot during the Aug. 14, 2018 primary election in Wisconsin.

Roys is a 39-year-old former state legislator, and is a business owner from Medford, Wisconsin. As governor, Roys says she will expand access to affordable healthcare and invest in Wisconsin public schools. Roys also considers herself a champion of women's reproductive rights.

Patch.com reached out to Roys' campaign to learn more about his political positions, accomplishements and vision for the Governor's office.

Name: Kelda Roys

Age: 39

Hometown: Medford, WI (Taylor County)

Occupation: Small business owner, former state legislator, attorney

Please characterize where you fall on the political spectrum (liberal/moderate/conservative, etc.):

Democrat

Please describe your relevant political experience:

I’m a proud progressive, a born-and-raised Badger, and a former legislative leader with a track record of turning big ideas into real results. As a state legislator, I helped expand BadgerCare to over 80,000 Wisconsinites. I authored Wisconsin’s BPA Free Kids Act, to stop toxic chemicals from being added to children’s products. When I served as executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, we passed the first pro-choice law in decades through an anti-choice, Republican Assembly.

As a law student in the Innocence Project, I worked with conservatives to pass criminal justice reforms and prevent wrongful convictions.

It’s not enough to talk about progress -- I’ve made real change in tough, divided political environments. As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I’ve done more than talk about economic growth -- I’ve built a company from the ground up that now covers 41 counties. As your governor, I will continue to deliver results for you and families across Wisconsin.

Our positive vision has built incredible momentum, inspiring voters throughout Wisconsin - especially energizing the voters we need to win in November: our Democratic base, Gen X and Millennials, and women. I’m a seasoned executive and effective lawmaker, ready to lead on day one and build a better, fairer, and more progressive future for our you and our state.

Please talk about the top 1 or 2 leading issues in your campaign and how you plan to approach them if elected:

I am running for governor of Wisconsin to make Wisconsin the best place to raise a family and grow a business. As governor, I will expand access to affordable healthcare and invest in our public schools.
Healthcare is a right - not a privilege, which is why I will work tirelessly to ensure every single Wisconsinite has access to quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare.

We must make prescription drug prices more affordable and stop drug corporations from jacking up prices. My first act as governor will be to accept the federal healthcare funds to expand access to Medicaid coverage, creating thousands of new healthcare jobs. While working toward universal healthcare, we will build on the Affordable Care Act by making BadgerCare a public option that anyone can buy into - which will lower healthcare costs and increase access.

At a time when women’s health is under attack, I will champion our rights. We can’t let our daughters lose the reproductive rights that our mothers fought for. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Wisconsin’s existing criminal abortion ban, which remains in our statutes, could be enforced again -- I will pardon anyone convicted under this unjust law. We must ensure that everyone has the full spectrum of reproductive care and support, including contraception, prenatal care, and paid family and medical leave.

Wisconsin must also become a leader in public education once again. Together, we will create a pathway to success for our children from birth until college by renewing Wisconsin’s commitment to public education. Schools around Wisconsin, especially those in rural areas, are struggling to retain good teachers, cutting programs for kids, and even closing due to declining enrollment and lack of funding. Teachers are constantly asked to do more with less as a result of historic budget cuts. As governor, I will fully fund our public schools, distribute the funds equitably based on need (not property tax value), and end the privatization of public education. Public dollars are for public schools, period.

We will also expand access to high-quality, early childhood education, helping address the high cost of childcare and preventing the opportunity gap. Two-year public colleges should be available to everyone so that the doors of opportunity are a real option for every Wisconsinite. Our state can adopt the successful “last dollar” tuition credit program as other states have, to ensure universal access to higher ed with minimal cost to the state.

Finally, we must address the student loan debt crisis that affects nearly a million Wisconsinites - those of us with student loan debt should be able to refinance their educational debt, just like you can refinance a home or car loan. Wisconsin used to be the education state, and we can have the best schools in the nation once again. As governor, I will reinvest in education at all levels so that everyone in Wisconsin has the opportunity to learn and succeed.

Together, we can restore opportunity and fairness to Wisconsin - making our state a place where every family can thrive. You can read more about my plans at www.keldaforgovernor.com . I ask for your vote on August 14.

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