Randy Udell

Randy Udell was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. He earned a high school diploma from Janesville Craig High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1983. As of 2026, Udell was retired.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the current representative for District 47 finishing out my first term. I serve on the Committee on Financial Institutions, Committee on Forestry, Parks, and Outdoor Recreation, Committee on Insurance, Law Revision Committee, and the Governor’s Broadband Task Force. I previously served for two years on the Dane County Board representing the southern 2/3rds of Fitchburg (District 33) and four years on the Fitchburg City Council representing District 4. I have also been the WisDems treasurer since 2015. I am retired from a 30 year career as a telecommunications engineer at AT&T and have lived in the district for nearly 30 years.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Work to expand broadband and high speed internet to rural and underserved areas of the state.Pursue avenues to improve affordability for Wisconsinites, such as caps on insulin and prescription drug prices for Medicaid recipients and investing the state's surplus into a better shared revenue deal for municipalities and also strengthening our public schools, which can lower property taxes.Implement fair and nonpartisan redistricting to prevent future gerrymandering of the state's legislative and congressional district maps.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Utilities, transportation, and broadband expansion.

Dane County Board of Supervisors

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in Fitchburg since 1998 with my husband Brad. I grew up in Janesville and started getting involved in politics with Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential campaign. I graduated from UW-Whitewater and spent my early career as a staff member for Congressman Les Aspin and Maryland Attorney General Steve Sachs. I became a telecommunications engineer for AT&T, where I worked for 30 years.

I have served as an alder representing District 4 on the Fitchburg City Council since 2020, serving as council president for two of those years. My committee service includes time on the Finance Committee, the Plan Commission, the Community and Economic Development Authority, the Healthy Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and the Library Board.

I am also the elected treasurer of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, having won election four times under two party chairs, and overseeing a multi-million dollar budget. Previously, I served as chair and treasurer of the 2nd Congressional District Democrats.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Facilities management planning is crucial. It's taken nearly 30 years to get to where we are today with the new jail. That can't happen again with future capital projects: sound planning will lay the groundwork to accommodate future growth and reduce taxpayer costs in the long-run.Taking care of our environment and our lakes is something we can all agree on. The county overall is doing an excellent job handling our region’s environmental challenges. However, roughly half of Dane County does not fall within the boundaries of the Yahara watershed, including much of my district. It is important that places like Verona, Sun Prairie, Cross Plains, and others see watershed investment dollars from the county at work as well. Other streams like the Sugar River and Koshkonong Creek and their tributaries should be explored for legacy sediment removal projects as the region’s urbanization rapidly expands further into other watersheds.Many constituents during my campaign have shared concerns about Dane County Regional Airport. Our airport is the largest airport in Wisconsin that is not designated a Port of Entry with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In essence, that means that international flights are unable to land at Dane County Regional Airport, preventing seasonal direct charter flights to Caribbean countries or Mexico for instance. Other airports in the state such as Appleton, Green Bay, Racine, and Sheboygan that are far smaller than Dane County would be able to accommodate any sort of international flight wishing to land there.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am particularly interested in finance and budgeting.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Putting the interests and goals of those you represent before your own personal priorities. Good elected officials listen to constituents bringing issues to their attention and be willing to find common ground to help get them addressed.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy that Dane County and District 33 will be better after my tenure on the County Board than it was before it.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Fair Wisconsin PAC, SCFL-CIO, Democratic Party of Dane County, Fitchburg mayor Julia Arata-Fratta, former Fitchburg mayors Aaron Richardson and Shawn Pfaff, current Fitchburg alders Jay Allen, Shannon Strassman, Jim Wheeler, and Dave Herbst

Wisconsin State Assembly

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in Fitchburg since 1998 with my husband Brad. I grew up in Janesville and started getting involved in politics with Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential campaign. I graduated from UW-Whitewater and spent my early career as a staff member for Congressman Les Aspin and Maryland Attorney General Steve Sachs. I became a telecommunications engineer for AT&T, where I worked for 30 years.

Since April, I have represented District 33 on the Dane County Board of Supervisors, which encompasses the southern 2/3rds of the city of Fitchburg. I am a member of the county Broadband Task Force and the Public Works & Transportation Committee.

I was an alder representing District 4 on the Fitchburg City Council from 2020 until 2024, serving as council president for two of those years. I was the first open LGBTQ+ person to ever hold local office in Fitchburg. My committee service includes time on the Finance Committee, the Plan Commission, the Community and Economic Development Authority, the Healthy Neighborhood Advisory Committee, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and the Library Board.

I am also the elected treasurer of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin since 2015, having won election four times under two party chairs, and overseeing a multi-million dollar budget. Previously, I served as chair and treasurer of the 2nd Congressional District Democrats.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need to address broadband and high-speed internet access in the more rural parts of Dane County and the state. I've visited most of the town boards in the 47th District and it's a common theme everywhere. No one should have to drive to the parking lot of a fast food restaurant or a library to turn in a homework assignment or complete a work-related task. Satellite internet options exist, but their high price is out of range for many folks and they are often slow. I want to put my 30 years of telecommunications experience to work to get high-speed internet to the homes of more Wisconsinites.Reproductive freedoms and abortion rights in Wisconsin must be protected. All women should have the right to make their own health care decisions based on their unique circumstances. I support repealing Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban from state statutes.Supporting public safety in our communities is paramount. I am committed to ensuring our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs have access to the resources and tools they need to effectively do their jobs and keep our communities safe.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Finance and budgeting, LGBTQ+ rights, telecommunications/broadband, transportation and infrastructure, the environment and conservation.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Putting the interests and goals of those you represent before your own personal priorities. Good elected officials listen to constituents bringing issues to their attention and are willing and driven to find common ground to help get them addressed.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I like listening to people and helping solve their problems. I have great communication skills and enjoy meeting constituents and visiting places they care about. My campaign has been everywhere in our district, ranging from pancake breakfasts, town board meetings, diversity-related events, flag raisings, and even stock car races.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I came out as gay when I was young during a time when that was not widely accepted in society. Both my husband and I lost our first partners to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I learned that it is my role to speak up for those who do not have a voice and be willing to work with people to find solutions to pressing problems.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

It's beneficial to have at least some degree of community involvement and relationship with your local government. As the representative for the communities in your district at the state Capitol, you need to have a keen understanding of their needs to be the most effective voice possible in the Legislature. However, private sector work experience is likewise an important asset to any state legislator because you interact with a different subset of people and can bring a unique skillset on specific issues to the table.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Congressman Les Aspin. As a 15 year-old in Janesville, he saw my passion for politics and set me up to work on Jimmy Carter's successful presidential campaign. I ended up working in his Janesville office and managing his campaign in multiple counties in southeast Wisconsin. From there, I followed him to Washington, where he then got me a job with the Maryland Attorney General's Office. Les valued involving young people in politics and giving them a chance to succeed. He was a great listener and coalition builder and had his fingers on the pulse of every community in his district. I'd like to bring that kind of representation to the Assembly for my district.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

- Fitchburg Professional Police Association

- Stoughton Mayor Tim Swadley

- Fitchburg Alders Dave Herbst and Jim Wheeler

- Dane County Supervisors Mike Engelberger, Henry Fries, Dan Blazewicz, and Jeff Kroning

- Town of Pleasant Springs Chairman Dick Green

- Stoughton Alder Christina Wozniak Scanlon

- Town of Dunn Supervisor Jeff Hodgson

- Town of Pleasant Springs Supervisors Faith Schuck and Melanie Miller

- Town of Rutland Supervisors Jim Dorn, Mark Porter, and Sue Williams

- Former Fitchburg Mayors Aaron Richardson and Tom Clauder

- Former Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney

- Former Fitchburg Alders Dan Bahr and Shannon Strassman

- Middleton Mayor Emily Kuhn

- Waunakee Village Trustee Sam Kaufmann

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I'm a huge believer in fiscal responsibility and accountability. Financial transparency and governmental accountability are core tenets of Wisconsin's historic tradition of open government. Wisconsinites want to see their tax dollars at work and utilized in a manner that is appropriate by the state.