Councilman Brandon Buchanan

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

I was born to a 19-year-old single mother in 1982. Growing up, we didn't have much money, but what we did have my mother worked hard for. When I was hospitalized for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in second grade and had to spend months in physical therapy learning to walk again, my mother was forced to pay for my medical bills with her credit card.

I decided to get involved in politics because I'm sick and tired of pro-life, right wing conservatives providing corporate welfare to companies like Wal-Mart while denying millions of children health care. Locally, I'm sick of my city's Chamber of Commerce and Home Builder's Association whining about how building 'low-income' housing with a front window and a front door is too expensive.

I ran for city council to deny the opposition another seat on this council. I also ran for council because I want to run for higher office some day. The right wing spends billions of dollars recruiting and funding local candidates to institute regressive policies at the local level and build up a farm-team of local candidates to run for higher office. We as progressives must do the same. That means candidate training and fund raising connections. Also, jobs for young elected officials so we can pay bills while working full time politically.

In 2005, because of a grassroots progressive movement, Eau Claire, Wisconsin became one of only eight cities in the nation to institute a municipal minimum wage increase. Today, with progressive leadership, our city is exploring green technology and sustainability initiatives and is supporting Mass Transit. With a more progressive council, we could mandate employers guarantee paid sick leave to all their employees -- even part time workers.