Candidate Profile: Alex Lasry For U.S. Senate

Milwaukee WI

05 April, 2022

12:53 PM

Description

MILWAUKEE, WI — Alex Lasry, the senior vice president of Milwaukee's basketball team, said he wants to run for U.S. Senate on a pro-union, minimum wage increase and sustainable jobs platform. Name Alex Lasry Age (As of Election Day) 35 Town of Residence Milwaukee Position sought U.S. Senate Party Affiliation Democratic Family My wife, Lauren, and I welcomed our first daughter, Eleanor, this past August. Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No. Education Bachelors from University of Pennsylvania, MBA from New York University Occupation Senior Vice President of the Milwaukee Bucks Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office No. Campaign Website www.alexlasry.com Why are you seeking elective office? For over a decade Wisconsinites have only had one Senator fighting for them in Washington. I want to give Tammy Baldwin a true partner in the Senate working for Wisconsin. I have a proventrack record of delivering real results for the people of Wisconsin - whether it's creating goodunion jobs, paying a $15-dollar minimum wage, fighting for social justice, or making it moreaccessible for people to register to vote, I don't just talk about the issues, I have delivered onthem. I want to go to Washington to do just that and get things done for the people of our state The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the creation of family sustaining jobs, and if elected, I will immediately prioritize the creation of good union jobs, raising wages forworking people, making sure Wisconsinites have access to quality affordable healthcare, andimproving infrastructure across the state, including access to high-speed internet and cleandrinking water. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?I'm not a politician, but I've worked in the highest levels of politics. I don't just talk about wanting to get things done, I have a real record of getting things done that improve people's lives. I'mrunning to do the job, not grab headlines and get in social media fights. For too long, we haveonly had one U.S. Senator fighting to bring resources back to Wisconsin, Tammy Baldwin needsa real partner in Washington that will work for Wisconsinites. I learned during my time in theObama administration, there are a lot of things that can be done in Washington that might notnecessarily be front page news but can make a huge impact in people's lives. I have a track record of working with people to get things done, and I'm going to Washington todo just that. I know how to run a business with progressive values, and I have been practicingeverything I've been preaching. We have one of the only unionized campaign staffs in thecountry right now, because I have seen first-hand how great unions are for workers at FiservForum. If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community?We need a change. Whether it's his constant conspiracy theorizing, his fealty to Donald Trump, or his just general indifference to actually trying to make the lives of working people less hard,Ron Johnson has shown time and time again that he is not up to the task of representing thepeople of Wisconsin. It is hard to come up with a single thing Johnson has delivered forWisconsin. We need a Senator fighting to bring federal dollars back to our state. Ron Johnsonvoted against the COVID relief bill, infrastructure bill, and did not fight to bring jobs to Wisconsin,instead saying that Wisconsin already has enough jobs. Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.My top priority in the U.S. Senate will be to advance legislation that will raise wages for working people, make it easier to unionize, and create good paying union jobs. It's also important that we get rid of the filibuster so that we can pass the legislation beingblocked by Republicans that will bring real change, including the Pro Act, George Floyd Justicein Policing Act, The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the For the People Act. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?Since joining the Bucks, I have helped lead the team's transformation into one of the premier NBA franchises, proving that you can run a successful business with progressive values. Ispearheaded the Buck's corporate citizenship efforts to demonstrate that some things are biggerthan basketball: marching with local leaders to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake,leading the "Bucks Vote" initiative, and consistently raising the level of the team's racial andsocial justice activism. I brought together the public/private partnership to build Fiserv Forum and the Deer Districtsurrounding the arena. As part of the agreement to build Fiserv Forum, I led the workforcedevelopment efforts to make sure that people often left out of major construction work got achance to expand skills, find jobs, and build wealth. My plan required 40 percent of workers on theproject to consist of people underemployed or unemployed for the previous five years and atleast 25 percent of service contracts to be awarded to minority and/or disadvantaged businesses.Under my leadership, the Bucks did not just set ambitious goals, we surpassed them —reaching 43 percent and 30 percent respectively. I also ensured 80 percent of the materials and services for building Fiserv Forum were sourced from Wisconsin, including steel from a plant north of Stevens Point, cast concrete from near Manitowoc, and plumbing supplies from Madison.I also led negotiations for a historic project labor agreement that included provisions to hirewomen and minorities that are often underrepresented among union workers. The Bucks alsoincluded an agreement to implement a $15 minimum wage for Fiserv Forum workers that we putin place in 2020. In addition, Fiserv Forum is one of the most environmentally-friendly arenas inNorth America. I also helped lead the successful bid for Milwaukee to host the 2020 Democratic NationalConvention and I served as the Finance Chair for the Democratic Convention's Host Committee,raising over $40 million for the Convention. I worked with both Democrats and Republicans tolaunch this successful bid showing that it is possible to work across the aisle to get things donefor the people of Wisconsin. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I will do everything I can to bring back resources for the people of Wisconsin. I want to be a Senator who listens, works hard, and gets things done. For too long Wisconsinites have onlyhad one U.S. Senator to fight for them. Tammy Baldwin deserves a true partner in the Senate,and that's exactly what I plan to be.