Citizen Action Weekend ’26 Newsletter, Friday, October 2nd
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Welcome new Citizen Action North Central Organizer, William Gau.
Citizen Action is excited to announce our new North Central Wisconsin organizer.
William Gau. William Gau grew up in the Village of Maine when it was the town of Maine outside Wausau Wisconsin. His father came from a family of unions with his Grandfather Roman Gau being a millwright and his father Vincent Gau becoming a Steamfitter and joining local 434 Plumber and Steamfitters. His mother, Debbie Gau grew up on the Willow Spring farm.
William attended college, receiving an associates in art and science in what was the University of Wisconsin Marathon County and to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to get two Bachelor’s in History and Philosophy. He also attended North Central Technical College to receive his CNA and work in the field during college. While in school, William volunteered on political campaigns while at school such as president Obama’s Campaign. He would receive his M.A. from University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health.
William spent many years working in healthcare, from frontline care provision to Administration. William has experience in local government planning and conservation.
William has worked with political organizations such as Wisco Project, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, North central indivisible, Marathon Democrats, and Citizens Action of Wisconsin. He is a single father and knows the importance that the progressive movement has had on the development of himself and hopes to keep that fight going for the power of his children.
To meet William, contact him at: william.gau@citzenactionwi.org
Are you a new member, RSVP for our next New Member Orientation Meeting, Wednesday, October, 7th, 6pm.
Our New Member Orientation is an opportunity to learn who we are, our history and how we organize and build power for change.
Participants will learn about Citizen Action’s history, values, current work, and campaigns while getting grounded in the fundamentals of community organizing: how everyday people build relationships, develop leaders, identify shared interests, and build collective power.
We’ll also introduce our key issue areas, including healthcare and BadgerCare expansion, healthcare affordability and access, climate justice and the impact of data centers, utility rate caps, and movement politics. Whether you’re new to Citizen Action or ready to deepen your involvement, this orientation will give you the foundation to take your next step as an engaged
RSVP Today! Encourage a new member to join.
Attend $20 Minimum Wage Town Hall in Stevens Point, Eau Claire, or Appleton.
Join the Wisconsin Living Wage Coalition, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and other allies. Hear from local residents about their daily struggle to make ends meet at less than $20/hour. Learn more about the current state legislation and find out how you can get involved and help make $20 a reality in 2027!
- RSVP for Stevens Point, Wednesday, October 7th, 6pm; Create Portage County, 1300 Marina Drive, Stevens Poin
- RSVP for Eau Claire, Thursday, October 8th, 6pm; Join Representative Christian Phelps, Forage, 403 S Barstow St. Eau Claire.
- RSVP for Appleton, Wednesday, October 20th, 6pm; Appleton Beer Factory, 603 W. College Ave.
Learn more about the legislation and take action, urging your state legislators to support the bill.
Citizen Action Northeast Organizing Co-Op Update
On Tuesday, Green Bay had Public Service Commission (PSC) hearings at the Neville Public Museum. The testimony from Citizen Action members was powerful.
“For the first time in my adult life, I was given a shut off warning and it was terrifying…you can’t bleed a rock” says Citizen Action member Ellie Lisowe.
Denise Larson used to work for the electric company and offered a keen perspective on how things look as a rate payer now. She says “Our budget for the last 5 years has gone from $152 a month to the current rate of $201 a month…Our utilities now cost 44% of what our mortgage costs. It’s not affordable and it’s not reasonable. It’s not the appropriate time to give $2 million to WPS board members paid for by customers. [With my previous work] I understand what it’s like to complete a utility budget for the things we really needed, like a hardened data center after 9/11, and infrastructure upgrades on old lines…but don’t do this at the expense of Wisconsinites who have been forced into food banks and extra part time jobs.”
Cassie DuChattau pointed out that WEC is making profits of 1.1 billion in the first 6 months of 2026. Ellie brought a friend with her who pointed out that industry should be paying the costs of upgrades instead of residents.
Katrina DeVille said that these rate hikes are the most she’s ever seen that she can remember and then proceeded to point out the real dollar amounts people are expected to pay. “I remember a time when my entire bill was $44 a month,” she shared.
We are encouraging everyone to take action: The comment period is open until October 5th (next Monday) please follow this link to make a comment.
Upcoming important dates for the Northeast Co-Op
- Every Saturday: Canvasing–Mass Listening Project! Connect with Garnet for more information on available locations and times!
10/5: Fundamentals of organizing session 2–one on ones and effective propositions. RSVP here for food count.
10/6: Fall Phone bank (Zoom) Let’s listen to our neighbors
10/7: Candidate Forum with the Young Democrats of Wisconsin at the Appleton Public Library 6:30PM
10/10: We Make Better Possible Green Bay 2PM
10/11: We Make Better Possible Oshkosh 2PM
10/12: Bonus Democracy Defense Training and NE Strategy Session on Zoom 6:30PM
10/13: Political Education on Our Issues: Badger Care Public Option (Zoom) 6-8 PM
10/14: Democracy Defense: Training #2 6-8 PM (zoom)
10/17: Vote Early No Kings Day
10/20: Partner Organization Joshua needs our help! More details to come soon 10AM
10/21: Living Wage Town Hall! Appleton Beer Factory 6:00PM
10/23: Partner Organization Joshua is Organizing a special event to close GBCI 12:00PM
10/27: Fall Phone Bank (Zoom) Lets listen to our neighbors!
11/16: BadgerCare Public Option Lobby Meeting with Sen Kris Dassler-Alfheim
It’s impossible to make everything, but if every one of our members can make 1 or 2 things, we can do amazing things in our region! Events with a ^ are the ones that it is most important for Green Bay residents to be a part of. Events with a * are most important for Appleton and Oshkosh residents to be a part of. Share our events with friends and neighbors!
For more information about getting involved, contact Garnet at: g.degrave@citizenactionwi.org
Citizen Action protest G20 in Milwaukee.
Citizen Action joined with labor, farmers, environmentalists and community members to rally against the current global trade regime outside the G20 meeting this Wednesday in Milwaukee, including Citizen Action deputy director appeared as the grim reaper.
The protest and a teach-in the night before centered how U.S. trade policy should work for working people, not billionaires and corporate CEOs. We highlighted how the Trump administration’s tariff-first approach has created uncertainty and higher costs — and Wisconsin families deserve better.
“We need a worker-centered trade policy that can start to undo the devastation the last 4 decades of free trade policy that was basically bought into by both political parties that has brought nothing but disaster to our communities,” said John Drew, UAW Wisconsin.
See coverage from the Wisconsin Examiner and Capital Times which mentions Citizen Action’s role.
Citizen Action is excited to be partnering in the organizing of these exciting events with Francesca Hong.
Join us and allies at a “We Make Better Possible” event near you.
Citizen Action in the News
Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on Pat Kretlow’s Youtube show, Another Beautiful Morning to discuss preparation to prevent the Trump regime from sabotaging the Wisconsin elections by ordering federal agents to seize ballots.
Also this week, Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Jeff Santos Show to discuss the latest in the midterm elections and the efforts of the Trump regime to sabotage them.
Watch and Listen Here (1 hour 32 minute mark of video).
The Boston-based Jeff Santos Show airs weekdays 2 to 5 PM statewide in Wisconsin on the Civic Media radio network. Wednesday’s programs have a special Wisconsin focus with regular guests John Nichols, Earl Ingram, and Robert Kraig.
Also this week Citizen Action was part of a great labor-community coalition to protest the G 20’s session in Milwaukee and support fair trade that is worker-centered. See coverage from the Wisconsin Examiner and Capital Times which mentions Citizen Action’s role.
Listen to “Crowley embrace a BadgerCare Public Option”Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
This week’s Tick Report finds Trump declaring War on Ticks and Mosquitos through an executive order, and no mention of global warming as the cause of rising tick populations.
We dive into big news this week that Democratic candidate for governor, David Crowley, has publicly embraced a BadgerCare Public Option to expand everyone’s access to quality healthcare. .
We debrief the New MU Poll which says the governor’s race is too close; We look at the shocking 68% of voters who said they favor a statewide ban on data center construction for at least a year.
We look at the mega donors who are fueling the Tom Tiffany campaign and state legislative Republican candidates and Robert educates us on Citizen Action’s new Democracy Defenders program we launched this week to equip our leaders with organizing plans to confront possible scenarios the Trump regime might employ to disrupt the midterm election and how we are preparing to respond to ensure every vote is counted.
Listen to the show.
