{{Short description|American Democratic politician (b. 1954)}} {{Infobox officeholder |image = Sandy Pasch 2011 CROPPED.jpg |image_size = 170px |name = Sandy Pasch |caption = Pasch in 2011. |office = Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly |constituency = 10th district |term_start = January 7, 2013 |term_end = January 5, 2015 |predecessor = Elizabeth M. Coggs |successor = David Bowen |constituency1 = 22nd district |term_start1 = January 5, 2009 |term_end1 = January 7, 2013 |predecessor1 = Sheldon Wasserman |successor1 = Don Pridemore |party = Democratic |birth_name = Sandra Kawczynski |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|5|19}} |birth_place = Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |spouse = |children = 3 |alma_mater = {{unbulleted list | University of Wisconsin–Madison {{small|(B.S.N.)}} | University of Rochester {{small|(M.S.N.)}} | Medical College of Wisconsin {{small|(M.A.)}} }} |profession = Nurse, politician }}
'''Sandra Pasch''' (''née'' '''Kawczynski'''; born May 19, 1954) is an American politician and nurse. She served six years in the Wisconsin State Assembly as a Democrat (2009–2015), representing north-central Milwaukee County.
== Background == Pasch was born Sandra Kawczynski in Milwaukee, on May 19, 1954.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.riverwestcurrents.org/20110630306/News/Articles/Sandy-Pasch-Key-to-Halting-Walker-Agenda.html |title= Sandy Pasch: Key to Halting Walker Agenda? |newspaper= Riverwest Currents |accessdate= October 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120911120604/http://www.riverwestcurrents.org/20110630306/News/Articles/Sandy-Pasch-Key-to-Halting-Walker-Agenda.html |archivedate= September 11, 2012 |via= archive.today }}</ref> She graduated from Bay View High School in 1972; received a bachelor's degree in nursing at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1976; a Master of Science in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing at the University of Rochester in 1981; and a Master of Arts in Bioethics at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/legislators/assembly/998 |title= Representative Sandy Pasch |website= Wisconsin Legislature |accessdate= February 9, 2021 }}</ref> She worked as an assistant professor at Columbia College of Nursing; as a clinical nurse specialist; and as a community health nurse.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2009_2010/200_biographies.pdf |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2009 - 2010 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2009 |page=35}}</ref><ref name="asmbio">{{cite web| url= http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/pasch/Pages/Biography.aspx |title= About Sandy |website= State Representative Sandy Pasch |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141103201942/http://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/pasch/Pages/Biography.aspx |archive-date= November 3, 2014 |accessdate= February 9, 2021 |via= Wayback Machine }}</ref>
== Elective office == Pasch was elected to the assembly in 2008. After winning a four-way Democratic primary with a narrow plurality, she easily defeated Republican nominee Yash P. Wadhwa by 21,938 to 10,720. She was assigned to the standing committees on public health (serving as vice chair); on corrections and the courts; on criminal justice; on health and healthcare reform; and on housing.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2009_2010 |editor=Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |title=State of Wisconsin 2009 - 2010 Blue Book |location=Madison |publisher=Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Legislative Organization |year=2009 |pages=35, 920, 923}}</ref>
In 2009, Pasch's campaign records showed that she received two contributions totaling $125 on February 18, during budget negotiations. This violated a new rule, passed two weeks prior, which restricted lawmakers from soliciting or accepting campaign contributions until the state budget was voted into law.<ref>[http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/51225642.html Seven Wis. Lawmakers Broke Campaign Finance Rules] July 20, 2009. ''Today's TMJ4''. Accessed June 6, 2011</ref> According to Pasch, the date was a typo, and she did not receive any contributions after the budget negotiations began.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wis_ap_madison_lawmakers_contributions_state_budget_200907201126_rev1 |title=Contributions to lawmakers questioned |work=FOX 11 Online |date=July 20, 2009 |agency=Associated Press |location=Madison, Wisconsin |publisher=LIN Television Corporation |accessdate=June 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130123084300/http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/news/wis_ap_madison_lawmakers_contributions_state_budget_200907201126_rev1 |archivedate=January 23, 2013 }}</ref>
Sandy Pasch voted to pass the 2009 Wisconsin budget.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=26321&can_id=108912 2009-2011 Biennium Budget - AB 75] votesmart.com Accessed June 6, 2011</ref>
Pasch voted against censuring State Representative Jeffrey Wood after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and being in possession of THC and drug paraphernalia.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=29969&can_id=108912 Censuring Representative Jeffery Wood] votesmart.com Accessed June 6, 2011</ref>
Pasch voted against requiring a two-thirds majority in the legislature in order to pass legislation to increase taxes.<ref>[http://www.votesmart.org/issue_keyvote_detail.php?cs_id=33188&can_id=108912 Requiring a Two-Thirds Vote in the Legislature for Tax Increases - AB 5] votesmart.com Accessed June 6, 2011</ref>
On May 6, 2011, Pasch announced that she would be running for the Wisconsin State Senate's 8th District against incumbent Republican Alberta Darling, who was the subject of a recall election.<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/121419388.html Tolan, Tom. "Pasch makes it official at Whitefish Bay rally"], ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel All Politics Blog'' May 6, 2011</ref> She won her primary against Gladys Huber with over 60% of the votes cast, but lost the general election by an 8% margin.
Pasch serves on the board of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a group which supported Pasch in the recall election. The treasurer of her campaign also serves as treasurer of Citizen Action. In August, Republicans filed a complaint alleging possible illegal coordination between Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Pasch's senate campaign. Both Pasch and the director of Citizen Action stated that there was no coordination whatsoever between the two<ref>Walker, Don [http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/126518758.html GOP files complaint into Pasch-Citizen Action tie] ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel''. August 1, 2011. Accessed August 3, 2011</ref>
=== 2012 election === After her district was basically eliminated by the Republican-controlled legislature in 2011, Pasch announced that she would be moving from her home in Whitefish Bay into the Assembly district then represented by Elizabeth Coggs (who was running for the State Senate), which had been redistricted to include portions of Pasch's old district. Amid accusations of "carpetbagging" and assertions that up to half the seats currently held by African-Americans could go to white candidates, Pasch argued that "I agree diversity is important... But what is very, very important is that there is a representative in the district who will listen, who will take action after listening, someone who will fight"; and noted she is the only Jewish member of the Assembly. She was endorsed by Tamara Grigsby.<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/new-legislative-maps-create-plethora-of-primaries-us62t7v-162483166.html Marley, Patrick and Alison Bauter of the "New legislative maps create plethora of primaries" ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' July 14, 2012]</ref>
Calls by Coggs to the mostly-black voters at an inner-city candidate forum to "vote for someone who looks like you" led to accusations that she was attacking Pasch, the only white candidate in the race. Several African-American candidates at the forum decried her remarks as racist. None of Pasch's opponents (who included Ieshuh Griffin) had held elected office. "I don't think anyone should vote for anyone on account of their skin color," Griffin said of Coggs' remarks. "It's not about color."<ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/coggs-starts-debate-with-looks-like-you-quote-3i69h6e-164166306.html Stephenson, Crocker. "Coggs' 'looks like you' quote starts debate; Advice to voters irritates some at candidate forum" ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' July 28, 2012]</ref> Coggs' predecessor, Polly Williams, describing Pasch as "a White suburban woman" who "can’t win in her own district", had already expressed concern that inner-city seats such as hers could be lost to white Democrats as a result of machinations by "non-Black forces from outside the community". Williams, like Coggs, endorsed one of Pasch's rivals.<ref>[http://www.communityjournal.net/williams-we-have-to-fight-to-keep-control-of-the-seats-we-have/ Mitchell, Thomas E., Jr. " Williams: 'We have to fight to keep control of the seats we have'; Former legislator urges community support Black candidates during August 14 election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082629/http://communityjournal.net/williams-we-have-to-fight-to-keep-control-of-the-seats-we-have/|date=2016-03-04}} ''Milwaukee Community Journal'' July 20, 2012</ref> The 10th district Democratic nomination (tantamount to election in this heavily-Democratic district) was nonetheless taken by Pasch, with over 60% of the vote.<ref>[http://www.cbs58.com/news/election-results ''CBS 58 Election Results'']</ref> She won the general election easily.
== 2014 election == In 2014, Pasch chose not to run for re-election.<ref>Jason Stein. "[http://archive.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/sandy-pasch-wont-run-again-for-wisconsin-assembly-b99240118z1-253989921.html/ Sandy Pasch won't run again for Wisconsin Assembly]". ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', April 4, 2014.</ref> After a hard-fought Democratic primary (no other parties fielded candidates), the nomination went to County Supervisor David Bowen, whom Pasch had endorsed.
== Personal life == She is married and has three children. She is Jewish. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Lebor |first=Zelda Harris and Marian |date=2008-07-16 |title=Several community candidates vie for state assembly {{!}} Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.jewishchronicle.org/2008/07/16/several-community-candidates-vie-for-state-assembly/ |access-date=2025-11-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Electoral history == {{Election box begin | title=Wisconsin State Senate District 8 Recall Election 2011<ref name=2011results>{{cite news |title=August 9 recall election results |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/127331193.html |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=August 9, 2011 |accessdate=August 9, 2011}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Alberta Darling |votes = 39,471 |percentage = 54% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Sandra Pasch |votes = 34,096 |percentage = 46% |change = }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/W3ASP/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=Assembly&district=10 Wisconsin Assembly - Representative Sandy Pasch] ''official government website'' *[http://www.sandrapasch.com/ Sandy Pasch] ''official campaign website'' * {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=108912 | fec= | congress= }} *''Follow the Money'' - Sandy Pasch **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=110253 2008] campaign contributions *[http://www.opensecrets.org/wdc/cands.php?id=104577 Sandy Pasch] campaign contributions at ''Wisconsin Democracy Campaign''
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-wi-hs}} {{s-bef|before = Sheldon Wasserman }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 22nd district}} |years= January 5, 2009{{spaced ndash}}January 7, 2013 }} {{s-aft|after = Don Pridemore }} {{s-bef|before = Elizabeth M. Coggs }} {{s-ttl|title = {{nowrap|Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly}} {{nowrap|from the 10th district}} |years= January 7, 2013{{spaced ndash}}January 5, 2015 }} {{s-aft|after = David Bowen }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pasch, Sandy}} Category:1954 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly Category:Women state legislators in Wisconsin Category:Medical College of Wisconsin alumni Category:University of Rochester alumni Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing alumni Category:People from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin Category:Politicians from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Category:Columbia College of Nursing faculty Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Bay View High School alumni Category:American women academics Category:21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature Category:Jewish American women in politics