Veronica Figueroa Velez

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Veronica Figueroa Velez

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

February 16, 2021

Education

Associate

Madison Area Technical College, 2005

Bachelor's

Edgewood College, 2014

Personal

Birthplace

Isabela, PR

Profession

Executive director, business owner

Contact

Campaign website

Veronica Figueroa Velez ran for election to the Madison Common Council to represent District 18 in Wisconsin. She lost in the primary on February 16, 2021.

Figueroa Velez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Veronica Figueroa Velez was born in Isabela, Puerto Rico. She earned associate degrees from Madison College in 2003 and 2005. She earned a bachelor's degree from Edgewood College in 2014. Velez's career experience includes working as an executive director with UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence and as a small business owner with Art MVF Design. She has served as a board member with the groups Community Shares of WI and End Domestic Abuse WI. As of February 2021, Velez was a member with Latino Consortium for Action. She was appointed to the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision by Governor Tony Evers (D).

Elections

2021

See also: City elections in Madison, Wisconsin (2021)

General election

General election for Madison Common Council District 18

Charles Myadze defeated incumbent Rebecca Kemble in the general election for Madison Common Council District 18 on April 6, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Charles Myadze (Nonpartisan)	54.7	1,670
		Rebecca Kemble (Nonpartisan)	45.2	1,380
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	3

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,053
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Madison Common Council District 18

Incumbent Rebecca Kemble and Charles Myadze defeated Veronica Figueroa Velez in the primary for Madison Common Council District 18 on February 16, 2021.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Rebecca Kemble (Nonpartisan)	50.2	873
✔	Submit photo	Charles Myadze (Nonpartisan)	37.0	643
		Veronica Figueroa Velez (Nonpartisan)	12.6	220
		Other/Write-in votes	0.2	4

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,740
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Veronica Figueroa Velez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Figueroa Velez's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Veronica has extensive experience in community engagement, violence prevention, and program development supporting marginalized families in Dane County through positions at the Vera Court Neighborhood Center, The Family Resource Center, and Centro Hispano. In 2014, her ability to skillfully address crisis management, community violence and develop and implement programs that address community-identified issues led her to become the Executive Director of UNIDOS, a non-profit whose mission is to empower the community to break the cycle of domestic violence, end sexual

assault and promote healthy family systems. Under Veronica's leadership, UNIDOS has grown in scope, staffing, and financial resources, and implemented the first and only 24 /7 Spanish helpline in Dane County WI.

Because of her commitment, expertise, and action-oriented approach, Veronica has been frequently asked to serve on both nonprofit boards and city committees including Community Shares of WI, End Domestic Abuse WI, The Latino Consortium for Action, the City of Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Ad Hoc Committee and Body-Worn Camera Feasibility Review Committee. Most recently Veronica has been appointed by Governors Evers to the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision. As a mother of two teenagers attending MMSD, Veronica values education and understands the importance of providing a safe environment where children and youth can learn, play, and thrive.

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?

• Veronica believes in community investment that provides opportunities for all to thrive,
• Cultivate and nurture children of all abilities and families.
• Support economic development and social well-being by focusing on innovative skills and infrastructure, and overall economic growth and sustainability.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The link between health and housing is a result of influences from both the individual home unit and a variety of structural and societal factors within a neighborhood. These elements have the potential to provide safety, recreation, access to transportation, healthy food, and jobs to enable a safe and prosperous life.

As your Alder I will:
Advocating for adequate funding for community centers, public libraries, and schools.

Investing in accessible programs for children of all abilities

Support the development of new affordable housing and programs that support homeownership.

Promoting public participation in community spending and decision-making.

Facilitate the establishment of businesses on the Northeast side that will meet the basic and consumer needs of our residents.

Assess the needs of the businesses to allocate funding accordingly and support small businesses that have struggled due to the pandemic.

Provide educational opportunities for leadership development, community, and civic engagement.

Ensure that Northside residents have equitable access to governmental and private non-profit resources and opportunities.

All of the above mentioned are key components in reaching my goal to create a safe and thriving community in the Northside.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Important decisions that impact communities start at the local level. Engaging communities in local politics is important to inform policies at higher levels of goverment.

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

Honesty, transparency, integrity, and responsive

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The main role of alder is to listen to and address constituents’ concerns.

Establish long- and short-term objectives and priorities

Engage citizens to participate in all matters

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

The first full-time job I had when I moved to the US was Walmart. I work for 9 years.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Many people don't understand the importance of engaging in local government and the power and responsibilities that this office hold. More people should be aware of this.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessary, this particular position deals with a lot of social issues and community needs which is very important to have more knowledge of that be a politician. Politics is easy to learn to be involved in social justice and be intentional about it takes one of a kind person.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Skills: Goos listener, problem solver, community-oriented, policy and procedures oriented, collaborator, critical thinker, common sense, trauma-informed, community development, and program development.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Madison Common Council District 18

Website