Madison alder could be first transgender member of Legislature

Madison City Council member Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford acknowledges she sometimes fears for her safety. That’s the case for many transgender Americans these days, but especially true for those who hold public office, she said.

But instead of shying away from the public eye, Martinez-Rutherford will be expanding the scope of her public exposure — all with the goal of holding a seat in the state Assembly and a place in history as the first transgender member of the Wisconsin Legislature.

“I have a responsibility to people. None of us know how long we're going to live,” she said of the risks her campaign could pose. “But somebody has to do it. And I'm in a place where I could potentially do that. The privilege of that is not lost on me.”

Martinez-Rutherford represents District 15 on the Madison council. She was first elected in 2023 and reelected in April, despite having suspended her campaign.



https://captimes.com/news/elections/madison-alder-could-be-first-transgender-member-of-legislature/article_337aa284-0db4-46d3-806c-27dbbb85c0a4.html