Milwaukee – Going for a forth attempt, community leader Laura Manriquez annonced her campaign to challenge incumbent State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa.
For her part Zamarippa submitted her nomination papers to defend her seat in the up-coming August 9 Primary Election.
When Manriquez was asked why did she decide to run again she responded by saying that in the past three campaigns “I’ve had to deal with obstacles and tragedy”.
Manriquez said that In 2010, “my campaign was derailed by a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (MJS) report falsely identifying me for having state warrants against Me for back taxes. The false report clearly hurt my chance of winning the campaign that year. MJS recanted the story issued a correction and public apology to Manriquez for the false report.”
However, the damage to Manriquez’ reputation was done and there was no way to recover because the report was released weeks before the election.
In 2012, tragedy befell Manriquez when her son was tragically killed by a hit and run driver. “The loss of my dear son was more than I could bear that year”, said Manriquez. The campaign was suspended.
In 2014, despite having broken her ankle in three places, while working as a city forestry division trainee, Manriquez filed once again to run for the 8th Assembly seat. Walking around on crutches with a metal plate and screws affixed to her ankle and nursing a broken rib, Manriquez filed her nomination papers after collecting the required signatures to be placed on the ballot.
But once again tragedy struck. Walking down a flight of stairs Manriquez lost her balance and fell down 15 steps hitting her head causing a major concussion, swelling to her brain, hemorrhage and a blood clot to the brain. After two weeks in the hospital to be stabilized, Manriquez returned home unable to care for herself and function as individuals normally do, therefore the campaign was once again suspended. “I really wanted to be out there. Knocking on doors. Meeting with the voters. Surrounding myself with my community like I usually do. But I was unable to even care for myself”, said Manriquez
After almost two years of intensive therapy and determination, Manriquez has since recovered from her fall and today went to Madison, to submit her nominations papers signed by electors of the community. “I am so honored that my community is allowing me to be on the ballot to be voted for as their next State Representative of the 8th Assembly District” said Manriquez.
Zamarripa on the other hand is the incumbent and has been focusing much her efforts addressing matters of immigration and the LGBT community.
Zamarripa is currently standing opposed to Republican efforts to regulate the use of bathrooms in public schools.
Calling the bathroom bill an injustice, Zamarripa states that Republicans are seeking to come into the next session of the Assembly to focus on regulating ones right to use the bathroom according to the gender they identify with.
