John Nichols: Subeck Hits the Ground Running at NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin
The Capital Times - 2/12/09 "When I was at the restaurant the other night, a woman said: 'Hey, I've been seeing you on TV,' " says Lisa Subeck, who has moved from her old position coordinating the Madison YWCA's Second Chance Apartment Project (which helps homeless women and families find housing) to a new job as executive director for NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin. Subeck was an active and outspoken advocate in her old position, most recently working on behalf of a compromise plan she developed to reduce the impact of the proposed Madison Metro bus fare hike on low-income families. But stepping out as one of the state's foremost campaigners for reproductive rights is something else altogether. "I didn't expect that this would be such a high-profile position," says Subeck. "Of course, the issue's pretty high profile right now." She's right about that. Subeck, an able local activist and politico, had to hit the ground running in her new job. She's been the "face" of the successful fight to win approval for a move by the UW Hospital and Clinics, Meriter Hospital and the UW Medical Foundation to provide second-trimester abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. Subeck, who has run strong campaigns for the Madison City Council (2005) and the Dane County Board (2008), has moved into an advocacy position that in many towns might be considered "controversial" but that in Madison is a arguably one of the premier policy posts. Madison is, by every available measure, a very pro-choice community. And developing a reputation as an outspoken, even courageous, advocate on the issue is politically potent. Just ask Subeck's predecessor, Kelda Helen Roys, who in September won a crowded Democratic primary for the open 81st District state Assembly seat and then won the November general election without opposition. Roys is now a key player on health care issues in an Assembly chamber that is under Democratic control for the first time since the mid-1990s. Here's the announcement of Subeck's move to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin, made by Carousel Bayrd, who in addition to chairing the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation board is a Dane County supervisor: "NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Foundation announced today the hire of Lisa Subeck as the organization's new executive director. " 'Lisa's enthusiasm, talent, and passion for the issues are just what NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin needs as we move forward in the fight to protect our most basic reproductive rights,' says Carousel Bayrd, chair of the foundation's board of directors. " 'I am excited to come on board as our nation celebrates the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the inauguration of a pro-choice president,' says Subeck. 'But even now, women still face barriers to exercising their rights and accessing needed care.' "Subeck has a strong history of activism on behalf of women and families. She has worked to elect pro-choice officials on the local, state and national levels and most recently worked for the YWCA furthering its mission of empowering women. " 'Lisa's proven commitment to women's rights and her strong activism will continue as she leads the political arm of Wisconsin's pro-choice movement,' Bayrd added. " 'For the first time ever in 2007, nearly 35 years after Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court upheld a ban on a safe medical procedure declaring that abortion bans can ignore serious threats to a woman's health. This decision poses a serious threat to Roe v. Wade,' says Subeck. 'Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, abortion would immediately be illegal in Wisconsin due to an antiquated abortion ban still on the books in our state. Wisconsin must overturn its own abortion ban to protect women's reproductive rights against all threats.' "NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin is working to mobilize Wisconsinites in an effort to overturn Wisconsin's abortion ban through its 'A Roe of Our Own' campaign. " 'It is not enough to simply be pro-choice. To beat anti-choice legislation and preserve essential health service funding requires broader mobilization,' says Subeck. 'We need every pro-choice Wisconsinite to get informed, get active and get out to elect strong pro-choice leaders.' " Subeck isn't running for anything at the moment. She loves her new position. But don't be surprised if, in relatively short order, she is boomed as a candidate for something -- perhaps a west side legislative seat when and if one opens up.
| 
