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Today's Featured Biography

 
Kathleen Jablonski Arciszewski

I fell in love with politics in 5th grade when we had a mock election. Then I forgot.

As a junior at Pulaski I had the great pleasure of being in Miss Filaseta's American History class and was reminded of my passion.

One day she said, "Laws are created to protect minorities because the masses are asses." We were shocked. No teacher ever said a bad word at that time. It sure made an impact on me, and it sure proves itself often.

More than anything I wanted to be a mom. I had two children, but just like high school I was active in my church and children's school. As they got older I needed to be productive in a different way.

I was reminded of my love of service when a grocery store moved out of downtown Greendale (where we lived at the time). I got involved in that and before I realized it I finally ran for Village Trustee. I forgot all about my passion until I saw my name listed in the Milwaukee Journal as a nominee who submitted her papers and felt a sigh of finally doing what I always wanted to do.

Eventually, I ran for Milwaukee County Supervisor in 1997. I loved it. In 2000 after winning my re-election I was asked to run for State Senate. I lost in the strongly Republican district, however, I had the pleasure of being on stage with Al & Tipper Gore in Waukesha as a candidate. I was also on stage when the vice-presidential plane (Air Force 2) landed at our airport. I stood there and reflected on the little girl in 5th grade who fell in love with politics and pinched myself to see if it was all real. I didn't win the state senate race, but was called by a very influential Democrat to let me know that Al Gore carried Wisconsin because I ran. My Republican friends voted for me in a Republican district and that helped him. Wow. Sometimes we don't run to win; we run to make a difference.

I lost my position in 2002 due to recalls. A very painful moment in my life. I felt like I died and no one came fo my funeral.I have too much respect for public office to have done anything wrong.

Eventually, I worked on Hillary Clinton's campaign, including Wisconsin, Vermont and Indiana. I traveled to Pennsylvania. She carried that state and I was thrilled for having help put the smile on her face in the next day's newspapers. It is time for a woman to be president. Many of us are already for her 2016 race (when she announces it).

I have worked on other campaigns and started my own nonprofit, A New Way, to help educate the public about the disease of addiction. It is way for people afflicted/affected by addiction to become advocates for this disease. Anonymity keeps it stuck and underfunded.

Pulaski High School was very important to me. I loved it. I had the pleasure of returning to the school twice as a speaker discussing government service, which I prefer over politics, as a way to instill interest in public service to a new generation. I took it full circle. It was an honor and a joy. Kids haven't changed that much when you have a serious conversation with them. They have plenty of questions since, to me, we have neglected three generations of youth and their remarks prove it.

Kathy "Jabo" Arch
Class of 1960

P.S.We sure were lucky to have been alive in the early 60's when all things were possible. Now in the 21st Century when all things are possible we walk around in an apathetic, negative, unemployed (me too,), world. How sad.

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