My name is Kay Ladson and I am running for the 27th District Assembly Seat.
Until a few weeks ago, my usual role was to work behind the scenes for my community. It is my deepest honor to participate in our electoral process as a candidate. I hope to meet you in person and look forward to many constructive conversations, but until we meet, let me introduce myself with this Biography. (To download a PDF version of this bio – click HERE)
Background
I grew up on a small dairy farm in Green County, southern Wisconsin. As an only child, I helped my mother with household chores like washing dishes and pulling weeds. Over time, I took on additional responsibilities, including feeding the animals, cleaning the barn, and milking cows. Despite the work, there were many joys—playing in the stream, being part of the Jolly Mixers 4-H club, and riding horses on sunny summer days.
My strengths from growing up on a farm are my father’s legacy to me. A work ethic that embodies the spirit of diligence and excellence. On the family dairy farm, his pace was always brisk, a testament to his unwavering commitment. He moved with purposeful speed, not merely walking but trotting between chores—from the barn to the pig shed, to the maintenance of equipment—each step a stride towards productivity. His steadfast work ethic wasn’t just a practice, but a way of life that I have carried forward with me my entire adult life.
Education and Career
I had a terrific Wisconsin public education and graduated from Albany High School. I participated in many activities – band, pep band, chorus, school plays, and working on the school yearbook. In my senior year, I was elected to the National Honor Society—an honor I am proud of to
this day.
I received both my undergraduate degree (BE in Business Education) and master’s degree (MBA-Finance) from the Universities of Wisconsin. My first job was with Dun & Bradstreet in Milwaukee. A career move by my spouse shifted us to Elkhart Lake where I taught Business Education at the High School.
I loved teaching in rural Wisconsin, the students worked hard and we had fun. I had a small car which the students loved to move around in the parking lot— I never knew where my car would be at the end of the day or if it would be TP’d!
I left teaching to start a family. Upon returning to the work force, I joined the Finance Department at Borden’s Cheese Division in Plymouth, WI. I was transferred to Borden’s Corporate Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio where I worked with Creamette, Real Lemon, and Wyler’s.
Never planning to move to South Carolina, my husband’s birthplace, we had to make a life-changing decision to move to Charleston to take care of my mother-in-law who had severe health issues. Once there, I moved into the IT industry owning a company with my husband doing computer training and development.
In South Carolina, as an IT instructor, I felt a profound sense of pride contributing to the readiness and advancement of South Carolina based military units, including the Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and Submarine School, each uniquely formidable and integral to our nation’s defense.
Imagine my happiness when an Air Force Squadron gave me their Challenge Coin.Eventually I shifted back to Finance becoming the Operations Controller for Giant Cement Holding Inc, the only union cement plant in South Carolina.
I am “financially prudent.” This means emphasis of the importance and careful management of resources with a forward-thinking approach. During my career in corporate finance, I learned the importance of a balance between financial stability and investing in areas that can lead to future growth.
Some politicians in Wisconsin are so rigid in their fiscal thinking that they are willing to sacrifice our future—our children. Supporting common sense funding for schools and helping our parents with our current childcare crisis is not fiscally reckless. It is investing in our future.
From my many years in business, I know the value of asking questions, analyzing data, looking for all workable solutions, and gaining consensus before making decisions.
Good leadership is with others rather than over others. I promise as your Assemblywoman to bring a pragmatic approach to implementing solutions.
Me, always with a book, reading. At my family’s home in New Glarus
With my cousins, I am on the far right on my favorite pony, Corky!
On the front page of the Charleston Business Journal
while I was teaching a computer class.
Interests and Hobbies
I have been a lifelong avid reader with a love of history, historical fiction, and mysteries. As a young child I can remember my mother getting so irritated with me as I would read all the new library books that we picked out on our weekly “trip to town” before we even got home.
I recently finished “Fever in the Heartland” by Timothy Egan, the story of how one man caused the Ku Klux Klan to re-surge in the Midwest. Another recent favorite was Jennifer Ryahn’s “The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle” based on the true story of English brides during WWII refinishing and having wedding dress exchanges due to the fabric shortage.
I love my aquatic classes at the YMCA and the great group of women I have met there. We love to take day trips around the state to learn more about the history of Wisconsin and enjoy the magnificent beauty of this state.
Life Values
Equality for all is a keystone of my core beliefs. During my career, I made it a point to diversify my staff and to work with young women coming into corporate life.
Whether it was working with the Human Resources department to ensure that Marcia could have flexible hours after the birth of her child or advising Julie on achieving her degree in Business Administration. I worked hard to mentor these women and others.
By always taking members of my staff with me to meetings with management, I worked to give them visibility in the corporate environment. When job openings occurred in the organization, I was the first to go to the person doing the hiring and talk up my staff members. As your Assemblywoman, I will always work hard to promote equal pay, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all people.
Family Values
As mentioned before, we made an unexpected moved to South Carolina to take care of my mother-in-law. At the time we thought we might be there for at most five years. However, having family close by was the best medicine for her. We managed to keep her in the house she had always lived in until she passed—some 20 years later.
During that same time, my own mother became terminally ill, and I put my career on hold and I came back to Wisconsin to take care of her until her passing six months later.
I believe family should come first. And whether it’s for a newborn, your elderly mom or your spouse nursing an injury, taking care of family in sickness and health isn’t negotiable. As your Assemblywoman, I will always make choices that benefit our Wisconsin families.
A recent photo with my family, my son Andrew and his wife Paula on the left and me and my husband Jimmy on the right.
Forward Wisconsin
I must admit that at the beginning living “down South” was a challenge for me. The state and local government operated with different priorities than the ones I grew up with. I am sure my husband got sick of me saying “But they would never do that in Wisconsin.” You see, for me, Wisconsin has always been the Gold Standard of governance.
That great Wisconsin motto of “Forward” reflects how our state always was a national leader in the things that matter. We knew that working together to implement solutions was what was best for everyone. First in the nation to ratify the vote for women. First in the nation to enact unemployment insurance and workman’s comp.
But some politicians have hijacked our forward movement by attacking our election system, refusing to even discuss legalizing cannabis or the Medicaid expansion and refusing to focus on the things that matter. At this critical time, we have to move Wisconsin forward again. We get good government when we use the skills of many people and recognize the power of shared decision making and shared accountability.
In Wisconsin, we embrace hard work, the belief in opportunity for all and treating others how we want to be treated. And that goes for everyone, no matter what you look like, who you love or where you grew up. Everyone should have the right to provide for themselves and their family and to live in a safe place. But some politicians try to divide us against each other – hoping that if we fear our neighbor – we might look the other way while they rig the rules for their corporate donors and watch as our communities suffer.
When we go all in for all of us, we can make this a place we’re proud to call home with the roads, public schools and spaces, healthcare, and community services our families need. We can make this a place that honors everyone, no exceptions