A new level of service: Capitol is new forum for Nischke’s business initiatives
By Heather Stur, of SBT
Ann Nischke has been in the state legislature for six months now, but she still gets "that feeling" every time she walks into the Capitol building in Madison.
"It’s always awesome," Nischke said of the building.
Although Nischke has left her post as executive director of the Waukesha Area Chamber of Commerce for a seat in state government, she remains in tune with her Waukesha constituents and has made business initiatives top priorities on her agenda.
Nischke, a Republican, was elected in November to represent the 97th Assembly District, which includes most of the city of Waukesha and a portion of the town of Waukesha. The area was redistricted after the 2000 U.S. Census.
Running for elected office was not part of a grand plan Nischke outlined years ago. Rather, various circumstances led her to determine that it was the right time for her to serve the greater Waukesha community in a different way.
Because the area was redistricted, Nischke did not have to face an incumbent. With her son now an adult, she has more free time. Finally, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, left her with a desire to give back to the community.
"Service has always been something I’ve wanted to do," Nischke said. "After Sept. 11, I really felt I wanted to try and make a difference."
This is not Nischke’s first foray into the public sector. In the early 1980s, she worked for Rod Johnston, a state senator who represented the north shore area of Milwaukee County. Also, her work with the chamber introduced her to the senators and representatives from the Waukesha area.
Having served as the executive director of the Waukesha Chamber for five years prior to running for elected office, it makes sense that Nischke co-chairs the Assembly’s Economic Development Committee. Regulatory reform is high on Nischke’s agenda, and the committee recently had a hearing on the issue.
"Regulatory reform has always been a big issue," Nischke said. "When I was at the chamber, I always heard business owners talking about it. Now I have the opportunity to make some changes."
One subject discussed was the single factor sales tax, which makes it easier for large companies to put their headquarters in Wisconsin because it does not penalize companies for having operations in other states. Although the issue applies mostly to larger companies, it could have trickle-down effects for small businesses, Nischke said.
She also hopes to lessen the number of state agencies businesses must deal with for various licensing and permit processes. In the current set-up, firms may have to interface with as many as nine agencies, depending on the type of approval they seek.
"We need regulations, but we need to streamline them," Nischke said. "There’s too much bureaucracy."
She also supports a freeze on property taxes, believing that it will make living in Waukesha County easier for small business owners and thus encourage them to keep their operations in the county.
Although Nischke calls Waukesha home now, she hails from Milwaukee and has lived in California, Nebraska, Illinois and Minnesota, traveling with her husband, who was in the U.S. Navy. She has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. When she lived in Minnesota, she worked as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher, and she was the cheerleading coach and play adviser at the school.
When her family moved back to Wisconsin, Nischke took a job as a reporter for Dun & Bradstreet before going to work for Sen. Johnston. She then worked as vice president of financial development for the Milwaukee YMCA and eventually was asked to be the director of the YMCA’s Waukesha branch. In 1998, Nischke was hired to be the executive director of the Waukesha chamber.
She has gone from chamber leader to member now, as part of her commitment to stay in close touch with her constituents. She is a member of the Waukesha Rotary Club and Tempo International, and she attends municipal meetings whenever possible.
And in her opinion, one of the best things she and her fellow lawmakers can do is step aside and let businesses grow.
"We need to focus on making things easier for entrepreneurs," Nischke said. "That means getting government out of the way of business, because when business thrives, our communities grow and flourish."
June 27, 2003 Small Business Times, Milwaukee
