Get to Know a Freshman: Reps. Sortwell, Stubbs, Vining & Wittke

Get to Know a Freshman: Reps. Sortwell, Stubbs, Vining & Wittke

Eighteen new members were officially inaugurated into the Wisconsin Legislature on Jan. 7, 2019. Over the past several weeks, HCG has highlighted each new member of the legislature. In the final week of Get to Know a Freshman, meet Reps. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers), Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison), Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) & Robert Wittke (R-Racine).

 

Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers)

Rep. Shae Sortwell, representing District 2, was born in New York and moved to Gibson, Wisconsin at age 15. Sortwell is a veteran who served in the U.S. Army Reserve Chemical Corps until 2018. He graduated from UW-Green Bay with degrees in public administration and political science. Sortwell was formerly a member of the Green Bay City Council, the county chair of Wisconsin Right to Life, and a Gibson Town Board supervisor. He previously worked in the capitol for former Rep. Chad Weininger. Sortwell is a member of Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, Manitowoc Fish and Game, and the National Rifle Association.

 

Rep. Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison)

Rep. Shelia Stubbs, representing District 77, is originally from Beloit and attended college in Mississippi and Ladysmith and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Stubbs has bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice administration and political science and a master’s of science and management. Stubbs is currently a Dane County Board supervisor and plans to serve the remainder of her term, which ends in 2020. She has also served in various executive positions and won multiple awards from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, in addition to being involved in several other community organizations. Stubbs was formerly a senior probation/parole agent at the Department of Corrections and a match support specialist for Madison-area Urban Ministry. She is co-founder of the End Time Ministries International Church in Madison.

 

Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa)

Rep. Robyn Vining, representing District 14, is a photographer, entrepreneur, small business owner, and former pastor. She is a founding board member of Exploit No More, an organization working to end child trafficking, and Help Portrait Milwaukee, which provides portraits to those in need. Vining also recently launched Folio MKE, a community workspace for female entrepreneurs. Vining has received the United Way’s Philanthropic 5 award and American Mothers’ Wisconsin Mother of the Year award.

 

 

Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Racine)

Rep. Robert Wittke, representing District 62, was born and raised in Racine and received a degree in accounting from UW-Eau Claire. Wittke has worked as a corporate tax specialist for 25 years and is currently the president of the Racine Unified School District Board. Wittke also serves on the Steering Committee of the Academies of Racine.