When her Vietnam veteran husband was paralyzed in a construction accident in 1990, she learned first-hand that a person in a wheelchair could not get into several of the Oshkosh Public Schools. She ran for and was elected to the school board, helped pass referendums, and worked tirelessly to make sure 100% of school facilities were accessible.
When septic systems in her neighborhood were failing, she got appointed to the Sanitary District Commission and spearheaded the installation of a sewer system.
After her election to the Whitnall School Board she brought together a coalition of leaders from the Whitnall, Greendale, and Greenfield school districts and their respective municipalities to build strong partnerships. “Extraordinary schools contribute to extraordinary communities,” she said.
“When I see a problem, I get involved, bring people together, and find solutions. I learned how to get things done by finding common ground. That’s what’s needed in Government.”
— LuAnn
Representative Kalan Haywood
As Executive Director and Lobbyist for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, LuAnn went toe-to-toe with the NRA to pass gun control legislation. She secured 90% of the donations she asked for to raise money for ADVOCAP, a poverty agency. In her roles as a consultant for the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and Director of Board Development in Montgomery, Alabama she participated in a multi-state research project and developed training programs to teach school boards how lead for student success.
In 2023, a school board member in the Whitnall School District where she lives introduced a policy that would hurt LGBTQ+ students. She organized WREN, Whitnall Resident Engagement Network and the mobilized residents to defeat the policy. The group continues to meet to ensure our public schools serve all students.
LuAnn lives in Hales Corners where she is a caregiver for her husband. Their daughter Elizabeth and her husband Adam are educators and their son Tom is a financial analyst. They also provide childcare for their three grandsons ages 12, 9 and 7.
Representative Robyn Vining
The primary caregiver for her husband and a loving grandmother, Grandma Lu picks her grandkids up from school every day, making sure to always spend an abundance of time with those dearest to her!
Fun times at the park with her grandkids and their two dogs, Biscuit and Lily.
Married to her soulmate Phil for 40 years.
Each year LuAnn organizes a team — Birds for Fisher House — to run/walk/roll in the 5K Famous Sausage Race to raise money for Fisher House Wisconsin.
LuAnn published a book with all of Phil's pictures from Vietnam and letters that he sent home so their grandsons would know "Grandpa's Story."
LuAnn and Phil took the boys to the traveling Vietnam Wall.
LuAnn and Phil are proud parents of Elizabeth, an educator and Tom, a financial analyst and three wonderful grandsons Ryan, Tyler and Kyle.
She loves spending time with her grandsons!
LuAnn converted a closet into an art room for her grandchildren. Volunteers can bring their kids into her home where there is always fun stuff to do!
LuAnn recorded a Bird on a Wire Podcast Series to have conversations on hope, civility, and action.