Vel Phillips, a civil rights leader and the first African-American woman elected to statewide office in Wisconsin, has died, according to Dem officials. She was 94.
Phillips won a seat on the Milwaukee Common Council in 1956 and pushed for an ordinance to outlaw discrimination in housing. She later served as a judge and then won the secretary of state’s office in 1978. She lost her bid for re-election in the 1982 Dem primary, falling to Doug La Follette, who had given up the seat four years earlier to run for lt. guv.
“Her spirit is with all of us, in Wisconsin and the nation, as we proudly co...
Please log in to access subscriber content.
If you don't have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.