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Our Mission What We Believe Senior Advisors Steering Committee Honorary Chairs

OUR MISSION

The Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust is a cross-partisan network of Wisconsin residents that promotes values fundamental to our democratic republic, including support for fair, safe, and secure elections, and support for civil engagement.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

America’s democratic republic faces unique challenges as distrust undermines long-established norms and institutions and threatens our democracy’s ability to resolve political conflict. The Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance labeled the U.S. a “backsliding democracy” in 2021 and found the following year that the U.S. had dropped in three of four major categories monitored by the group. Now more than ever, Americans must rally around our republic. In 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked what sort of government the framers had created. “A republic,” he replied, “if you can keep it.” Every generation must do its part to “keep it.” These principles are the foundation of what members of the Wisconsin Alliance for Civic Trust believe.

 

TRUST AND HONESTY IN POLITICS

 Our politics works best when built upon a foundation of trust in democratic institutions.  To support this, we work to provide accurate information and foster an environment for healthy political debate, grounded in verifiable facts.

 

PEACEFUL ENGAGEMENT

Peaceful engagement between Americans, regardless of political affiliation, is fundamental. We promote nonviolence and collaboration to resolve differences and prevent identity-based and political violence.

 

FAIR, SAFE, SECURE ELECTIONS

We must work hard to ensure that every vote is counted accurately, and that our electoral system is free from intimidation and coercion. We advocate for and support electoral processes that are open, fair, transparent, and secure.

 

CIVIC EDUCATION, CIVIL DISCOURSE

Through education, public dialogue, and outreach, we aim to increase voter understanding and engagement, demystify electoral systems, and promote informed participation in our democracy.

 

CROSS-PARTISAN COLLABORATION

America is strongest when political parties work together to solve problems; cross-partisan collaboration leads to long-term, sustainable policies. Our coalition gives individuals from diverse political backgrounds a space to work together. By focusing on shared democratic values, we demonstrate that constructive dialogue and mutual respect are possible, even amid political differences.

If you or your organization would like to publicly endorse these principles, please contact our co-leads:

Scott McCallum (Scott.McCallum@cartercenter.org) or David D. Haynes (David.Haynes@cartercenter.org)

SENIOR ADVISORS

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DAVID HAYNES

Democratic Co-Lead

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David D. Haynes boasts decades of experience in Wisconsin media. He worked in a variety of roles at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, including business editor, opinion editor, Ideas Lab editor, and community engagement coordinator. In 2017, he founded the Ideas Lab, aiming to address Milwaukee and Wisconsin's challenges through commentary and solutions journalism. As the leader of the organization's statewide editorial board and the Journal Sentinel's community engagement efforts, he collaborated with partners statewide to foster relationships centered on listening to the public.

Before joining the Journal Sentinel, Haynes served as a senior editor at The Sun in Lowell, Mass. Prior to that, he worked in his home state of Indiana, where he was part of the team at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel that won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. Haynes' journey in political reporting began with covering a stop in the Hoosier state by Walter Mondale during the 1976 presidential campaign.

Today, Haynes resides in a Milwaukee suburb with his wife, Lisa; they have two adult children.

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SCOTT MCCALLUM

Republican Co-Lead

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Scott McCallum served as Wisconsin Governor from 2001 to 2003 following a 14-year tenure as Lieutenant Governor and 10 years in the State Senate. He holds a B.A. from Macalester College, a M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, an Honorary J.D. from Marian University, and a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

From 2005 to 2015, former Governor McCallum was President and CEO of the Aidmatrix Foundation in Dallas, TX. Under his lead, Aidmatrix expanded from a regional nonprofit to one of the world's largest technology providers in the humanitarian sector, collaborating with over 32,000 clients across five continents.

McCallum taught at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, and later as an adjunct professor in the LaFollette School of Public Affairs. Currently, he teaches in the UW-Milwaukee Bader Institute of Nonprofit Management.

He has published and presented globally on technology for humanitarian purposes, its impact on jobs, and public policy. He also facilitates collaborative projects for health care and technology companies globally. His academic research sheds light on the technology revolution's influence in the world economy.

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SCOTT MCCALLUM

Republican Co-Lead

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