Mary Lynne Donohue, a long-time community activist and retired attorney from Sheboygan, was elected to the Common Cause in Wisconsin (CC/WI) State Governing Board at its quarterly meeting earlier this month. CC/WI is the state's largest non-partisan political reform advocacy organization with more than 12,000 active members and activists living in every corner of the state. Before retiring from her law practice, Donohue worked at Legal Services of NW Wisconsin, and in a general private practice focusing on municipal litigation, personal injury and Social Security disability work.
Donohue has long been active in high profile public policy issues and in support of redistricting reform and against partisan gerrymandering, in particular. She was a plaintiff in the 2018 Gill v. Whitford Wisconsin redistricting case challenging partisan gerrymandering which was heard (and remanded back to the state) by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Partisan gerrymandering is at the root of the political polarization and dysfunction in Wisconsin today. Creating a non-partisan redistricting system, which takes partisan politicians out of the map drawing business and puts the voters of Wisconsin voters first, is the single most important political reform that can be accomplished for our state and the nation. I am eager to actively participate and be a part of Common Cause in Wisconsin's leadership and effective advocacy on this and other critical matters," Donohue said.
Donohue has varied and extensive community and political involvement and experience. She served on Sheboygan Common Council for nine years and is a former president of the Sheboygan Area School District Board of Education. She has also served on the Sheboygan Police and Fire Commission, and she was a candidate for the Wisconsin Assembly for the 26th Assembly District in 2020.
"Mary Lynne Donohue brings great expertise and passion to the current, high-profile battles in the state for voting rights and fair voting maps," said CC/WI Board member and former State Senator (1991-99) and State Representative (1975-1991) Cal Potter of Sheboygan Falls, who nominated Donohue to serve on the board. "Her energy and leadership will be of immense help in advancing these issues in Wisconsin," he concluded.
In addition to Donohue and Potter, the CC/WI State Governing Board is composed of: Tim Cullen of Janesville (Chair), Penny Bernard Schaber of Appleton, David Deininger of Monroe, Michael Drew of Shorewood, Luke Fuszard of Middleton, Kristin Hansen of Waukesha, William Hotz of Brookfield, Kriss Marion of Blanchardville, David O. Martin of Muscoda, E. Michael McCann of Mequon, Robert Schweder of Princeton, Wanda Sloan of Beloit and Roger Utnehmer of Wausau.
