Sarah Godlewski

Sarah Ann Godlewski (born November 9, 1981)[1] is an American businesswoman and politician who has served as Wisconsin state treasurer, since 2019.[2][3] She was elected in 2018, defeating Republican Travis Hartwig.[4][5] On April 14, 2021, she announced her campaign in the 2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin.

Sarah Godlewski
36th Treasurer of Wisconsin
Assumed office
January 7, 2019
GovernorTony Evers
Preceded byMatt Adamczyk
Personal details
Born
Sarah Ann Godlewski

(1981-11-09) November 9, 1981
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Max Duckworth
Children1
EducationGeorge Mason University (BA)

Early life and career

Sarah Godlewski was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and graduated from Memorial High School. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in peace and resolution studies from George Mason University, where she was student body president.[6] During that time, she helped to successfully lobby the Virginia Legislature to pass absentee ballot reforms.[7] Later, she attended the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government, but did not complete her degree. In April 2021, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Godlewski does not have a master's degree in public policy from the University of Pennsylvania despite several publications and websites claiming she had the degree.[8] Godlewski's campaign has acknowledged that any publications claiming that she completed the program was in error, clarifying that in addition to accepting a job in Colorado, growing student debt was a significant factor in her decision to step away from her degree.[9]

Career

Godlewski's career has led her to work on community microfinance in India, language and culture strategic planning for the United States Department of State, child protection initiatives in Belize, education reform and public health in Uganda,[10] and social policy work in Sweden. Between 2004 and 2012, Godlewski worked for defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton as a lead associate.[11] She has said that she saved taxpayers millions of dollars in that role, but was unable to prove those numbers when they were investigated by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.[12] Former colleagues have commented that while verifying the exact amount of taxpayer savings would require access to classified documents, it sounds like a reasonable estimate.[13]

Godlewski also taught as an adjunct professor at George Mason University between 2004 and 2009.

She was a National Security Fellow for Air War College and attended the Women's Campaign School at Yale University. Godlewski has also been involved as an interviewer with the Veterans History Project.

Godlewski with Hillary Clinton in 2016

Godlewski worked for Arapahoe County, Colorado from 2012 to 2016 as the director of the Office of Strategy and Performance.[14][15] During that time, Godlewski served as a member of the Joint Task Force on Veterans with PTSD which made recommendations to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Congress.

In 2015, Godlewski co-founded investment firm MaSa Impact with her husband Max Duckworth,[16] a multimillionaire investor from Maryland.[17] They first met in 2013 on a regional volunteer board of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.[18]

In 2016, Godlewski served as the director of Women's Outreach for Wisconsin in Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Godlewski caucused for Clinton in Colorado in March 2016, but she did not vote in the general election. Five years later, her campaign for US Senate said she didn't register to vote out of an abundance of caution because she was unsure if she met Wisconsin's residency requirements.[19] In the past Godlewski has also helped to direct Women's Leadership programs for the Democratic National Committee[20]

Godlewski served on the board for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and served as chairperson of the UNICEF Advocacy Committee. Godlewski served on the board for mOm Incubators,[21] the Arlington Academy of Hope, and George Mason University's School of Visual and Performance Arts. Godlewski has also been an investor with WE Capital.[22] In the past, Godlewski has helped to direct Women's Leadership programs for the Democratic National Committee.[23]

Campaign

In April 2018, Godlewski announced her candidacy for state treasurer.[24] Godlewski won a three-way primary on August 14, 2018, receiving 43.5% of the vote.[25] In the general election she took more of the vote share than the newly elected Democratic governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general and flipped 9 counties that went for Trump.[26] Her opponents were former television anchor Cynthia Kaump and former Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass.[27] She ran on a platform of restoring the office, ensuring transparency and accountability, and pursuing a win-win investment strategy.[28]

Godlewski raised over $700,000 for her campaign, while Travis Hartwig, her Republican opponent, raised less than $13,000.[29] Godlewski and her husband contributed over $300,000 to her own campaign.[30] She won the general election with 50.9% of the vote, to Hartwig's 46.8%.[31][32][33]

Tenure

After being elected, Godlewski received a memo from the Legislative Reference Bureau that identified 16 responsibilities that the State Treasurer should be doing but had neglected in recent years.[34] During the transition for Governor-elect Tony Evers, Godlewski was appointed to serve as a member of the Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council.[35][36] In January 2019, Godlewski was unanimously elected to serve as chairwoman of the state Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.[37] In August 2019, Godlewski and Governor Evers established a Retirement Task Force to create new investment options and expand awareness of retirement planning in Wisconsin.[38] In February 2021, the Task Force presented its results to Governor Evers. Its recommendations include five proposals: WisconsinSaves, 401(K)ids, Emergency Savings, Incentivize Participation, Interactive E-Commerce Portal.[39] In March 2020, Godlewski created the Treasurer's Homeowners Task Force to make it easier for Wisconsinites to buy a home and to stay in their homes.[40] In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, she utilized her role as the chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to release an additional $5.25 million to aid in virtual learning on top of a record $38.2 million to public school libraries.[41]

2022 U.S. Senate election

On April 14, 2021, Godlewski announced her campaign in the 2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin. She has been endorsed by EMILY's list, the leading group working to elect pro-choice Democratic women.[42] Godlewski was the only candidate to receive contributions from all 72 counties in their first fundraising period.[43] A November 2021 poll shows Godlewski beating Ron Johnson by two points (48-46) in a head-to-head matchup [44]

Personal life

Godlewski and her husband lived in Washington, D.C. prior to selling their home in December 2017 and relocating to Wisconsin.

References
  1. "Thursday's birthdays" (November 9, 2017). POLITICO. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  2. "Sarah Godlewski: Executive Profile". Bloomberg. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  3. "Wisconsin Eye discussion on the merits of the State Treasurer's office". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. "US News and World Report".
  5. NBC15. "Democrat enters treasurer race after fighting to save office". Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  6. Staff Writer (October 7, 2018). "Candidate QA: State Treasurer- S-CAR BA Alumna Sarah Godlewski". Wisconsin State Journal. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  7. Helderman, Rosalind (February 8, 2004). "Va. Students' Standards of Lobbying". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  8. "Bice: State treasurer and likely U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski doesn't have a master's degree, after all". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  9. "Bice: State treasurer and likely U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski doesn't have a master's degree, after all". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  10. Bahrampour, Tara (May 21, 2006). "Learning Experience After building a life in Arlington, Ugandan immigrant John Wanda decided to build something more ambitious – a school for his native village". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  11. Bice, Daniel. "Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski says she saved taxpayers 'tens of millions of dollars.' She just can't prove it". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  12. Bice, Daniel. "Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski says she saved taxpayers 'tens of millions of dollars.' She just can't prove it". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  13. Bice, Daniel (May 24, 2021). "Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski says she saved taxpayers 'tens of millions of dollars.' She just can't prove it".
  14. "Creating a Strategy That Speaks to Everyone". www.td.org. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  15. "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Arapahoe County hires new Director of Performance Management Sarah Godlewski will support and assist departments, elected offices with the County's Align Arapahoe initiatives and performance measures". Arapahoe County. December 18, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  16. "MaSa Partners Investor Profile: Portfolio & Exits | PitchBook". pitchbook.com. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  17. "Wisconsin Treasurer Godlewski launches US Senate bid". ABC News. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  18. "A Courtship for Children". UNICEF USA!. February 15, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  19. Bice, Daniel. "Bice: U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski didn't vote in 2016 election despite working on Hillary Clinton campaign". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  20. Smith, Hillary (October 12, 2016). "Panel discussion explores women's role in politics, impact of Clinton candidacy". The Spectator. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  21. "Innovators & Disruptors: The 2017 Tech 25". Washington Magazine. November 7, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  22. "Interview: Sarah Godlewski". iKnowPolitics. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  23. Smith, Hillary (October 12, 2016). "Panel discussion explores women's role in politics, impact of Clinton candidacy". The Spectator. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  24. Board, Shepherd Express Editorial (October 30, 2018). "Sarah Godlewski for Wisconsin State Treasurer". Shepherd Express. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  25. Almukhtar, Sarah. "Wisconsin Primary Election Results". Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  26. Holbrook, Liz (July 21, 2021). "Wisconsin Senate Candidate Sarah Godlewski tours Merrill Manufacteur". 947JackFM.
  27. "Wisconsin commission certifies election results". www.nbc15.com. Associated Press. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  28. Godlewski, Sarah (August 5, 2018). "Sarah Godlewski: I want to restore treasurer's office and be your fiscal watchdog". Madison.com. Retrieved April 15, 2021.
  29. "You are being redirected..." www.wisdc.org. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  30. "GODLEWSKI, SARAH - FollowTheMoney.org". www.followthemoney.org. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  31. "Wisconsin elections: Democrat Sarah Godlewski wins state treasurer race". Daily Tribune Media. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  32. WBAY. "Democrat Godlewski wins State Treasurer's office". Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  33. Younge, Gary (November 29, 2018). "The new wave of Democrats owes a huge debt to people power | Gary Younge". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  34. "Future state treasurer faces tough challenges". TMJ4. December 4, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  35. staff, Madison365. "Evers and Barnes Announce Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council". Madison365. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  36. Milwaukee, Urban. "Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lt. Governor-elect Mandela Barnes Announce Next Generation Workforce and Economic Development Policy Advisory Council". Urban Milwaukee. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  37. staff, Leader-Telegram. "Godlewski to chair Public Lands board". Leader-Telegram. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  38. Kirwan, Hope (August 22, 2019). "Wisconsin State Treasurer, Governor Launch Retirement Task Force". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  39. https://www.wisbusiness.com/2021/state-treasurer-godlewski-governors-task-force-unveils-innovative-bipartisan-proposals-to-strengthen-retirement-security-for-wisconsin-workers-and-families/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  40. "State Treasurer Godlewski brings together Homeowners Task Force to help Wisconsinites buy homes and stay in them". Seehafer News. March 8, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  41. "State Treasurer announces $5.25 million for public schools during COVID19". WEAU. April 15, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  42. Glauber, Bill (June 29, 2021). "EMILY's List endorses Democrat Sarah Godlewski in 2022 Senate Race". Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  43. "State of the Race Memo" (PDF).
  44. "State of the Race Memo: Godlewski only candidate Ahead of Ron Johnson After Voters learn about Candidates" (PDF).
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