Greendale resident Jim Ward announced on Monday that he will run as a Democrat against State Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) for the 28th district. 

"I want to give my neighbors a choice that they haven't had for years in our district," Ward said in a press release.  "Senator Lazich has been in Madison for 20 years, and she has failed to make the important choices to help people move forward in this area." 

Ward graduated from Marquette University with a degree in History and Education.  He has been a teacher for 13 years, the past twelve years he has taught at Milwaukee Academy of Science, a charter school.  Jim and his wife Tricia are home owners in Greendale.

According to Ward's campaign Facebook page, he is a member of Friends of the Greendale Public Library and has contributed towards Greendale’s 75th Anniversary Celebration and the Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial.

As a lead teacher Ward has participated in statewide grants, mentors beginning teachers and helped lead the implementation of Character Counts, a character education program.

Ward also stated in the release, “I am running because I want to see an undivided focus on creating more and more jobs in our area of this great state.  The partisan and extreme politics that Senator Lazich has engaged in have divided hard-working people in our area and throughout Wisconsin.  More importantly, her polarizing tactics have distracted politicians from finding real solutions that will work."

Lazich spent the last 14 years in the senate.  She was unopposed in the past two elections. 

Ward believes he can bring people together to find effective solutions to complex problems, according to press release. "We need to change the political climate of our state so even people with strong convictions can work together to solve problems.  This will only happen when ordinary citizens lead the charge, instead of career politicians."

Starting April 15 Ward will begin collecting signature in the 28th district, which includes all of Big Bend, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, New Berlin, Muskego, Vernon and Waterford; and parts of East Troy, Greenfield, Mukwonago, and Waukesha.  

To learn more about Ward's campaign visit http://www.wardforstatesenate.com/, Jim Ward for State Sentate Facebook

Jim Ward can be reached at: 414-405-5246 or jim@wardforstatesenate.com