Alberta Darling, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, visited Homestead High School on Dec. 14, 2015. Representing the eighth district since 1993, Sen. Darling toured the schools of the districts she represents. While touring Homestead, Sen. Darling shadowed three students: Sarah Mai, Zach Beale and Ryan Baranko, seniors.

“It was really cool to speak to an important political figure of our state and have her tour around a place where we spend so much time,” Zach Beale, senior, said. “She was extremely impressed with how well most of the seniors feel about their futures and she also liked how our classes were structured.”

Sen. Darling was first elected to the Assembly in 1990 and then the Senate later in 1992, and has remained in office ever since. Originally, Darling had planned to retire after this year, but according to a Fox 6 News article, she has announced that she is running for reelection. As stated by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the death of Sen. Darling’s husband, Bill Darling, has inspired her to remain in office.

“[Bill] wanted to retire when I retired. But now with him gone, I’m rethinking it because we’re in a perfect position to really make a difference in this state,” Sen. Darling said.

Currently, Sen. Darling and other members of the Wisconsin senate are working on reforming transportation funding in the state budget, one of their greatest concerns being the Zoo Interchange. While many Senators are disagreeing on the course of action for the construction of the Zoo Interchange, Darling believes that “delaying the completion of the core of the Zoo Interchange could jeopardize safety and would harm our state’s economy. Safety and economy are not to be used as bargaining chips.”