Sylvia Ortiz-Velez

Sylvia Ortiz-Velez was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[1] She earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.^[2] She worked as a real estate broker for several years in Milwaukee before being elected to the County Board.^[2]

In 2012, Ortiz-Velez made her first attempt at election to the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, challenging four term incumbent supervisor Peggy A. West (then going by the name "Peggy Romo West").^[3] West prevailed in the spring election with 55.71%.^[4] Ortiz-Velez challenged West again in 2018, however, and this time defeated her, taking 57% of the vote.^[5][6] Ortiz-Velez was one of several candidates to benefit from the support of then-County Executive Chris Abele in his attempts to reshape the County Board in 2018.^[7][8] She was re-elected without opposition in April 2020.

During her time on the County Board, she was a member of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, the Judiciary, Safety and General Services Committee, and the Transportation, Public Works and Transit Committee. She was also a member of the Mitchell Park Domes Task Force, tasked with developing a long-term plan for the 50-year-old nature conservatory—Ortiz-Velez committed to preserving the domes for future generations in her campaign platform.^[2] In addition to her service on the County Board, Ortiz-Velez serves on the advisory board of the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS).^[2]

In the spring 2020 election, incumbent Assemblymember JoCasta Zamarripa was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and announced she would not run for another term in the Wisconsin State Assembly. On April 14, 2020, Ortiz-Velez formally announced her candidacy for Zamarripa's assembly seat.^[9] In the primary, she faced JoAnna Bautch, the sister of outgoing Assemblymember JoCasta Zamarripa, and the Wisconsin Director of Citizen Action.^[10][11] In the primary, Ortiz-Velez supported expanding BadgerCare (Wisconsin's Medicaid program) and legalization of medical marijuana.^[11] Despite trailing in the early in-person vote returns, Ortiz Velez narrowly won the primary, taking 53% of the vote after absentee ballots were counted.^[12] Ortiz-Velez earned 78% of the vote in the general election, defeating Republican Angel Sanchez.^[13]

Ortiz-Velez is the daughter of a former evangelical minister; she has seven siblings.

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Sylvia Ortiz-Velez at Ballotpedia
• Official bio at Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
• Campaign website