Gubernatorial Candidacy Announcement: Missy Hughes

Candidate Profile and Background

• Candidate: Missy Hughes
• Previous Position: Head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
• Political Experience: First-time candidate for public office
• Stated Motivation: To leverage experience with farmers and businesses to build a strong state economy and serve the communities of Wisconsin.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The campaign platform articulated by Missy Hughes demonstrates a foundational alignment with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, primarily focusing on economic prosperity, community resilience, and institutional integrity.

1. Economic Growth and Innovation (SDG 8 & SDG 9)

   • The candidate’s primary objective to “build a strong economy” directly supports SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
   • Her leadership at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation indicates a background in fostering economic productivity, job creation, and supporting local businesses across the state.
   • This experience also relates to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as statewide economic development inherently involves supporting diverse industries and foundational infrastructure.

2. Sustainable Communities and Agriculture (SDG 2, SDG 11, & SDG 12)

   • With over 25 years of residency in rural Wisconsin and extensive work with farmers, Hughes’s platform connects with SDG 2: Zero Hunger, which emphasizes sustainable agriculture and supporting small-scale food producers.
   • Her stated commitment to all 72 counties, encompassing both rural and urban centers, aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by aiming to make settlements inclusive and resilient.
   • Her professional history suggests a focus on sustainable and responsible production patterns, a core tenet of SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

3. Reduced Inequalities and Strong Institutions (SDG 10 & SDG 16)

   • The pledge to ensure her work impacts all regions of the state addresses SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by aiming to bridge the economic and social gap between rural and urban areas.
   • By running for public office, the candidate is engaging with the principles of SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, which promotes the development of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels of governance.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article mentions Missy Hughes’s past role as a “former Organic Valley executive.” Organic Valley is a prominent cooperative focused on organic and sustainable agriculture, which is a key component of achieving food security and promoting sustainable farming practices as outlined in SDG 2.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: This is a central theme. Hughes’s position as the “former head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation” and her stated goal to “help the state build a strong economy” by working with “farmers and businesses” directly align with SDG 8’s aim to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The work of an Economic Development Corporation inherently involves fostering industry and supporting the infrastructure necessary for economic progress. Hughes’s experience in this role connects to the goal of building resilient infrastructure and promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights Hughes’s focus on both “rural parts of the state” and urban centers like “Madison and Milwaukee.” Her claim that “All 72 counties have seen impact from the work that I’ve done” points to an emphasis on balanced, statewide development, which is relevant to making communities and human settlements inclusive and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” Hughes’s background with Organic Valley, a leader in sustainable agriculture, directly relates to this target of promoting farming methods that are environmentally sound and productive.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.2: “Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation…” Her role in economic development and goal to build a “strong economy” imply a focus on increasing the state’s economic productivity.
   • Target 8.3: “Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises…” Her experience “working with farmers and businesses” aligns with this target of supporting enterprises of all sizes to foster economic growth.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.a: “Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.” The article’s emphasis on her experience in “rural parts of the state” as well as “Madison and Milwaukee,” and her work impacting “All 72 counties,” points directly to this target of fostering balanced regional development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 2 (Target 2.4)

   • Implied Indicator: The proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture. While not explicitly stated, Hughes’s association with “Organic Valley” implies that an increase in the acreage dedicated to organic or sustainable farming practices in Wisconsin could be a measure of progress.

2. For SDG 8 (Targets 8.2 & 8.3)

   • Implied Indicator: Annual growth rate of real GDP. The goal to “build a strong economy” implies that a key metric for success would be the state’s overall economic growth.
   • Implied Indicator: Growth in employment or the number of small and medium-sized enterprises. Her experience “working with farmers and businesses” suggests that job creation and business growth would be important measures of her economic development efforts.

3. For SDG 11 (Target 11.a)

   • Implied Indicator: Measures of regional economic equality or investment distribution. The statement that “All 72 counties have seen impact” implies that progress could be measured by tracking the distribution of economic development funds, job growth, or infrastructure projects across both rural and urban counties to ensure balanced development.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wkow.com