Lisa’s Team

Personal Assistant to the Candidate

Ann Fremont Covert is a United States Army veteran, the daughter of an Army veteran, and the mother of a son currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Army and nearing retirement. During her military career, Ms. Covert served in Pharmacy, Emergency Medical and Nursing Services, and as a Training Non-Commissioned Officer. She is a graduate of the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, and completed programs at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; she also studied nursing at Red Rocks Community College.

A native of Wisconsin, Ms. Covert descends from a family with more than seven generations in Grant County, grounding her in the history and values of southwest Wisconsin. Though deeply connected to her roots, she has also lived in seven other states. As the mother of five and the parent of a six-year-old child on the autism spectrum, Ms. Covert has extensive firsthand experience with public education systems, including special education, and is the proud grandmother of six grandchildren.​

During her twenty-six years in the Denver metropolitan area, Ms. Covert served on the Board of Directors for the Denver HBA Remodelers Council, as well as on several nonprofit boards. Through her diverse experiences in military and civilian life across multiple regions, she has developed a broad understanding of the challenges families face in education, housing, human services programs, and healthcare.

Political Manager and Strategist

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Andre Jacque earned dual degrees in Political Science and Military History. His academic interests reflect a deep curiosity about strategy, governance, and the evolution of political and military systems.

As Lisa White’s political manager and strategist, Andre has brought that strategic mindset directly to the campaign. He has been instrumental in crafting and refining campaign messaging, using media insights and data to shape communications and expand the campaign’s reach. His ability to turn complex ideas into clear, compelling messages has helped connect the campaign with voters.

Andre is also a top-notch problem solver with advanced critical-thinking skills. He approaches challenges thoughtfully, evaluates information quickly, and finds practical solutions—even under tight deadlines and changing circumstances.

His passion for democracy, strategic instincts, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to public service make him a tremendous asset to the campaign. We have no doubt Andre has a bright and fabulous future ahead of him in the world of politics.

Campaign Strategist and Editor

Carolyn L. Smith has been a respected leader in Wisconsin's legal and political communities for more than 40 years.

In 1985, Governor Anthony "Tony" Earl appointed Attorney Smith as the first female Chief Prosecutor for Iowa County. The following year, she became the first Democrat elected as Iowa County District Attorney. Re-elected five times, she served for 13 years.

As District Attorney, Smith worked closely with law enforcement and established southwestern Wisconsin's first Victim Witness Services Program within a prosecutor's office, providing critical support for crime victims.

After leaving office, she founded a rural general law practice and partnered with the University of Wisconsin Law School Externship Program to expand legal services while mentoring future attorneys.

In 2014, Attorney Smith helped establish the nonprofit Restorative Justice Program of Southwest Wisconsin, giving courts an innovative alternative focused on repairing harm to victims, offenders, and the community.

Today, she serves on the Executive Board of the Democratic Party of Iowa County and as Second Vice Chair of Wisconsin's Second Congressional District Democratic Party.

Campaign Researcher and Advisor

Born and raised in Platteville, Chris Stombaugh understands Southwest Wisconsin values. After Graduating from UW-Platteville and earning his law degree with honors from Drake University, Chris built a respected legal career while maintaining strong ties to our community and raising his family here with his lovely wife, Linda.

As a nationally recognized trial attorney and former president of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, Chris has consistently stood up for everyday people in Wisconsin and across the United States. He also shares his expertise by teaching other lawyers across the country and speaks regularly at national legal conferences.

He remains deeply committed to Southwest Wisconsin. He supports our campaign because he believes in strengthening the community that shaped him.

Campaign Coordinator and Advisor

Pat grew up outside Beloit and began her teaching career at Beloit Aldrich and in the Beloit College Upward Bound program. She later taught in Dodgeville and Oregon, served on the SWCAP Board while living in Iowa County for 20 years, and farmed in Sauk County for 12 years.

After retiring in 2014, Pat moved to Monroe, reconnecting with old friends and finding new community through the South Central Wisconsin Farmers Union and Soil Sisters. She became active in local politics as a Green County Democrat, joining Kriss Marion’s first campaign and helping to grow the local progressive movement.

A familiar face at the Grassroots Network Conference and BobFest, Pat is a strong advocate for family farmers, workers, and rural communities through her work with Wisconsin Farmers Union, Family Farm Defenders, and Reedsburg Concerned Citizens. She has served on the DPW Environmental Caucus board, participated in the Rural, Progressive, and Women’s Caucuses, and helped organize innovative voter outreach during the 2020 election.

From 2021 to 2025, Pat served as Co-Chair of the Wisconsin 2nd Congressional District and the DPW Administrative Committee, championing “big tent” values and collaboration. Soil Sister Lisa Kivirist calls her “a chief community networker and collaborator,” recognizing Pat’s ongoing efforts to unite people in defense of family farms and Wisconsin’s rural landscape.

Campaign Treasurer

Coleen loves to learn and connect people. Her roots run deep in southern Wisconsin residing here for nearly her entire life. Many of you may read her insightful and well-developed political commentaries which she carefully researches and delivers on social media. We will be enlisting her literary capabilities to assist in speech writing for the team, as a sideline!

Coleen attained Associates Degrees in both Finance and Accounting at Madison Area Technical College. She layered her education with an irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of a craft store in Shullsburg, and a bookstore in Middleton, WI. Being an ardent organizer of information, she also created processes for efficient workflow in office management.

Coleen’s attention to detail, coupled with her business and mathematical acumen, makes her a perfect fit for the team!

Youth Coordinator and Environmental Specialist

Alli Lindell is an artist, biologist, and avid writer who wears her heart on her sleeve. A Platteville native and junior biology student at UW–Platteville, she focuses on ecology and is deeply passionate about environmental conservation and restoration in the Driftless Area.

Alli has worked at the Platteville Thrift Shop for nearly five years, where she’s developed strong interpersonal and communication skills. As secretary of the UW–Platteville College Democrats, she has discovered a new passion for political action and civic engagement on campus.

One of the Lindell quadruplet sisters, Alli is family-oriented and deeply empathetic—qualities shaped by her unique family dynamic. In her free time, she enjoys coordinating events for the College Democrats, cooking, volunteering with the Prairie Enthusiasts, birdwatching, weightlifting, and painting.

Through her work with Lisa White, Alli hopes to inspire young voters and highlight the power that small communities across Wisconsin hold in shaping the state’s future.

Agricultural Advisor

Myron Tranel is from Platteville, Wisconsin, and joins our team as our Ag Advisor. He brings a lifetime of agricultural experience, beginning as a boy on his family’s farm in Menominee, Illinois. While attending Galena High School in Illinois, Myron received the prestigious Agricultural Achievement Award, one of only two presented in the entire state.

In 1971, Myron began farming independently and purchased his own farm in 1977. After 17 years of milking cattle, he transitioned to crop farming and feeder cattle while also working for the University of Wisconsin–Platteville Athletic Department. Never one to shy away from hard work, Myron earned his real estate license in 1986 and went on to own a CENTURY 21 real estate office, spending 15 years in the industry.

In addition to his political activism, Myron continues to buy and sell hay, staying true to his agricultural roots. His wife of 49 years, Sheila Tranel, is equally diligent and knowledgeable in both agricultural and political arenas. Together, they are a strong force on our team, and we are sure their two children, extended family, and five grandchildren admire them as much as we do.

Humanitarian Concerns Advisor

Linda Stombaugh is a UW-Platteville graduate, born and raised in Platteville, Wisconsin. She has a professional background in the insurance industry, specializing in worker's compensation claims. For over a decade, Linda has been a dedicated volunteer Child Ambassador for World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization focused on helping children and families overcome poverty and injustice worldwide. Linda and her husband, Chris, reside in Platteville and are proud parents of three children and grandparents of two. 

Linda’s warmth and concern for her fellow humans (especially children) runs deep and has been her drive for helping others internationally for decades. Linda has a broader view of the world which lends to a perspective regarding the rights and needs of individuals within our own neighborhoods.