Can you please introduce yourself?

My name is Aria Xavier Trucios, and my pronouns are they/them. My dad immigrated to the U.S. from Peru in search of a better life for himself and his family. I struggled for over a decade with mental illness and was able to access mental health care because of his hard work and the opportunities my family provided. I’ve known many people who struggled with similar challenges but didn’t have access to that care, and I’ve seen how deeply that has impacted their lives.

When mental health challenges are combined with economic disenfranchisement and lack of opportunity, especially for people in communities that are already disproportionately disadvantaged, it compounds very quickly. I want to make sure that the communities served by county finances continue to get the services they need, particularly as we head into a tough budget year. My goal is to maintain those services as much as possible while also looking for ways to responsibly streamline the budget.

Outside of policy, I’m an avid birdwatcher and love being outdoors. Even when the weather isn’t great, I try to get outside whenever I can. I previously served as a citizen member on the Middleton Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Commission, where I worked to help ensure Middleton’s parks met the needs of the community. As a county board member, I would hope to preserve green space and environmentally important areas so future generations can enjoy them.

Professionally, I’m a former licensed Merchant Mariner. As far as I know, I was the first person to come out as trans while in my program, which was especially challenging given the political climate at the time. The program was administered through the U.S. Coast Guard, and while it was civilian, licensure was federally regulated, so there was real uncertainty about whether I would be allowed to continue. I didn’t really ask permission. I was confident in myself, even if I didn’t yet fully understand my identity.

It took time for me to realize I’m nonbinary, which helped explain why I never felt like a woman and never had that clear certainty people often describe. That experience is one of the reasons I want to step forward publicly. I think nonbinary people help broaden and clarify what “trans” can mean for a lot of folks.

Today, I work as a power plant operator. It’s a very conservative environment, and I work alongside many conservative coworkers. I’ve found that there’s a real opportunity to bridge gaps there, and I’ve had more success doing that than people might expect.

How did that work lead you to wanting to run for public office?

Serving on the Parks Commission showed me how valuable my background could be. With my engineering experience, time spent in construction, and ability to read contracts, I was often able to offer insights others didn’t have readily available. Power plant work also gives you a broad-picture understanding of infrastructure and utilities, which are parts of society most people don’t think about day to day.

After testifying at public hearings and meeting many elected officials, I was told, and came to believe, that my skill set would be especially helpful as the county navigates an upcoming budget challenge. I was approached by the incumbent for this open seat and have since been endorsed by both them and the district’s Assembly representative, Mike Baer.

You are running for District 9. What areas does District 9 cover?

District 9 is technically all within the City of Madison, but it’s a slice of the far west side between Middleton and Verona. Many addresses are listed as Middleton or Verona. The area includes a mix of older neighborhoods and many newer developments, with lots of new homes and apartment buildings.

How and when did you announce your candidacy?

I was approached in mid-December, about a week or two before Christmas, and the filing deadline was in early January, so I’m definitely late to the game. I do have an opponent who has contributed to the county Republican Party as recently as 2024, so I’m trying to get up and running as quickly as possible. I’m also starting a new job with rotating shifts, which will make door-knocking harder, so fundraising will be especially important.

What issues are at the forefront of your campaign?

One of the first things that comes to mind is the CARES program. As someone who struggled with mental illness for many years, there were times I should have gone to the hospital but didn’t, because I knew calling 911 would bring police to my door. The CARES program connects people with mental health professionals instead, while also freeing police from calls they aren’t trained to handle.

I’ve spoken with the Sheriff about expanding CARES countywide. While there are challenges—since municipalities have independent authority—I’m hopeful there are opportunities for county–municipality partnerships. If that proves too complex, I’d like to work with Assembly and Senate leaders to create a statewide framework so counties aren’t juggling dozens of separate agreements. Either way, expanding CARES across Dane County would allow people to seek help without making the worst day of their life even scarier.

Beyond that, the county board’s scope is limited, so my priorities are affordability, cost of living, housing, environmental preservation, and getting the budget back on track. Taxes are a major concern I hear about at the doors, and I want to be able to speak honestly to that.

Dane County is growing very rapidly, and we need long-term planning that balances density, housing supply, and transportation infrastructure to keep costs down. Preventing financial hardship starts with keeping costs manageable upfront. At 28 years old, I’m hoping to bring a long-term perspective that I think is missing. A lot of short-term thinking has contributed to where we are now.

Budget-wise, one of the reasons counties are in this position is decades of austerity imposed by the state legislature. Over the past 20 years, shared revenue has been consistently reduced. I’m hopeful that fairer maps and future elections will allow us to restore funding so counties can both plan long-term and provide critical services in the short term.

Are there specific policies you want to advocate for?

I want to serve on the Environmental Committee, where my predecessor has worked extensively. I’m also endorsed by the chair of the Health and Human Needs Committee, who is deeply involved in housing and tenant rights. We’ve talked a lot about long-term solutions, including the possibility of a land bank program, though that would require future funding we don’t currently have.

What is a land bank?

A land bank would allow the county to purchase underdeveloped or low-use land, such as parking lots or aging properties, and hold it for future development. The county could then build and lease housing itself, giving it much more control over affordability. Right now, the county mainly influences housing costs by funding private developers, without owning the land.

Building affordable housing far outside Madison creates problems with density and transit. Without good public transportation and access to jobs, the cost of car ownership alone can erase affordability gains. Long-term, we need housing near transit and employment centers, even if that takes years to achieve.

Is there anything else you want people to know?

I’m still early in this campaign and really looking forward to meeting more people in the district. I appreciate any support folks are willing or able to give.

Where can people find you?

People can find me on Facebook (Aria X Trucios) and Instagram (@ariatrucios), and I will have my campaign website up shortly. I will be