A respected orthopedic doctor who is the founder and owner of Wisconsin Orthopedic Physical Therapy is running for the 5th Senate seat vacated by outgoing incumbent Rob Hutton.
Mike Roberts is a 7th-generation Wisconsinite who was “born and raised in the same district I’m hoping to serve.” He said that affordability will be a key focus of his leadership. “Too many families feel they are falling behind,” Roberts told WRN in an interview. He is concerned about “cost of living and the economy, public safety, health care, and the state’s education.”
Roberts, 39, who is a married father of three kids ages 8, 6, and 5, is running as a Republican. Hutton has announced that he is not seeking re-election in the fall.
The district is a key swing seat. Kamala Harris won the Senate district by 6 points, but Hutton is a Republican. The district covers Pewaukee, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Wauwatosa, West Allis, a little of Waukesha, and a little of West Milwaukee.
“I know it’s not an easy race, but I’m prepared for it,” Roberts said, adding, “I never asked my patients, ‘Are you Republican or Democrat?’ I listen to them.”
He spoke extensively with Wisconsin Right Now about his reasons for running. Fifteen years ago, as a physical therapist, Roberts saw the “dysfunction” in the health care system firsthand. He even had 69 patients in one day at the clinic where he worked.
“I quickly learned right out of the gate. We were rewarded and incentivized volume, not quality,” he said. But he didn’t just notice this. “I saw a problem. I did something about it.” That’s when he started his business, originally in a small room with “two treatment tables” in Wauwatosa.
Today, the company has branches in Wauwatosa and in the Lake Country of Waukesha County. It’s been repeatedly named the best physical therapy clinic in the Milwaukee area.
“Our game plan is to treat the condition, not the symptoms,” he says, and he wants to bring that approach to Madison and the district. It’s a swing district that spans communities like
Roberts calls himself a “pragmatic conservative.”
“Dr. Mike graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s in Exercise Science and his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Carroll University in Waukesha, WI,” his website says.
“I believe in personal responsibility,” he said, “and in protecting taxpayers, in a limited and effective government, and in solving real problems.” He described himself as “guided by outcomes, not ideology. If it helps families, I’m for it. If not, we have a responsibility to change course.”
He considers District 5 a “perfect representation of Wisconsin. To the East, there is a left-leaning population, and to the West, a right-leaning population.” He called District 5 a “purple district” like the state.
“The issues we’re seeing statewide” are also felt in the district, he said.
On the economy, he wants to reduce regulation and red tape and increase the state’s GDP without raising taxes. He supports lowering property taxes and is concerned that young people in their 20s have difficulty purchasing a home. He is worried about retirees who are struggling on fixed incomes. He wants to eliminate “outdated, duplicate, or inefficient” regulations.
On the public safety front, he said he has worked with every chief and department in the district, “treating many officers. I see what those men and women do on a daily basis, with crime rising in Milwaukee and entering these communities.” He supports “evidence-based practice,” such as hot-spot policing.
The State Senate Democratic Committee has endorsed State Rep. Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa, in the race. According to Roberts, he respects anyone who serves the state, but said his views differ from Vining’s in key ways.
He believes in focusing on “education outcomes for kids, not just funding levels,” and he supports law enforcement. He believes that his opponent “authored bills that drive up the cost of everyday living for every day Wisconsinites.”
He opposes “prioritizing progressive social legislation in schools when parents are more concerned with academic outcomes.” He is deeply concerned about school testing scores.
“Outside of treating, Dr. Mike has been a leader nationally in helping other physical therapy businesses grow from the East Coast all the way to Hawaii. He has also worked with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C., on bills related to the physical therapy profession and educating them on the importance of our field within the healthcare system,” his website says.
“In his free time, Dr. Mike enjoys golfing, CrossFit, traveling, watching the Packers/Bucks/Brewers, and most of all spending time with his wife and three kids.”
Sarah Harrison, “a community advocate and small business owner,” has also registered to run, according to Wispolitics.
Robert’s campaign website is mikerobertswi.com.
