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ELECTION 2006; Governor's Job is Top (but Not the Lone) Prize; State's Political Parties Gear Up for a Critical Year

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By GREG J. BOROWSKI

For both political parties, all eyes this year are on the governor's race in November. But the results could depend in part on what happens in races up and down the ballot, and how they affect turnout.

That makes 2006 a critical year in state politics, with Republicans hoping to win back the governor's office from Democrats, and Democrats hoping to make inroads in the GOP-held Senate and Assembly.

The safest prediction: A slew of TV ads will be run and millions upon millions of dollars will be raised and spent before voters have their say on first-term Gov. Jim Doyle, who will face one of two Republican challengers U.S. Rep. Mark Green of Green Bay or Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.

"Doyle is vulnerable, but I don't see it as an easy pickoff," said Thomas Holbrook, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. "He's not a wildly popular governor. But at the same time he hasn't done much to generate hostility across the state."

Republicans note that Doyle has come in below 50% in recent polls and won election in 2002 with about 45% of the vote, a product of Libertarian Ed Thompson mounting a solid race. Democrats note Doyle leads Walker and Green, who face a potentially bruising primary before they get a shot at him.

Both sides, of course, predict victory.

"This is a governor beholden to special interests, who governs by special interests," said state GOP Chairman Rick Graber. "To see how he governs, you can follow the money."

Democratic Chairman Joe Wineke says Doyle kept promises on taxes and education.

"People quickly forget what a perilous situation the state was in when he was elected, a budget deficit of $3.5 billion," Wineke said. "I think the governor will have a tough race, but he's a tenacious campaigner."

Political observers say the best race of the year could be that for attorney general.

The campaign was jolted in November when Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk stepped in to challenge incumbent Peg Lautenschlager for the Democratic nomination. Lautenschlager has faced sharp criticism for a drunken driving arrest while in a state-owned vehicle, which many believe leaves her vulnerable.

Meantime, on the Republican side, Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher is squaring off against J.B. Van Hollen, former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.

Graber said the Democratic challenge could further level the playing field for his side, as it could leave the winner with limited resources, as will be the case with whoever wins the Republican primary.

The Sept. 12 primary is one of the nation's latest, eight weeks before the Nov. 7 election.

That could work against Republicans in the governor's race, as it will leave Walker or Green little time to regroup and raise more money. Both parties, though, are expected to make the race a top priority.

National funds are also expected to flow into the race to fill Green's congressional seat, perhaps the only competitive one in the state.

The Republican race has narrowed to Assembly Speaker John Gard of Peshtigo and fellow Assembly member Rep. Terri McCormick of Appleton.

On the Democratic side, former Brown County Executive Nancy Nusbaum has wrapped up early support from national groups such as EMILY's List. But the race for the nomination will be a tight one, with Appleton allergist Steve Kagen and Green Bay business consultant Jamie Wall also raising significant campaign money.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl also will be on the November ballot, but Republicans still are searching for a candidate to run against him. GOP leaders are urging Tim Michels, who ran against U.S. Sen Russ Feingold in 2004, to take on Kohl.

All of the Assembly's 99 seats will be up for grabs; Republicans currently hold a 59-39 majority, with one vacancy. About half of the seats are up in the Senate, where the Republicans hold a 19-14 majority.

Wineke, the Democratic chairman, said he is hopeful the party can win control of the Senate and the Assembly.

He sees 2006 as a year in which state elections will be "nationalized." He cites 1994, when President Clinton was in office, and Republicans picked up nearly 500 Democratic seats in state legislatures across the country, while losing only 11.

"I think we'll pick up some that are not even on the radar screen," Wineke said.

Prominent local races

In Milwaukee, voters in November will likely get to weigh in on the Iraq war. Some question the timing of the referendum, arguing it's to bring Democrats upset with President Bush to the polls.

Also expected on the statewide November ballot is a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Opponents of that amendment say it's a political tool to drive up turnout among residents who will vote against Doyle. Supporters contend the issue should be on the ballot when most residents could consider it.

The year will also feature many local races.

In Milwaukee County, District Attorney E. Michael McCann will be stepping down after 38 years. He has a chosen successor, longtime assistant John Chisholm, but others are expected to run.

And Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. will be back on the ballot. Appointed by a Republican, Clarke ran as a Democrat but has not hidden his affinity for Republicans. He faces a Democratic challenge from Vincent Bobot, an assistant city attorney who has been a police officer and Municipal Court judge.

It could make for a tricky run for Clarke, who may find some supporters cannot help him in the primary if he runs as a Democrat. Why? The Republican primary for governor and attorney general will likely keep Republicans from crossing over.

Here is a look at key races in other counties:

Waukesha County: Spring mayoral elections will be held in Waukesha, where Mayor Carole Lombardi is retiring, and Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Delafield.

Heading into today's deadline to file for local offices, there are six declared candidates for Lombardi's seat, including state Rep. Ann M. Nischke (R-Waukesha), two aldermen and a county supervisor. In Brookfield, the three declared candidates include Mayor Jeff Speaker and two aldermen.

All 35 County Board seats are up for election in April.

Ozaukee County: Residents of the Mequon-Thiensville School District will vote in February on whether to let the district tax $2.5 million above its state-capped revenue limits for each of the next three years. That referendum will appear on the Feb. 21 spring primary ballot.

Two former supervisors will give the Ozaukee County Board another try. Kimberly J. McCulloch and Gus Wirth each have declared they are candidates in Cedarburg districts. McCulloch will oppose incumbent Kathy Geracie. Wirth will face incumbent Randy Miller.

Washington County: More than one-fourth of the seats on the 30- member County Board will be filled with new supervisors in April even if no incumbents lose re-election bids. Seven supervisors are not seeking new terms, and an eighth seat has been vacant since Supervisor Paul Beistle of Slinger died in October.

Board Chairman Ken Miller of Germantown is the most prominent among the departing incumbents. Miller, 71, announced in November that he would not seek a 13th consecutive term as supervisor. He has served the last six terms as board chairman.

Racine County: All 23 County Board seats are up for election this spring, as well as the even-numbered seats on the 15-seat Racine Common Council.

County Board Chairman Kenneth Vetrovec will face Kenneth Hall, a longtime opponent of county jail expansion. David Hazen, who is completing his first term on the County Board, will again be challenged by former Supervisor H. John Anderson.

With state Sen. Cathy Stepp (R-Yorkville) not running again, the most hotly contested race this fall will be for the 21st Senate seat. State Rep. John Lehman (D-Racine) and County Executive William McReynolds, a Republican, are the two announced candidates for the seat.

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Journal Sentinel reporters Stacy Forster, Katharine Goodloe, Don Behm, Dan Benson, Darryl Enriquez and Jennie Tunkieicz contributed to this report.

Copyright 2006, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved. (Note: This notice does not apply to those news items already copyrighted and received through wire services or other media.)

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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