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Dems searching for candidate

October 27, 2009 By

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton, the only announced Democratic candidate for Governor next year, dropped out of the race Monday. “It really is a shocker,” said UW political scientist David Canon. “No one saw this coming, everyone thought that she was gonna be one of the several strong candidates . . . on the Democratic side. So this really is a complete surprise.”

Democratic Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse said several weeks ago that he wouldn’t run, so there’s no Democratic candidate as of now. Some being mentioned are Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “It really is just a wide open field right now,” said Canon.

Lawton cited “very personal reasons,” and her commitment to family, in an e-mail to supporters and a posting on her campaign website. “I think we’ll just have to find out over the next couple of days what really is behind that,” said Canon. “It really seems like there must be something that we’ll probably find out about in the next day or two.”

WIBA’s John Colbert submitted this report

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Party leaders react to Lawton decision

October 27, 2009 By

Officials with Wisconsin political parties reacted Monday to Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton’s decision to drop out of the race for governor.

Lawton cited “very personal reasons” in deciding to withdraw from the race for governor. Could those reasons have been a lack of support from Governor Jim Doyle, and rumors that the White House has been pressuring Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to enter the race? “I don’t know that that’s it,” said State Democratic Party chairman, Mike Tate. “Whatever it is, it’s a personal and private decision. I don’t think it’s my place to speculate, on whether it was lack of support . . . that caused her to make this decision.”

But state Republican Party executive director Mark Jefferson thinks the timing of Lawton’s announcement is interesting. “It is a little bit interesting that this comes shortly after Governor Doyle really refused to give her a very high recommendation in her run for governor,” Jefferson said.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:05 MP3)

Last week, Doyle gave a lukewarm assessment of Lawton’s achievements as lieutenant governor, and Monday, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist reported that White House poll numbers indicate Barrett would beat either Republican candidate, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker or former Congressman Mark Neumann. [Read more...]

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Speaker moves quickly on Wood expulsion

October 26, 2009 By

The Assembly Speaker is moving quickly to discuss the fate of a five-time OWI lawmaker.

The process to form a committee is underway, to consider the expulsion of Representative Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls), who was arrested last week for OWI — his fifth such arrest. State Representative Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) says he has already spoken with Minority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) in hopes of deciding membership of the Special Committee on Ethics and Standards.

“Yeah, we’re gonna be rolling this thing out very quickly.” Sheridan says driving under the influence “is a very serious issue.”

Wood said in a statement last week that he would not seek reelection, however there was no mention of resigning. Sheridan says Wood needs to get his act together, and this newly-formed committee will look at all the options. [Read more...]

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Lawton out, no Dems in the race for guv

October 26, 2009 By

Lt. Gov. Barb Lawton drops out of the governor’s race, citing “very personal reasons.” Lawton wrote in an e-mail to supporters and posted on her website  that her “deep commitment to our state is second only to my commitment to my family.”

Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan comments on Lawton’s announcement.

AUDIO1 (:09 mp3)

Sheridan’s name had come up in the past as a potential candidate for governor. Does Lawton’s decision change Sheridan’s thoughts on a possible bid now? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Barrett still unsure about run for Governor

October 26, 2009 By
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he’s still undecided about a run for governor.

Appearing in Madison Monday, Mayor Barrett said he was surprised by Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton dropping out of the race. Still, he’s made no decision yet on whether he’ll seek the Democratic nomination in 2010. Barrett says it takes time to sort things out, but he understands that “time is of the essence” and he’ll be making a decision in the near future. [Read more...]

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