Less than a day after more than one million petition signatures were turned in to recall Governor Scott Walker, his first possible opponent is stepping forward. Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced Wednesday that she will seek the Democratic nomination to oppose Walker in a likely recall election.
In an online message, Falk says “hope has inspired this movement, and the people of this movement inspire me.” She says a formal announcement on her candidacy will come soon.
With months of job losses, cuts to education, and what she calls an “all-out attack” on public employees, Falk says Walker’s agenda is not working. She says the state “can’t wait three more years to fix what’s wrong.”
AUDIO: Kathleen Falk (2:16)
Falk is the first Democrat to announce plans to run, although she is likely the first in what could be a crowded field of candidates. State Senator Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) has indicated he will be a candidate if an election is called, while state Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton), Assembly Democratic leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and former Congressman Dave Obey are also considering their options. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who lost to Walker in 2010, has also declined to rule out a rematch.
In a statement, Walker campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews called Falk the “nominee hand-picked by big-government, public employee union bosses.” Matthews says Falk’s record as Dane County executive falls in lockstep with a “Madison liberal ideology” that’s outside the mainstream of the rest of the state.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:13)
