Wisconsin’s hyper-partisan legislative environment will soon lose its lone independent voice. State Representative Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc announced Friday that he will step down from the legislature after his term expires next January. “I thought after twenty years it was time to step aside and give someone else a chance to serve,” Ziegelbauer tells WOMT in an interview. “I don’t know that I would include anything negative about it, but on the other hand, we all get older. It’s time, really.” Ziegelbauer was first elected in 1990 as a Democrat and elected a tenth time as an independent in November of 2010. Nomination papers will begin circulating in April for the November general election.
AUDIO: Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer (1:30)
Ziegelbauer, who also serves as Manitowoc County Executive, says he’ll remain focused on serving his constituents until his term expires and in his words has no unscheduled future plans. Ziegelbauer says meeting constituent needs was his top priority. “Being focused on being the best representative of the people of this community that I could be, and advocating for the longterm interests of our statewide community within that context. I would recommend that approach to anybody. It’s worked well for me, and I think it transcends party politics or other kinds of relationships, and as long as you keep that priority in mind, you’re likely to be successful.”
Brian Norton, WOMT
