A Madison firefighter and union leader is in the race for lieutenant governor. Mahlon Mitchell, a lieutenant with the Madison Fire Department and President of the Wisconsin Professional Firefighters, will take on Republican Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch in the recall election. “I think right now we have some one sitting in a position, and not having any accountability, and not having to answer to anyone,” said Mitchell. “Just being able to rubber stamp the governor’s policies, I don’t think that’s the job of the lieutenant governor.”
While saying there are other issues confronting the state besides workers rights, Mitchell also said he’ll work hard to see collective bargaining restored. “I don’t want to speak for somebody else, but I can tell you I’m committed to making sure workers rights are restored, because that’s important. This is how this whole thing started.”
Mitchell said that because of the narrow time frame for the recall campaign, he won’t be taking a leave either from the fire department or from his union position.