Brad Schimel
The Republican candidate for Wisconsin attorney general is out with a plan aimed at combating violence against women. The proposal, outlined Tuesday during an event on the UW-La Crosse campus, focuses on campus safety, date rape and domestic violence.
Schimel, the district attorney in Waukesha County, said he wants to partner with local law enforcement agencies to increase and improve training, facilitate cooperation with victim advocates, and focus not only on prosecution, but prevention as well. He said “If we focus and work together, we can leverage existing resources and be smarter about our efforts to combat violence against women.”
Tuesday’s event highlighted recent accusations on the UW-Milwaukee campus of a fraternity slipping date rape drugs into alcoholic drinks during a party. Schimel described the case as “every parents’ nightmare” and pledged to create and chair a task force that would focus on ways to make Wisconsin’s campuses safer.
Schimel’s plan also calls for expanding the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program statewide and adding more training for local law enforcement on dealing with sexual assaults.
Schimel is running against Democratic nominee Susan Happ, the district attorney in Jefferson County. Happ campaign manager Josh Lease responded to the Schimel plan, saying “It’s good that Brad Schimel has seen the light on sexual assaults on campus. We hope he will join with Susan Happ and begin fighting for a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. The last thing a woman needs after being the victim of a sexual assault is to be lectured or restricted in her choices.”