Our interview started with the question all candidates should be able to answer without hesitation: “Why are you running for office?” When asked the question, Brower responded that he was running for the Assembly because he was outraged at the course our nation and our state had taken in recent years, and he noted he wanted to make an impact on the issues affecting Wisconsinites as a member of the State Assembly. Brower also noted his lifetime of service, both as a member of the United States Army and as a public servant, and he stated he wanted to continue to serve the public and contribute to the community as a member of the Assembly.

Asked to define his political views, Brower was unequivocal in stating he’s a progressive, noting that while he recognizes the term “progressive” can be a lightning rod of sorts, he doesn’t feel the progressive label is a negative. He also made it clear he supports fiscal responsibility, oversight, and a system of checks and balances that works.

As the interview turned towards specific issues, we spent a good deal of time discussing campaign finance reform, health care reform, and tax reform. The first discussed at length was campaign finance reform. As a self-described “underdog” candidate, Brower spoke about the financial obstacles candidates for elected office can face, especially when running against an entrenched incumbent, as is the case in the 21st District. He made a point to express his support for “taking the money out of politics” through public financing for political campaigns, so as to ensure a level playing field for all candidates. To dovetail the discussion of campaign finance reform, Brower also indicated he wanted to take action to reinforce the ethics codes for legislators.

In discussing health care reform, he commended efforts to try and provide coverage for more of Wisconsin’s citizens through programs such as BadgerCare, but he was quick to point out a need to go further. Brower was clear that he wanted to take a long look at how to provide comprehensive health care coverage for all Wisconsinites. When asked how he intended to fund comprehensive health care coverage for all Wisconsinites, Brower was honest enough to admit he had no specific ideas on how to provide the funding necessary to provide coverage, but he was quick to pledge to look at the issue extensively, and he also cited his background in policy planning and budgeting as being assets as he tried to address the issue of health care reform.

When asked how he thought he could help make health care more affordable, Brower again pledged to do a total review of the entire health care system. He was quick to note the fact that the Canadian health care system spends roughly half as much to provide health care for all its citizens as we do in the United States, yet the life expectancy in Canada is 3 years more than in the United States. He also mentioned reviewing how hospitals are taxed as a possible means of generating revenue to pay for universal health care coverage.

Brower made it clear he felt it was unfair for legislators in Madison to pass unfunded mandates for communities to follow without providing the necessary funding to follow those mandates. He discussed unfunded mandates as being one cause of rising taxes for communities throughout the state as those communities are being forced to fund those unfunded mandates themselves.

The final issue that was discussed at length was tax reform, namely Brower’s desire to make the tax code more fair for families. He spoke about working to close legal loopholes that allow businesses to pay less taxes, so as to shift some of the tax burden off families. He also debunked the conservative mantra that Wisconsin is a “tax hell,” pointing out that Wisconsin’s business taxes are actually much lower than conservatives would have people believe, and he noted he would work to bring some parity back to Wisconsin’s tax code, so that corporations pay their fair share of taxes so middle class Wisconsinites would see some of the tax burden shifted off their shoulders.

Asked about his opponent, Rep. Mark Honadel, Brower acknowledged he is the underdog in the race, and he admitted he anticipates he will be outspent by Rep. Honadel, who has roughly $30,000 cash on hand and will no doubt get heavy backing from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce as well as other conservative special interest groups. Brower talked about running a true grassroots campaign, and he cited his family’s deep roots in the community as well as his own life experiences as being among his greatest assets.

• Gableman did not go through the process for selecting judges which had been established by then-Governor Scott McCallum.
• Gableman had not applied for the Burnett County judgeship by the deadline established by the Governor’s Notice of Judicial Vacancy.
• Gableman was not one of two finalists selected by the Governor’s Advisory Council on Judicial Selection.
• Gableman served as a Republican fundraiser for Governor McCallum in the midst of the selection process to fill the vacancy that was later awarded to Gableman.
• Gableman donated $2,500 to Governor McCallum’s re-election campaign.
• No records of Gableman being interviewed for the Burnett County Circuit Court seat by Governor McCallum could be found, despite open records requests.
• No records of Gableman’s application for the vacancy could be found. OWN did find a copy of a resume Gableman faxed to the Governor’s office, but no copy of a formal application was found, despite applications being found for all the other candidates.
• Gableman arranged and attended a private breakfast with Governor McCallum at the Executive Residence in March 2002, shortly before he was appointed to fill the Burnett County Circuit Court vacancy.

Now sure, I suppose all these points could just be a happy coincidence, but as when I put all those points together, I can’t help but think Michael Gableman’s seat on the Burnett County Circuit Court was bought and paid for, and all it seemed to cost was $2,500.

This week’s candidate spotlight focuses on Jason Haas, who’s running for the 14th district’s seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, a seat currently held by Richard D. Nyklewicz, Jr., who isn’t seeking re-election. Jason’s campaign campaign will be centered around three main principles: Clean Government, Clean Air, and Clean Parks. Jason has said he’ll refuse to accept donations above $100, as well as any money from out of state Political Action Committees. In addition, Jason wants to work to have Wisconsin-made biofuels used in the county’s fleet, and he fully supports the Milwaukee County “Green Print” environmental plan. Jason’s a real progressive at a time when the County Board needs more progressives to protect the parks and preserve services from cuts by County Executive Scott Walker and his supporters on the Board. Jason’s wide ranging life experience, enthusiasm, and vision would serve his potential constituents well, and so BloggingBlue is proud to endorse Jason Haas for the 14th District’s seat on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.