State Democrats are in for a tough choice. On Monday, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced her candidacy for attorney general, putting her in the running against incumbent Peg Lautenschlager. Ms. Lautenschlager's office was quick to denounce Ms. Falk's prosecutorial experience as insufficient and questioned her support of law enforcement. The dilemma that arises out of this situation is now Democrats are forced to choose between two candidates with glaring flaws: Ms. Falk's ostensible inexperience, and Ms. Lautenschlager's previous criminal incident.
As noted by the Lautenschlager campaign, Kathleen Falk has had little experience in regard to criminal prosecution, a serious shortcoming especially because she is now running for a position as the top legal enforcer in the state. Her experience with the legal community is limited to a stint serving as an assistant attorney general specializing in environmental law, and her current function as Dane County Executive. Furthermore, Ms. Lautenschlager's resume only serves to underscore the inadequacies of Ms. Falk's, as she has previously served as both a district attorney and federal prosecutor. Yet, Ms. Falk's inexperience might not be the telling fact in the election when compared with Ms. Lautenschlager's brush with the law.
For those unfamiliar with Ms. Lautenschlager's arrest, while driving on the night of the Feb. 23, 2004, the Attorney General was pulled over due to a late-night incident where her car slipped off the road. She admitted to having had two glasses of wine with friends and in a subsequent police test, blew a .12, a mark 50 percent over the legal limit. Ms. Lautenschlager reacted swiftly, appearing contrite in her public announcements. At a press conference dealing with her arrest, Ms. Lautenschlager stated, "I cannot erase my actions on the night of Monday, Feb. 23. I can, however, offer each and every citizen my most sincere apologies and promise that this will not happen again." This event still leaves Ms. Lautenschlager susceptible to criticism, and the race for the Democratic candidacy without a clear leader.
To remedy this situation, it is essential to look beyond the mere credentials of these two women. If the Democrats truly wish to choose a viable candidate for next fall, the litmus test they must run should be one based on character. Two aspects of character that become especially important in this case are upholding the standards of office and moral leadership.
When one accepts a position of public service, they tacitly accept with it a more rigorous set of standards in regards to personal comportment. This is a necessary component of public office in that conformity with this higher degree of standards serves as a de facto assurance to the public that the requirements of the office are being satisfactorily met. When a standard is broken, and broken in a manner as egregiously as Ms. Lautenschlager's arrest, it thrusts the public into uncertainty as to the ability of the person to meet the other requirements of the office.
The other related component of character that should be scrutinized is moral leadership. This element can be defined as the ability to persuade others to do what is right and obey social mores. Furthermore, as an attorney general, one must also be capable of impelling the citizenry to conform to the law. This can be accomplished through various means, yet is innately connected with maintaining the standards of office, and requires an impeccable record.
Thus, the current situation is looking bleak. On the one side, there is a candidate with ambiguous prosecutorial experience, and on the other, there is a candidate whose character and credibility carry an air of dubiousness with them. Both candidates are susceptible to attacks from the other on their respective flaws, creating a serious liability for either candidate's feasible electoral possibilities if a sustained campaign is run and turns negative. It is imperative that the Democrats choose a candidate quickly, and that they choose a candidate who can uphold the standards of office and be a moral leader for Wisconsin. If not, then both Ms. Lautenschlager and Ms. Falk will have plenty of time next fall to enjoy a few glasses of wine together.
Mike Skelly ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in finance and political science.
