Attorney General, Jim Doyle

Governor Scott McCallum

Tomah mayor, Ed Thompson

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk

Tom Barrett, U.S. Congress, District 4

Do you see voter apathy in young people?

Barrett: “This is sort of the wives’ tale about voting: that 20 percent of the 20-year-olds, 30 percent of the 30-year-olds and 40 percent of the 40-year-olds vote. We have really made an effort to change that 20 percent. We want young people to be involved in a democracy; we’re appealing to young people; we’re actively reaching out to young people, because I want them to be part of democracy.”

Doyle: “I have run for a statewide office before, and I think I have seen more interest this year than I did before. Young people really understand that this election is going to affect their lives. People are realizing the next governor is going to make some key decisions that are going to affect their lives. In my campaign, in Madison and across the state, there are many young volunteers. The level of interest across the state with young voters–and all voters–has been very high.”

Falk: “I don’t see apathy. I have spent hours shaking hands, and I think young people here are asking questions that are a cut above normal. It is astounding. They ask questions about plans and positions, and they are knowledgeable. They ask about cigarette-tax increases and funding for the university system.”

McCallum: “The timing is really great with students coming back to school. I expect a lot of young people to be out voting.”

Thompson: “I have witnessed a lot of people interested in politics. A year ago when I started this thing, there weren’t as many students interested in the election, but now there is a great interest.”

What level of student involvement do you have in your campaign?

Barrett: “We have lots of student involvement in the campaign. We have probably hundreds of people under the age of 25 ? part of what I’ve really, really come to appreciate in the campaign is the young people who really believe we can make this a better state. This has been one of the most rewarding parts of this campaign.”

Doyle: “A lot. I wouldn’t know the number of volunteers, but there are many. We have students working on our campaign and some who had gone home for the summer and came back ready to go and got right back into it even with school starting ? they really are the energy and the backbone of the campaign. And I have really been impressed with students. They have an interest beyond their own self-interest. ”

Falk: “I have a lot of students working on the campaign as volunteers but also have many recent grads working in paid positions. I am also the mom of a 21-year-old student here (UW-Madison).”

McCallum: “We have student volunteers all across the state and have seen student support from all over.”

Thompson: “There has been a groundswell of student support from across the state. At every campus around the state, I have seen students come out.”

Why should students vote for you?

Barrett: “Because, for me, this is all about the future of the state. I’ve got four young kids not in college right now, and I want the best education for the four Barrett kids, but I don’t want it just for the Barrett kids. I want it for every single child in the state. And I want young people in the state to stay in the state, so I’m going to fight for family-supporting jobs so that the young people will stay here.”

Doyle: “I have tried to live a life with real commitment. I went to [the University of] Wisconsin, and right from there I went into the Peace Corps. and then on to law school. While I was serving as district attorney, I saw and was part of a revolution of the sexual-assault laws. As district attorney, I fought big tobacco, and I have always taken on tough fights and tried to make things better. There is a student idealism, energy and vision–a real core of idealism–that will make me a great candidate.”

Falk: “I think it is really important to give a choice and to give options. We should not be telling students to leave and to find higher paying jobs outside the state.”

McCallum: “I am a large supporter of the UW System, and it has fared well while I was governor. I have very specific goals that depend very heavily on the UW System.”

Thompson: “Because of what I stand for. I am in favor of permitting medicinal marijuana, making the legal drinking age 18 and I am concerned about tuition raises also. And because I am an honest man. I am the only candidate who is not taking PAC money. I won’t be bought–I am not for sale. I think tuition should be held down, and the war on drugs is failing because all it is doing is funding terrorism.”

Is this a bad time to be getting into state government with the budget deficit, the economy and the caucus investigation?

Barrett: “There are two 800-pound gorillas in the living room. One I call the state budget deficit, and [the other] the unbelievable ethics scandal that is going on right now. I’d say I’m going to get both 800-pound gorillas out of the living room.”

Doyle: “When things are good you don’t have to test your core values. My priorities are education–K-12, universities and technical schools–and we have to make sure we set our priorities right. This is a great state, and there are great hard-working people living here. Right now, political leadership is holding us back, and I think there needs to be a change.”

Falk: “This is not the state government I grew up in. We didn’t have deficits, and citizens in Wisconsin expect a level of integrity, and we should be doing for them what they have to do in their own homes by balancing the budget and not running up a huge deficit. Right now, I work with a $400 million budget and I am eager and skilled in getting the job done. And with the caucus I think the investigation and lawyers should not be taxpayer-funded.”

McCallum: “This situation is not unique to Wisconsin, and being governor takes making tough decisions. I will build the future of this state. The caucus no longer exists because while I was governor, I eliminated them and there is a court case pending.”

Thompson: “College students are ready for a change. Right now our government is run by career politicians who are only interested in their own political motivation and not in people. [The caucus] is terrible! It is the wrong thing to do, and it is time we had a change.”

What is the first thing you will do as governor?

Barrett: “I would sit down and deliver a budget that would be delivered to the Legislature on time, something that has not been done since 1989, and we’ll immediately start working on it.”

Doyle: “Clearly, funding for public education is going to be my first priority. I want to remove the teacher salary cap, because I want bright young people to try and make a living here. Upgrading the status of teachers is important, and the best way to do it is funding schools. The second thing I am going to do is deal with the budget mess and get it under control. We have wasted the money from the tobacco settlement, which I worked hard to get. The next governor is going to have to make some difficult decisions, and I am ready to do that.”

Falk: “Put out a budget very quickly and see what happens next.”

McCallum: “I have some very clear goals for the state. People within the state have to live within their means, and the states should have to do the same. We need to build Wisconsin to improve the quality of life.”

Thompson: “The first thing I would do is change the horrible way the primary is run. The person, not the party, should be the key.”

What will you do with tuition hikes?

Barrett: “If there are going to be tuition increases, I will link them with financial-aid increases.”

Doyle: “I understand inflation and that you have to support a university, but I will resist the pressure to have hikes in tuition because the value of the university to the entire state is so great. It is a driving source of our economy with research, and students should be able to get an affordable education. The benefits are for the entire state when education is affordable. This is the great promise we make: Anyone who works hard and meets qualifications should be able to go to a university and always increasing tuition is standing in the way.”

Falk: [Rep. Spencer] Black, D-Madison, continues to introduce financial aid increases that go along with increases in tuition. We should fully fund the university, and the burden should not be on the backs of students.”

McCallum: “Students and parents are concerned about tuition and financial aid. I will continue to link tuition hikes with increases in financial aid.”

Thompson: “Tuition is tied to inflation and capped. It is high enough already, and there are plenty of places to cut from in the university that the burden should not be placed on the backs of students.”

What are you most proud of in your campaign?

Doyle: “I am proud that we really focused on fundamental issues, like how to create a growing economy in the state–and that is by producing jobs for bright young people and to support public education. I have focused on three important things–job creation, education and health care–and stuck with those issues.”

Falk: “I am the only candidate that said I would not make cuts to the university. [I am proud] that my campaign team has stayed positive in what it offers with skills and solutions and not done with attacks.”

McCallum: “That we have been very straightforward with voters. It is not an easy decision, but it is the right decision.”

Thompson: “I think it is how we got the message out. It is the grassroots movement across the state. I am just a common man with common sense, and I am ready to work.”