[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]This is the first part of a series profiling members of the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Since his election to the State Assembly in 1998, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, has been working as a key Democrat within the Legislature to promote Wisconsin's progressive values.

"I think my goal around here has been to see what I can do to help bring Wisconsin back to the progressive tradition of 'Fighting' Bob LaFollette," Pocan said, adding he has been a "longtime advocate" for campaign finance reform and the protection of civil liberties.

Pocan was elected after U.S. Rep. Tammy Balwin, D-Wis., left her state office to run for Congress.

Now serving his fourth term in the Assembly, Pocan said his time as a state representative has been an incredible learning experience, both in expected and unexpected ways.

Throughout his political career, Pocan has witnessed first-hand the ubiquitous corruption of special interests in state government, a problem he said needs to be seriously examined.

"Reform isn't just something you just talk about when a couple people get caught with their hands in the cookie jar. It's something that we need around here desperately," Pocan said. "There are very few bills I watch get passed that aren't somehow tainted by special interests and special interest money."

According to Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, Pocan has been "one of the key individuals" in trying to combat the negative effects of special interests.

"Pocan has been one of the leading advocates for campaign finance reform … and he's certainly one of a handful of legislators who really cares about the issue," Heck said. "He understands that the reform is critical but that it also needs to be bipartisan."

Pocan recently supported the ethics reform package introduced by Gov. Jim Doyle, which bans all fundraising during the budget process for both incumbents and challengers.

Additionally, the representative has previously put forward, along with Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, the "100 Percent Public Finance Bill," a measure that would fully finance legislative races.

While Pocan has been working to improve the election system, some Republicans charge his methods of reform are unrealistic and unlikely.

"[Rep. Pocan's] version of campaign finance reform would require taxpayers to finance all politicians' campaigns, and I don't think taxpayers are particularly interested in doing that," Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said.

Suder, along with many Republicans, are additionally opposed to Pocan's stance on issues regarding civil rights, namely same-sex marriage and civil unions.

Pocan, an open homosexual, has been an active opponent of SJR 53, a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin if passed in a referendum this November.

"I think the GOP leadership sees this as a way to … motivate certain types of voters. I don't think they care they're affecting real families and people in Wisconsin," Pocan said. "I think people in Wisconsin are far more fair-minded than Republican legislators on this issue."

Pocan said a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions is unnecessary considering marriage between homosexuals is already considered illegal in Wisconsin.

But according to Suder, a SJR 53 co-sponsor, Pocan's views on civil unions are out of touch with the majority of Wisconsin citizens.

"[Pocan has] spent a great deal of time promoting gay rights and I think he is on the far left on that issue," Suder said. "He feels very strongly about gay rights … but he chooses to highlight his agenda, which seems to me to be out of the mainstream."

Pocan, however, believes he is in fact properly representing the state's citizens, especially students at the University of Wisconsin, expressing how important it is to have "a world-class institution" within the state.

"If we don't show support for the UW in real terms, which means dollars, at some point we will price students out of the system," he said. "Then we won't have a university of just the best and brightest, but we'll have a university of people who are able to afford to attend."

According to Suder, Pocan's stance on the issues is representative of his political roots. Suder said although Pocan tows the "democratic ultra-liberal party line" he is "intelligent."

Pocan said it is sometimes hard to fight what he calls "the good fight."

"I just want to keep trying to do what I've set out to do," he said. "That means talking about legislation that I care about, that means helping to elect progressives to the Legislature, and that means not being afraid to stand up for my values."