With Gov. Jim Doyle’s decision to not seek a third term in office, more possible candidates are surfacing on both sides to create a spirited 2010 gubernatorial race.
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is the only declared Democratic candidate for governor thus far. According to Lawton’s campaign spokesperson Amy Pelishek, Lawton has felt for some time she is ready to run the state. Despite her announcement that she will run, Lawton has not officially declared her candidacy.
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who was defeated by Doyle in the 2002 gubernatorial primary, has been rumored to be a possible Democratic candidate, though she has not declared her intention to run. According to campaign spokesperson Melissa Mulliken, Falk is focused primarily on her work in Dane County.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett also lost the bid for governor to Doyle in 2002 and like Falk has not announced any definite plans to try again. Likewise, rumored candidate and current Congressman Ron Kind has not made any official decision regarding the race.
Prior to Doyle’s decision to forgo another term in office, three Republicans had declared their candidacy for governor: former congressman Mark Neumann, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and Appleton businessman Mark Todd.
Walker said he decided to run for governor because he is not satisfied with where the state is headed. He pointed to his many accomplishments in Milwaukee County as his qualifications for the nomination.
“We can do better,” Walker said. “I think I have the best plan to get this state working again and I am the only candidate to have the experience to implement the plan, which is limit the size of the government and make it more efficient.”
In regard to Doyle’s refusal to run again, Walker said it was good for the Walker campaign, but that it does not make a large difference.
“I think that Gov. Doyle was the weakest incumbent in the country, but he was still an incumbent, so it’s still a good thing he decided not to run,” Walker said.
Neumann agreed not having Doyle as an incumbent has not made a significant difference to the campaign but added he was never running an anti-Doyle style of campaign.
“We have a positive mission for our campaign,” Neumann said. “We have to focus on job creation and other important issues.”
Neumann said he differs from Walker as a candidate because Neumann has both public sector experience as a congressman and private sector experience as a businessman. Neumann added during his time in Congress 14 years ago, the budget was balanced, jobs were created and taxes were cut.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen was a rumored Republican candidate, though according to Mike Austin, Van Hollen’s campaign spokesperson, so far he is only planning on another run for Attorney General.
“Prior to [Doyle’s] announcement, we’ve been looking toward re-election,” Austin said. “That is our focus as of right now.”
