League of Women Voters' Guide

With the election season getting ready to heat up for the Fall, this message from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is certainly timely.

Dear League Members,

The Voter Guide is now online! It is easily accessible through our website at Voters Guide.

The League collaborated with Common Cause in Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign to ask candidates for state office six questions on campaign finance, ethics and other reforms. Candidates to the United States Congress also received questionnaires on a broader range of issues.

Democratic Governor Jim Doyle returned the survey and answered yes to all six questions, as did Nelson Eisman the Wisconsin Green Party candidate for Governor. Their Republican challenger, Green Bay Congressman Mark Green, did not respond and did not go on the record on these issues.

Three of the four candidates for Attorney General responded – incumbent Democrat Peg Lautenschlager, her Democratic Primary challenger, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk and Republican JB Van Hollen, a former U.S. Attorney. Republican Paul Bucher, the Waukesha County District Attorney, didn't respond to the questionnaire.

Over half of state legislative candidates did not take a public stand on reform issues. Of the 36 candidates for state senate, 16 answered the questionnaire and one other replied but refused to answer. Nineteen did not reply at all.

Of the 206 candidates for state assembly, 134 did not reply to the survey. Sixty-seven answered the questions, while five refused to answer.

Among legislative leaders, both Senate Republican Leader Dale Schultz and Senate President Alan Lasee responded. Senate Democratic Leader Judy Robson, Assistant Senate Republican Leader Neil Kedzie and Assembly Republican Leader Mike Huebsch did not respond and Assembly Democratic Leader Jim Kreuser replied that it is his policy not to answer such questionnaires.

Take a look at what your candidates had to say and let them know what you think about the issues.