One of the Democratic candidates for governor will now serve on the board that’s finalizing Wisconsin’s $3 billion contract with Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn.
Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz announced yesterday that Rep. Dana Wachs, D-Eau Claire, will serve on the board of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, or WEDC.
Wachs is one of several Democrats running for governor. Others include State Superintendent Tony Evers, former state party chair Matt Flynn, businessman Andy Gronik, activist Mike McCabe, and State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma.
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Like most Wisconsin Democrats, Wachs has been critical of the Foxconn deal that passed the legislature and is now being finalized by the WEDC board.
He replaces Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, the former Assembly Minority Leader who lost his leadership job shortly after he voted in favor of the Foxconn deal in the legislature.
In a written statement Tuesday, Hintz said Wachs would fight for “accountability, transparency and fairness” on the WEDC board.
“Representative Wachs has the legal expertise and statewide perspective to ensure this contract is given the scrutiny it deserves,” Hintz said.
The Republican Governors Association has attacked Wachs for attacking the Foxconn deal, suggesting he’s “put(ting) his own ambitions ahead of Wisconsin families.”
Gov. Scott Walker, who chairs the RGA, has highlighted the Foxconn deal in digital ads being run by his campaign ahead of his official reelection announcement Sunday.
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