The two Republicans trying to unseat Wisconsin’s long-time Democratic secretary of state, Doug La Follette, each have very different ideas about the future of the position, and whether or not it should even exist.
The secretary of state is the keeper of Wisconsin’s seal, publishes and maintains legislative acts, and serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. Over time, the position has become less powerful than it is in other states, where secretaries of state can oversee elections or business licensing.
There have been failed proposals to eliminate the office. For that to happen, bills would have to pass through the two consecutive legislative sessions, and then be approved by voters in a referendum.
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State Rep. Garey Bies (R-Sister Bay) has supported these efforts in the past, but now he’s running for the position. He said the secretary of state’s office has become stagnant, and he wants to work with both parties to determine the office’s future.
“(I’d) either develop the office into something that has some meaning, or work with the Legislature to bring it to a head — to bring it to referendum and let the citizens decide and actually participate in it,” said Bies.
Julian Bradley, who is chairman of the Republican Party in the state’s 3rd Congressional District, is also running for secretary of state. However, he’s not in favor of eliminating the position. Instead, he’d actually like to see more duties return to the secretary of state’s office.
“This is an office that should be looked at as what I believe our framers meant to have it, which is something like an ambassador for the state and somebody that is handling some of the administrative duties that may exist in state government,” he said.
The winner of the Republican primary will face long-time Democratic incumbent La Follette, as well as Constitution Party member Jerry Broitzman, in the November election.
You can listen to WPR News interviews with both Bies and Bradley below:
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