This is my first attempt at a diary. My life has been personally affected by actions of the Wisconsin governor and state legislature, so I've begun to lurk less, post more, and take more an active role in politics - practice it rather than just teach it.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel just posted a story that confirms what many of us have felt was probably going on behind the scenes while the recall signatures are being gathered. More below the fold...
Union Leaders Urge Barrett Not to Run in Recall Race
According to an email obtained by No Quarter, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell, WEAC Executive Director Dan Burkhalter and other top union officials had a face-to-face meeting with the Democratic mayor to discuss the potential Walker recall race.
"On Monday, Dan and I, along with the We Are Wisconsin partners, met with Mayor Barrett," Bell wrote Thursday to her board members and UniServ presidents. "Despite attempts to communicate the issues you laid out very clearly in our meeting on Saturday, in our judgment the meeting did not convince Mayor Barrett that he should not run in a potential recall election."
Insiders say the union officials are hoping to clear the field for former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk to take on the first-term Republican governor in the spring. Also attending the meeting was Marty Beil, executive director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union and an open critic of Barrett.
Those of us who watched the Tom Barrett press conference earlier this week announcing another run for mayor in the Spring of 2012 also noticed he was showing an inability to give a straight answer as to whether he will run for governor once enough recall signatures are gathered. Between Barrett's response to union leaders in the article linked above, and his response at the news conference yesterday, it's becoming clear this is likely not a man uncertain of whether or not wants to run against Scott Walker, but rather a man unsure of when he wants to announce his run for the office.
It also confirms that Falk's attendance at many of the recall events over the past several months wasn't just an exercise in legtitmate moral support. She has managed to get the ears, and apparent backing, of the leaders of two of the largest public employee union groups in the state. If it is the intent of those two groups to publically and financially front her as a candidate, it could be a huge mountain to overcome for other prospective individuals who hope to run.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has thus far strayed away from publically discussing the topics of candidates, and has instead focused it's efforts on collecting well more than enough signatures to force the recall. They may have their hands full though in the coming weeks if a lot of this back room wheeling and dealing continues. As a member of this state's teacher's union, I do not approve of what Mary Bell is doing. I understand her concerns with Barrett (they are legitimate), but I don't want our union publically pushing Falk (or any other candidate)until the signatures are officially turned in, and candidates have publically announced that they are in it to win it.
Will the party move to control this behind the scenes, or will candidates begin to publically announce intentions to potentially force the issue of a democratic primary? I'm hoping for the latter, as I feel there are several significantly better quality candidates than Barrett and Falk that are considering a run at governor. Barrett ran a poor campaign in the fall of 2010, and his unwillingness to do something as simple as sign a recall ballot is just mind numbing. Falk just doesn't play well with a moderate electorate outside of Madison. Then again, there is always the chance that the public has just simply had enough of the divisiveness and animosity caused under Walker and the Fitzgeralds, and that any democratic candidate has a very legitimate chance to win in 2012.