State's Political Future in the Balance During Recall Elections

Wisconsinites all over the state head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in bitterly partisan recall elections that promise to have lasting political and legislative impact for years to come. 

But for residents of Greendale and Greenfield, who are not represented by one of the six state politicians facing recall, Tuesday is just another August dog day of summer.

Or is it? Politicians who represent city and village residents say ramifications of Tuesday's elections should cause even the most casual political observer to take serious note of the results.

"It's historic. I know that not everybody is a political junkie or follows politics closely but I feel that in the history of the United States, never before have we had this many recalls in this period of time," said State Senator Tim Carpenter, who represents Greenfield in the 3rd District. "It's celebrating democracy."

According to State Senator Mary Lazich, who represents Greendale and Greenfield in the 28th District, the recalls are inappropriate because no maleficence in office or criminal activity has occurred.

"They are not warranted," she said. "All of these people up for recall are up for election next year … so I think they are absolutely ridiculous when they are up for election in less than a year and we are having this expense and chaos going on."

If Republicans are successful at staving off this unprecedented fierce political challenge and, as a result, cling to a Senate majority, it will enable the party to press on with its sweeping fiscal and social conservative agenda that has included conceal carry weapon legislation and voter identification reform.  

The Republican agenda - along with control of both chambers and the Governor's office - has endorsed a "fiscally responsible budget" that results in the state not having a structure deficit and a "structural surplus," according to Lazich.

"So the impact on the residents is a fiscally responsible state government that keeps their taxes in line yet provides all of the services that they have become accustom to," said Lazich, adding that health and social services along with the educational system will stay intact. 

"With all of the chicken little conversation that the sky is falling, people are coming to realize that is not founded and Wisconsin is in good condition." 

If Democrats are able to convince voters that the Republican agenda is wrong for the state, win three recall races on Tuesday and hold serve during three later recalls, they will rip the majority from their Republican counterparts in the Senate and likely attempt to reverse many of the hallmark conservative measures passed during the last six months. 

A successful outcome for Democrats will also amount to political momentum that will likely lead to a recall attempt of Governor Scott Walker. The governor, according to Carpenter, is to blame for the some of the political turmoil because of his unwillingness to explain to Wisconsin residents the reasoning behind his push for union reform.  

"You have to be willing to step up to your own party on difficult issues," Carpenter said. "I think the reason why the Republicans may suffer this time around is, other than Senator Schultz, on the collective bargaining issue, that no one questioned Scott Walker and they just voted for him lock step. For anyone, Democrat or Republican, I think that is a big mistake." 

Carpenter's insight on the governor stems from when Walker was Milwaukee County Executive.  

"The County Board overrode his vetoes and had a little check on what he could do or not do," Carpenter said. "When he came to Madison, there was no counterbalance or check for compromise or discussion … he just moved in and really dictated and dominated things."

Carpenter for three weeks to avoid a quorum on the chamber floor, halting Walker's budget repair bill from moving forward. Hundreds of thousands of  to show their displeasure or support for the measure that eventually ended collective bargaining for public workers, expect police and firefighters, throughout the state. 

The use of the recall mechanism, which allows those who hold political office to be recalled after one year in their current term, may have a lasting impact on the political lifecycle of politicians in Madison. Typically, Senators have more than three years between campaigns and election seasons to forward their own personal political agenda. The timeline of a Senator's term may become somewhat distorted if the threat of recall is applied more often. 

"Political careers won't last as long," said Carpenter, who added that special interest groups will become more influential. "The cost of campaigns has gone up very, very high and I think the ability to threaten public officials if they do something or don't do something will be increased."

With the stakes and interest so high, Carpenter believes that politicians will need to get closer to their constituency, especially during campaigns.

"To get around the money being spent on TV ads, it's going back to roots and going door to door," he said. 

The recalls have slowed the usual pace of legislative activity, according to Lazich, who indicated Senators facing recalls have turned their attention to campaigning rather than legislating. Those legislators, who typically use this current period of the legislative cycle to research policy issues under normal circumstances, are back home fighting for their political lives, knocking on doors, kissing babies and rousing support from their constituents. 

"It's an immense amount of work to be done in a short amount of time so one spreads themselves very thin," she said. 

Lazich was the subject of recall talks but the Democrats failed to wage a challenge.

"In political life, you are always on call to rise to the occasion," she said. "Fortunately, I didn't have a recall, so I am available to help my colleagues. So I've spread myself thinner too and go out and help them with doors and telephones and whatever needs to be done." 

According to Carpenter, the personal relationships between state politicians in the other party remains icy. Time, without the political distractions caused by the recalls, will heal wounds on both sides of the aisle, according to Lazich. 

"When that is behind us and not the thought of the day and you have to sit down and legislate and everyone focuses on the institution and public policy and focuses on finishing out the legislative cycle, you do work together," she said. "It's not an issue if you want to or not or if there is a lot of wounds. Day to day activity has to get done," she said.

The events in February in Madison and what may transpire during the recalls Tuesday also promise to have a far-reaching impact on the political landscape throughout the state and even the country. 

"This is sort of like act one of a five-act play going up to the Presidential election," Carpenter said.