MONROE - When Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, considers his three terms in the Assembly, he won't look back with any regrets.
Davis leaves office Jan. 3, after representing the 80th Assembly District for six years. Rather than run for another term in 2010, he choose to run for lieutenant governor. He lost the Republican primary in September.
"I wouldn't change a thing," Davis said.
His family supported his campaign, and his wife, Amy, held the family together as he traveled from one political event to another across the state during the first nine months of the year.
He worked hard in the campaign, visiting communities, attending parades, including 11 parades over the Fourth of July weekend, and making speeches. It was a long campaign, but when it was over, he was glad he ran.
"I did it because I wanted to help people on a wider basis," he said.
Serving the public was the reason Davis entered politics.
Before he ran for the Assembly in 2004, the Monroe High School graduate worked as an aide to Rep. Mike Powers, R-Albany. He worked for Tommy Thompson when Thompson was governor of Wisconsin and later when he became United States Health and Human Services secretary.
Davis served on the Assembly's education, financial institutions, renewable energy and rural affairs, and rural economic development committees in the 2009-10 legislative session.
"This has been an incredible experience," he said of his years in the Assembly. "It was challenging and humbling to have the trust of the people for six years."
When outside groups ran attack ads against him, voters in the 80th Assembly District didn't believe the ads, he said.
"They knew me, they saw me and they talked to me. I was open and honest with people," Davis said. "They knew those ads weren't true."
Listening to people, whether they agreed with him or not, was also his goal as a representative.
Davis said he worked with Democrats and Republicans to accomplish things and pass legislation while in Madison.
"You have to govern," he said. "There were people who criticized me during the primary because I was willing to work with Democrats, but I was a never a bomb-thrower in the Assembly."
While a member of the Assembly's education committee, Davis worked with Rep. Jason Fields, D-Milwaukee.
"I have tremendous respect for him. We hit it off right away," Davis said. "We were both interested in moving forward and getting things done.
"There are a lot of good people serving the state who have different points of views," he said.
Working with people with opposing viewpoints is not always easy, but it can be done.
"You can disagree with someone, but you can get things done if you're respectful of each other," he said.
Davis said his work on the education committee is a good example of working with people with differing opinions. He was chairman of the committee from 2006-08 and was the committee's ranking member from 2009-10.
During his time on the committee, he was a leader in supporting virtual school education for students across the state. He was able to work with Democrats to keep virtual schools an option for students and families who wanted an alternative education.
"There are lots of challenges when it comes to education. Education comes down to student achievement," he said. "Like everyone, I want my children to get a good education."
Legislators will have to work hard as they try to solve the state's estimated $3.3 billion deficit next year, but Davis thinks they can.
"They have to take an honest approach and tell people how they plan to solve the deficit problem," he said. "I'm optimistic. We have people coming in who want to turn things around."
Whether he will be part of the private sector or involved with state government after Scott Walker becomes the next governor, Davis wouldn't say. He's keeping his options open, he said.
He plans to spend more time with his wife, Amy, and their three children, Will, Audrey and Sam. "We're going to spend more time camping and doing things as a family," he said.
But he'll miss being able to represent the people in the 80th District. He visited the state Capitol Tuesday, probably the last time he will visit before his term ends, he said.
"It's bittersweet," he said. "I have a lot of good memories."
Davis leaves office Jan. 3, after representing the 80th Assembly District for six years. Rather than run for another term in 2010, he choose to run for lieutenant governor. He lost the Republican primary in September.
"I wouldn't change a thing," Davis said.
His family supported his campaign, and his wife, Amy, held the family together as he traveled from one political event to another across the state during the first nine months of the year.
He worked hard in the campaign, visiting communities, attending parades, including 11 parades over the Fourth of July weekend, and making speeches. It was a long campaign, but when it was over, he was glad he ran.
"I did it because I wanted to help people on a wider basis," he said.
Serving the public was the reason Davis entered politics.
Before he ran for the Assembly in 2004, the Monroe High School graduate worked as an aide to Rep. Mike Powers, R-Albany. He worked for Tommy Thompson when Thompson was governor of Wisconsin and later when he became United States Health and Human Services secretary.
Davis served on the Assembly's education, financial institutions, renewable energy and rural affairs, and rural economic development committees in the 2009-10 legislative session.
"This has been an incredible experience," he said of his years in the Assembly. "It was challenging and humbling to have the trust of the people for six years."
When outside groups ran attack ads against him, voters in the 80th Assembly District didn't believe the ads, he said.
"They knew me, they saw me and they talked to me. I was open and honest with people," Davis said. "They knew those ads weren't true."
Listening to people, whether they agreed with him or not, was also his goal as a representative.
Davis said he worked with Democrats and Republicans to accomplish things and pass legislation while in Madison.
"You have to govern," he said. "There were people who criticized me during the primary because I was willing to work with Democrats, but I was a never a bomb-thrower in the Assembly."
While a member of the Assembly's education committee, Davis worked with Rep. Jason Fields, D-Milwaukee.
"I have tremendous respect for him. We hit it off right away," Davis said. "We were both interested in moving forward and getting things done.
"There are a lot of good people serving the state who have different points of views," he said.
Working with people with opposing viewpoints is not always easy, but it can be done.
"You can disagree with someone, but you can get things done if you're respectful of each other," he said.
Davis said his work on the education committee is a good example of working with people with differing opinions. He was chairman of the committee from 2006-08 and was the committee's ranking member from 2009-10.
During his time on the committee, he was a leader in supporting virtual school education for students across the state. He was able to work with Democrats to keep virtual schools an option for students and families who wanted an alternative education.
"There are lots of challenges when it comes to education. Education comes down to student achievement," he said. "Like everyone, I want my children to get a good education."
Legislators will have to work hard as they try to solve the state's estimated $3.3 billion deficit next year, but Davis thinks they can.
"They have to take an honest approach and tell people how they plan to solve the deficit problem," he said. "I'm optimistic. We have people coming in who want to turn things around."
Whether he will be part of the private sector or involved with state government after Scott Walker becomes the next governor, Davis wouldn't say. He's keeping his options open, he said.
He plans to spend more time with his wife, Amy, and their three children, Will, Audrey and Sam. "We're going to spend more time camping and doing things as a family," he said.
But he'll miss being able to represent the people in the 80th District. He visited the state Capitol Tuesday, probably the last time he will visit before his term ends, he said.
"It's bittersweet," he said. "I have a lot of good memories."