MONROE - Brett Davis, R-Oregon, and John Waelti, D-Monroe, may not agree on much when it comes to politics but they do agree that there is no place for special interest groups in a local election.
Waelti is a target of a group called All Children Matter, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. A mailer sent out to homes in the 80th Assembly District accuses Waelti of supporting free health care to illegal aliens and says Waelti's plan would cost Wisconsin workers $510 a month, would cost taxpayers and businesses $15.2 billion a year and cost small business owners $1,000 per worker.
The mailer also includes Waelti's phone number and encourages people to call him and tell him "that you don't want to pay higher taxes or provide health care to illegal aliens."
"I thought it was over the top," Waelti said of the flyer. "Some people actually did believe it (the flyer)."
He's received about four calls a day since the flyer came out. Some people have believed what the flyer stated, but others have said they were voting for him because the flyer was so unfair, he said.
"I don't know if it will do me any damage or if it will be counterproductive," he said.
Waelti said it seems odd to him that a group would want to spend so much money to see that he doesn't win the election.
"These obviously weren't cheap to make or send out," he said.
Although this is Waelti's first run for the Assembly, he said he understands the nature of politics and the flyer "comes with the territory."
"I guess if you can't stand the heat you get out of the kitchen," he said with a laugh.
What bothers him most is that the negative ads and flyers will turn people off and keep them from voting.
"This is the type of things that makes people cynical about politics," he said.
Davis agrees with the assessment.
As a two-term Assemblyman, Davis has experience with negative ads. Four years ago an independent group labeled him a "Right-Wing Zombie." Davis said the ad dragged his name and his family's name through the mud. Two years ago other outside groups ran ads to try to defeat him, he added.
As a result, he's opposed to outside groups spending money on local races.
"Local candidates should stand on their own merits," Davis said. "It's frustrating. Voters have a right to understand what their candidates stand for."
Davis said he strongly calls on all special interest groups to stay out of the Assembly race.
"Let the candidates focus on what's important to the people in the district," he said.
The 80th Assembly district is small enough that candidates shouldn't have a problem meeting and talking to most of the voters whether through local events or by knocking on doors.
Davis said he doesn't have anything to do with the flyer and can't even ask the group that mailed it to not send any more.
"If I contact them it would violate the law because it would appear I was working with them," he said.
Waelti said he understands Davis isn't behind the ads or flyers in any way.
"I'm not blaming Brett for it but it is someone who wants to see him get elected," Waelti said.
Davis is supporting legislation that would require special interest groups provide more information so voters understand who they are and what they're trying to do.
In the meantime, Davis expects special interests ads to target him before the campaign is over.
"The teacher's union has about $700,000 to spend on advertising and I expect they will put out ads about me before the election is over," he said.
Waelti and Davis said they'd rather focus on issues such as health care and jobs than spend time talking about what flyers special interests have sent to voters.
Waelti is a target of a group called All Children Matter, based in Grand Rapids, Mich. A mailer sent out to homes in the 80th Assembly District accuses Waelti of supporting free health care to illegal aliens and says Waelti's plan would cost Wisconsin workers $510 a month, would cost taxpayers and businesses $15.2 billion a year and cost small business owners $1,000 per worker.
The mailer also includes Waelti's phone number and encourages people to call him and tell him "that you don't want to pay higher taxes or provide health care to illegal aliens."
"I thought it was over the top," Waelti said of the flyer. "Some people actually did believe it (the flyer)."
He's received about four calls a day since the flyer came out. Some people have believed what the flyer stated, but others have said they were voting for him because the flyer was so unfair, he said.
"I don't know if it will do me any damage or if it will be counterproductive," he said.
Waelti said it seems odd to him that a group would want to spend so much money to see that he doesn't win the election.
"These obviously weren't cheap to make or send out," he said.
Although this is Waelti's first run for the Assembly, he said he understands the nature of politics and the flyer "comes with the territory."
"I guess if you can't stand the heat you get out of the kitchen," he said with a laugh.
What bothers him most is that the negative ads and flyers will turn people off and keep them from voting.
"This is the type of things that makes people cynical about politics," he said.
Davis agrees with the assessment.
As a two-term Assemblyman, Davis has experience with negative ads. Four years ago an independent group labeled him a "Right-Wing Zombie." Davis said the ad dragged his name and his family's name through the mud. Two years ago other outside groups ran ads to try to defeat him, he added.
As a result, he's opposed to outside groups spending money on local races.
"Local candidates should stand on their own merits," Davis said. "It's frustrating. Voters have a right to understand what their candidates stand for."
Davis said he strongly calls on all special interest groups to stay out of the Assembly race.
"Let the candidates focus on what's important to the people in the district," he said.
The 80th Assembly district is small enough that candidates shouldn't have a problem meeting and talking to most of the voters whether through local events or by knocking on doors.
Davis said he doesn't have anything to do with the flyer and can't even ask the group that mailed it to not send any more.
"If I contact them it would violate the law because it would appear I was working with them," he said.
Waelti said he understands Davis isn't behind the ads or flyers in any way.
"I'm not blaming Brett for it but it is someone who wants to see him get elected," Waelti said.
Davis is supporting legislation that would require special interest groups provide more information so voters understand who they are and what they're trying to do.
In the meantime, Davis expects special interests ads to target him before the campaign is over.
"The teacher's union has about $700,000 to spend on advertising and I expect they will put out ads about me before the election is over," he said.
Waelti and Davis said they'd rather focus on issues such as health care and jobs than spend time talking about what flyers special interests have sent to voters.