MONROE - State Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, announced Thursday he is considering a run to replace outgoing Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton.
"Today, I have filed the necessary state paperwork to allow me to begin the process of gathering the resources needed to be in a position to run a successful campaign for lieutenant governor," Davis said in a news release.
"I will spend the next weeks and months traveling the state talking to Wisconsin families about my ideas to get our great state back on the right track. I expect to make a final decision on a campaign later this year," he added.
Thus far, Superior Mayor Dave Ross is the only declared Republican candidate for the office. Tom Farley, Jr., brother of the late comedian Chris Farley, also is considering a run as a Republican.
Milwaukee Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski is running as a Democrat, while Milwaukee Democratic Sens. Spencer Coggs and Lena Taylor are considering bids.
Lawton is leaving the post to run for governor in 2010. Wisconsin's primary election is Sept. 14, 2010.
Davis said he intends to stay in the State Assembly, while traveling the state gathering the grassroots and financial resources for his campaign for lieutenant governor and sharing his ideas with the people of Wisconsin.
Davis finds the state on the "wrong track right now," particularly in the areas of "job losses, the education system and the continued taxing and spending."
"The work I have done over the past terms in the Assembly will help bring leadership to the executive branch, and put Wisconsin back on track with strong leadership," he said, in a telephone interview Wednesday with the Times.
Davis said his family is "100 percent on board" and he never would run without their support. Davis and his wife, Amy, are expecting their third child in October.
"I have a young family, but they are the major motivating factor," he said of his decision to run.
"I want them to grow up in the state with the same opportunities I had," he added.
Future job availability for Wisconsin workers is a main concern for Davis and also motivates him to seek higher office.
"I don't want to become a grandparent and have to visit my grandchildren in another state," he said.
Davis has represented Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties in the State Assembly's 80th District since his election in 2004. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008.
Davis' current committee assignments include Education, Financial Institutions, Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs, and Rural Economic Development.
He is a graduate of Monroe High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
He served as a legislative aide to State Rep. Mike Powers, State Sen. Joe Leibham and former Gov. and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Davis is a member of the Green County Local Emergency Planning Commission; Green County Conservation League; Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Oregon-Brooklyn Lions Club; Monroe Noon Optimists, Monroe Kiwanis; Farm Bureau; and the Green Rock and Dane Counties Republican parties.
"Today, I have filed the necessary state paperwork to allow me to begin the process of gathering the resources needed to be in a position to run a successful campaign for lieutenant governor," Davis said in a news release.
"I will spend the next weeks and months traveling the state talking to Wisconsin families about my ideas to get our great state back on the right track. I expect to make a final decision on a campaign later this year," he added.
Thus far, Superior Mayor Dave Ross is the only declared Republican candidate for the office. Tom Farley, Jr., brother of the late comedian Chris Farley, also is considering a run as a Republican.
Milwaukee Alderman T. Anthony Zielinski is running as a Democrat, while Milwaukee Democratic Sens. Spencer Coggs and Lena Taylor are considering bids.
Lawton is leaving the post to run for governor in 2010. Wisconsin's primary election is Sept. 14, 2010.
Davis said he intends to stay in the State Assembly, while traveling the state gathering the grassroots and financial resources for his campaign for lieutenant governor and sharing his ideas with the people of Wisconsin.
Davis finds the state on the "wrong track right now," particularly in the areas of "job losses, the education system and the continued taxing and spending."
"The work I have done over the past terms in the Assembly will help bring leadership to the executive branch, and put Wisconsin back on track with strong leadership," he said, in a telephone interview Wednesday with the Times.
Davis said his family is "100 percent on board" and he never would run without their support. Davis and his wife, Amy, are expecting their third child in October.
"I have a young family, but they are the major motivating factor," he said of his decision to run.
"I want them to grow up in the state with the same opportunities I had," he added.
Future job availability for Wisconsin workers is a main concern for Davis and also motivates him to seek higher office.
"I don't want to become a grandparent and have to visit my grandchildren in another state," he said.
Davis has represented Green County and portions of Dane, Rock and Lafayette counties in the State Assembly's 80th District since his election in 2004. He was re-elected in 2006 and 2008.
Davis' current committee assignments include Education, Financial Institutions, Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs, and Rural Economic Development.
He is a graduate of Monroe High School and earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
He served as a legislative aide to State Rep. Mike Powers, State Sen. Joe Leibham and former Gov. and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Davis is a member of the Green County Local Emergency Planning Commission; Green County Conservation League; Oregon Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Oregon-Brooklyn Lions Club; Monroe Noon Optimists, Monroe Kiwanis; Farm Bureau; and the Green Rock and Dane Counties Republican parties.