The Wisconsin State Journal endorsed Nathan Russell for State Assembly earlier this week. The Monroe Times followed with a similar endorsement for the District 51 seat now held by Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Dodgeville.
These endorsements come as no surprise. As pointed out by the Times editorial board, the incumbent has kept a low profile on many fronts during the past two years.
Here is just one recent example: During the current campaign, Rep. Hilgenberg first made a commitment to appear at a candidates forum with his opponent to discuss conservation issues, and then backed out.
His assistant, Max Dulberger, apologized, saying, "Something came up on the 20th and the other dates (three) you mentioned are swamped. Things are getting very busy," he concluded. In contrast, Hilgenberg's opponent, minus taxpayer-supported office staff and paid campaign folks, agreed to break free for a couple of hours to attend the forum.
I've spoken with Russell on a couple of occasions, and he stopped by my house once on one of his many trips through the area. If elected, he promises an early interview on outdoor-related issues - a meeting Rep. Hilgenberg has ducked for the past two years.
His staff keeps referring people to his campaign Web site. Nothing there on conservation issues either, other than references to how Republicans tried to gut the Stewardship Fund reauthorization package. He also blasts his conservative opponents' "willingness to borrow to cover budget shortfalls."
Ironically, while Rep. Hilgenberg argues against "putting present obligations off into long-term debt," he proudly voted for $85 million for Stewardship land purchases financed through bond issues - all borrowed money. By 2011, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau, the annual repayment of debt will exceed more than $1 million a week, not counting new purchases.
In the past, state officials have raided other accounts to meet the shortfall. The Forestry Account has been a favorite target, as noted by Assembly Forestry Committee Chairman Donald Friske.
"Governors and legislators will continue to rely on the Forestry Account to purchase more timberlands," he warns. To make matters worse, according to Friske, "the current DNR workforce in place cannot properly manage old acquisitions, let alone new ones."
In a discussion last week, District 80 Rep. Brett Davis expressed frustration with attempts to keep a lid on the cost of the Stewardship Fund. "When we tried to show a little restraint on Stewardship, we were told we were anti-environment," he laments.
Despite massive budget shortfalls on the horizon, the state continues to borrow money to gobble up more land. According to the Audit Bureau, the state purchased more than 20,000 acres per year from 1990-2006 - adding to management costs, removing the land from the economic mix and often times taking it off tax rolls.
Russell also gets the nod from the National Rifle Association, as does Brett Davis. His opponent, John Waelti, failed to respond to the questionnaire.
Peter Theron, running against Tammy Baldwin in the 2nd District, also gets an A rating from the NRA, while his opponent earned an F rating.
John McCain gets the nod over Barack Obama, as NRA President John Sigler refers to Obama-Biden as "a clear and present danger."
Conversely, Wisconsin State Rep. Russ Decker, D-Weston, argues that Obama poses no threat to our Second Amendment rights. "If you've got a gun in your house, he's not going to be taking it," Decker asserts.
His endorsement flies in the face of Obama's opposition to a bill in the Illinois legislature that would allow citizens to protect life and property in their own homes. The measure came in response to a man who shot an intruder. Local authorities immediately arrested the homeowner and put him on trial.
Obama was one of a handful of legislators to vote against the bill, points out Rich Pearson, executive director and chief lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association, and an ardent opponent of the Obama-Biden ticket.
As chief lobbyist for the organization for the past 15 years, Pearson says, "in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama."
All conservationists should be sure to vote on Nov. 4.
- Lee Fahrney is the Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
These endorsements come as no surprise. As pointed out by the Times editorial board, the incumbent has kept a low profile on many fronts during the past two years.
Here is just one recent example: During the current campaign, Rep. Hilgenberg first made a commitment to appear at a candidates forum with his opponent to discuss conservation issues, and then backed out.
His assistant, Max Dulberger, apologized, saying, "Something came up on the 20th and the other dates (three) you mentioned are swamped. Things are getting very busy," he concluded. In contrast, Hilgenberg's opponent, minus taxpayer-supported office staff and paid campaign folks, agreed to break free for a couple of hours to attend the forum.
I've spoken with Russell on a couple of occasions, and he stopped by my house once on one of his many trips through the area. If elected, he promises an early interview on outdoor-related issues - a meeting Rep. Hilgenberg has ducked for the past two years.
His staff keeps referring people to his campaign Web site. Nothing there on conservation issues either, other than references to how Republicans tried to gut the Stewardship Fund reauthorization package. He also blasts his conservative opponents' "willingness to borrow to cover budget shortfalls."
Ironically, while Rep. Hilgenberg argues against "putting present obligations off into long-term debt," he proudly voted for $85 million for Stewardship land purchases financed through bond issues - all borrowed money. By 2011, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau, the annual repayment of debt will exceed more than $1 million a week, not counting new purchases.
In the past, state officials have raided other accounts to meet the shortfall. The Forestry Account has been a favorite target, as noted by Assembly Forestry Committee Chairman Donald Friske.
"Governors and legislators will continue to rely on the Forestry Account to purchase more timberlands," he warns. To make matters worse, according to Friske, "the current DNR workforce in place cannot properly manage old acquisitions, let alone new ones."
In a discussion last week, District 80 Rep. Brett Davis expressed frustration with attempts to keep a lid on the cost of the Stewardship Fund. "When we tried to show a little restraint on Stewardship, we were told we were anti-environment," he laments.
Despite massive budget shortfalls on the horizon, the state continues to borrow money to gobble up more land. According to the Audit Bureau, the state purchased more than 20,000 acres per year from 1990-2006 - adding to management costs, removing the land from the economic mix and often times taking it off tax rolls.
Russell also gets the nod from the National Rifle Association, as does Brett Davis. His opponent, John Waelti, failed to respond to the questionnaire.
Peter Theron, running against Tammy Baldwin in the 2nd District, also gets an A rating from the NRA, while his opponent earned an F rating.
John McCain gets the nod over Barack Obama, as NRA President John Sigler refers to Obama-Biden as "a clear and present danger."
Conversely, Wisconsin State Rep. Russ Decker, D-Weston, argues that Obama poses no threat to our Second Amendment rights. "If you've got a gun in your house, he's not going to be taking it," Decker asserts.
His endorsement flies in the face of Obama's opposition to a bill in the Illinois legislature that would allow citizens to protect life and property in their own homes. The measure came in response to a man who shot an intruder. Local authorities immediately arrested the homeowner and put him on trial.
Obama was one of a handful of legislators to vote against the bill, points out Rich Pearson, executive director and chief lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association, and an ardent opponent of the Obama-Biden ticket.
As chief lobbyist for the organization for the past 15 years, Pearson says, "in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama."
All conservationists should be sure to vote on Nov. 4.
- Lee Fahrney is the Times outdoors writer. He can be reached at (608) 967-2208 or at fiveoaks@mhtc.net.
