Statement from Lisa Erickson and Dennis Shaw on the Announcement from Sen. Harsdorf

As many of you know, we have been leading the Unofficial Draft Sheila Harsdorf for Lt. Governor Grassroots Movement in Western Wisconsin.

The outpouring of support for Senator Harsdorf throughout Western Wisconsin has been amazing. Whether it was a comment in person or an email through the http://weneedsheila.blogspot.com website, everyone was ready to roll up their sleeves and help elect Sheila Harsdorf as our next Lt. Governor.

We wanted you to know that Sheila called and said that after much thought she has decided not to enter the race. We are disappointed but understand that her family and commitment to her constituents takes top priority at this time. But, we are proud that Sheila still represents us extremely well in the Senate, we do have a announced candidate in Rep. Jean Hundertmark who will do a great job, AND this gives Lisa and I more time to finalize plans our May 6, 2006 wedding (don't forget that mark down that date as we hope to see many of our Republican friends at our wedding)! So, life is good!!

You can read Sheila's statement online.

Here are the newspaper stories about it:

River Fall Journal story
Eau Claire Leader Telegram story (mentions us in the article)
Duluth News Tribune story

And here was what Rep. Huntermark said about the announcement.

Sen. Harsdorf's is Voice of Common Sense to Higher Education Issues in State

After spending most of my adult life working at colleges and universities I'm the first to admit that the UW system gives legislators plenty of reasons to cringe at what happens behind our "ivory towers." But the UW system and the local technical colleges are also the institutions that provide the vital education services necessary to grow our state economy.

So we need leaders in the state government who will not just react to stories in the press but use good judgement and common sense to work with our educational leadership for the good of the state. That's why I am so glad that Sheila Harsdorf chairs the Higher Education in the state Senate! Here's a couple quotes in the media that caught my eye recently:

In a June 16, 2005 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story talking about a Senate bill which would deny financial aid to students conviced of drug crimes, Sheila is quoted as saying:

"'The bill has laudable goals,' said Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), chairwoman of the higher education committee. 'It's the details we want sorted out.'"

Common sense! Sheila as author of the Meth bill has proven herself to be tough on drug crimes. But she is not just looking for a headline, she wants to get the details right!

From the June 24, 2005 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talking about some legislators demanding changes in how UW employees contracts are written after one incident at UW-Madison:

"But Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), who leads the Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism, said, 'What are the alternatives? Is this something that is preferable to set contracts . . . I'm interested in hearing more about their justification for it.'"

Don't you just love it when a leader wants to find out both sides and what the options are before condeming something? In his July 1 press release about the budget UW-Madison Chancellor Wiley thanked Sen. Harsdorf and several others and refered to them as "the champions of public higher education."

And finally, the July 2, 2005 of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel quoted Sheila as saying:

"'Chancellor Wiley has been doing his best to address the issues that have been coming out,' said Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, (R-River Falls), who leads the Senate Committee on Higher Education and Tourism. 'I'm hopeful he will continue to work with us to move forward for the benefit of students and the university.'"

Working together and focusing on what is important in the debate. Good job! Lisa and I are so glad she is OUR Senator. Thanks Sheila! We need someone with your good judgement and common sense as our next Lt. Governor!!

Dunk Sheila on 4th of July!

We see in the Dunn County News that Sheila Harsdorf will be the first guest celebrity in the Menomonie Optimist Club dunk tank at the Freedom Fest!

So anyone wanting a chance to meet her and cool her off on a nice warm day should be at Wakanda Park in Menomonie at 11am on the 4th of July.

Harsdorf/Freese bill approved by committee

Budget-season fundraisers scrutinized

00:00 am 6/29/05
Patricia Simms
Wisconsin State Journal

Legislators are grabbing more and bigger campaign contributions during this budget-writing season, a citizen advocacy group says.

"There is more fundraising during this budget and for bigger amounts than in the past," Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said Wednesday. "Currently, as the state budget bill nears consideration by the full Legislature, the campaign fundraising is accelerating.

"Six other states including Minnesota have banned campaign fundraising while their state budgets are being written because it is a huge conflict of interest to be shaking folks down for campaign cash while critical decisions are being made about how $12.7 billion are being distributed from the discretionary part of the budget."

The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections has approved a bill that would prohibit campaign fundraising by incumbent legislators and statewide elected officials from the first week in January until the state budget is enacted into law - seven months later. Assembly Bill 66, introduced by Rep. Steve Freese, R- Dodgeville, and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, is now awaiting action by the full Assembly.

Harsdorf: Ethanol interest is still increasing

We see there is a great Op-ed piece written by Sheila Harsdorf in the Burnett County Sentinel this week titled Ethanol interest is still increasing

With gas prices continuing to climb and national security resting on our ability to get energy from other sources, it's good to know Sheila is looking out for us!