Rapprochement in the Wisconsin Superintendent Election?

Amy Barrilleaux:

For state superintendent Tony Evers, reelection was the easy part. He handily beat his opponent, staunch conservative Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Town of Erin), with over 60% of the vote Tuesday.

"Voters spoke loudly and clearly, affirming their commitment to Wisconsin's strong public schools and calling for a much-needed reinvestment to support the over 870,000 public school kids in our state," says Evers in a statement.

But despite the big win, Evers faces an even bigger battle in the Legislature, where lawmakers are considering Gov. Scott Walker's latest budget. It's unclear whether the Republican majority is united behind Walker's plan to increase funding for the state's voucher schools by $73 million -- something Evers campaigned against, insisting there is no evidence that voucher programs are working.

"The academic data just does not justify expansion," he told the Joint Finance Committee (PDF) during a hearing in March.

It also remains to be seen whether lawmakers will give more money to traditional public schools, which were hit with a historic $800 million cut in Walker's previous budget. Despite pleas from Evers, almost none of that money has been restored by Walker this time around.

State Rep. Don Pridemore says he doesn't understand why fellow Republican Gov. Scott Walker didn't endorse him in his race for state superintendent.

Pridemore lost to incumbent Tony Evers in Tuesday's election.

Evers signed the petition to recall Walker, but the governor still refused to endorse anyone in the race.

Pridemore says after his loss that he is disappointed Walker didn't help him with his campaign. Pridemore says people should question why Walker "didn't support someone who would be a much friendlier person in this job."

Pridemore's statements, the muted campaign against incumbent Evers and a reasonably quiet state supreme court race make this observer wonder what sort of a deal might have been cut....

Rapprochement

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 4, 2013 1:14 AM
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