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Two Democratic Representatives Vie To Replace State
Senator
Wisconsin State Journal ::
LOCAL/WISCONSIN :: C3
Monday, September 6, 2004
Brenda Ingersoll Wisconsin State Journal
State Reps. Tom
Hebl and Mark Miller are seasoned Democratic lawmakers who
are slugging it out, toe to toe, to win Chuck Chvala's seat
in the state Senate.
Hebl, 58, of Sun Prairie, and
Miller, 61, of Monona, are seeking the Democratic nomination
for District 16. Chvala, the incumbent from Madison, has
been charged with felonies and isn't seeking re-election.
The winner of the Sept. 14
primary will face Republican Eric Peterson in the Nov. 2
general election.
Hebl said continuing to fund
education is his top priority, because it is "a great
equalizer," making success possible for rich and poor alike.
"If we don't pay for schools today, we will certainly pay
for prisons later," he said. "I would be a strong voice to
make sure we continue spending money on schools. We have to
make sure tuition is affordable. Increasing it above the
cost of living would be excessive."
Miller supports early
childhood education and the SAGE smaller class size program,
and said he has worked to preserve the quality and
affordability of the technical colleges and state
universities.
For Miller, health insurance
is the most pressing issue. Miller was among those authoring
a universal health care bill.
"It got a public hearing and
that's as far as it got," he said. "I plan to reintroduce it
and I am campaigning on that issue, because I think it's so
important. It's actually starting to gain some support from
the small business community. If we continue to mobilize
information so all legislators can understand how important
this is to the people of Wisconsin (we might succeed). We
need to deal with this on a statewide basis, so we all share
the risks and benefits."
Hebl said that he applauds
Miller's stance on universal health care but that with
Assembly speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, and Senate Majority
Leader Mary Panzer, R-West Bend, in control, it stands no
chance of passing.
Hebl instead would try to
work with Gard and Panzer to expand the eligibility of
Badger Care, provide businesses with tax deductions or
credits for offering health insurance to their employees,
and allow the uninsured "to buy into the state (health
insurance) pool at an affordable rate."
Miller said he'll push for
legislation providing subsidies for businesses that create
jobs. "But they have to be living wage jobs," he said. "No
tax breaks for creating low-wage jobs."
Hebl said government should
partner with business to encourage growth through enterprise
zones and tax incremental financing.
Miller is endorsed by Dane
County Executive Kathleen Falk, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, and
90 other current and former public officials.
Seven unions and Democratic
state Rep. David Travis have endorsed Hebl.
\ Tom Hebl
* Age: 58
* Address: 306 Windsor St.,
Sun Prairie
* Personal: Married to Patty
with five children
* Job: Representative of 46th
District since 1996, senior partner of Hebl, Hebl & Ripp law
firm, president of Hexagon Title Co.
* Political experience: Eight
years in the Assembly
* Other public service:
Former president of the Sun Prairie Chamber of Commerce and
the Sun Prairie Rotary Club, and former volunteer
firefighter
* Education: Bachelor's
degree from UW-Whitewater, law degree from John Marshall Law
School, Chicago
\ Mark Miller
* Age: 61
* Address: 4903 Roigan
Terrace, Monona
* Personal: Married to
Josephine with three grown children
* Job: State representative,
48th district since 1999
* Political experience:
Nearly six years in the Assembly, four years on Dane County
Board
* Other public service:
Nearly 30 years in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, member
Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, Child Abuse and
Neglect Prevention Board, Dane County Board of Health.
* Education: Bachelor of
Science degree, UW-Madison
\ Contact Brenda Ingersoll at
bingersoll@madison.com or 252-6144. |
