Legislators look ahead
Area Democrats strive to improve multiple issues
Jacob McCormick
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News
"Reality dictates that we protect our citizens and try to get the budget under control," she said. "It's going to be very practical and pragmatic decision making."
For Smith, his second election night was like comparing night and day in terms of the voters' message and the opposition's campaign.
In his successful 2006 campaign for the Assembly seat, Smith said special interest groups didn't see him as somebody to worry about. He said both campaigns ran on a positive note. This year, however, Smith's race gained state-wide notoriety because of complaints about campaign tactics and issue ads Smith claimed were misleading voters.
"Unfortunately, because I did pull off an upset in 2006, I've proven myself in the first two years and became someone that the other side has to account for," he said. "(The campaign) was very negative and stressful, but I never swayed from following the pattern of my previous campaign in talking about myself and what voters should expect. I just had to overcome the negativity."
He is excited to be serving in the new Democratic Assembly majority caucus and hoping to chair a committee. He said it will allow him to put himself in a better position to bring positive changes to the Eau Claire campus and city area. Smith also wants to change the conversation about health care reform into actions. However, he added the reforms won't happen overnight.
Anne Lupardus-Hanson, communications director for Rep. Kind, said the Congressman recognizes that west Wisconsin isn't blue or red and his bipartisan work helped his re-election bid.
"Rep. Kind has a record of working across the aisle," Lupardus-Hanson said. "He is somebody that recognizes that one party acting alone generally fails. He's established himself as a reformer and looks at each issue individually."
She said Kind is going to be very involved in reforming the tax system and is continually working to help small businesses, health care and the war in Iraq.
When all the results are tallied, Smith said re-election carries a satisfaction because it shows him that his constituents think he is doing things right.
"It really helps reaffirm why you do the job," he said. "It helps you to grow and move forward as a legislator."
For Smith, his second election night was like comparing night and day in terms of the voters' message and the opposition's campaign.
In his successful 2006 campaign for the Assembly seat, Smith said special interest groups didn't see him as somebody to worry about. He said both campaigns ran on a positive note. This year, however, Smith's race gained state-wide notoriety because of complaints about campaign tactics and issue ads Smith claimed were misleading voters.
"Unfortunately, because I did pull off an upset in 2006, I've proven myself in the first two years and became someone that the other side has to account for," he said. "(The campaign) was very negative and stressful, but I never swayed from following the pattern of my previous campaign in talking about myself and what voters should expect. I just had to overcome the negativity."
He is excited to be serving in the new Democratic Assembly majority caucus and hoping to chair a committee. He said it will allow him to put himself in a better position to bring positive changes to the Eau Claire campus and city area. Smith also wants to change the conversation about health care reform into actions. However, he added the reforms won't happen overnight.
Anne Lupardus-Hanson, communications director for Rep. Kind, said the Congressman recognizes that west Wisconsin isn't blue or red and his bipartisan work helped his re-election bid.
"Rep. Kind has a record of working across the aisle," Lupardus-Hanson said. "He is somebody that recognizes that one party acting alone generally fails. He's established himself as a reformer and looks at each issue individually."
She said Kind is going to be very involved in reforming the tax system and is continually working to help small businesses, health care and the war in Iraq.
When all the results are tallied, Smith said re-election carries a satisfaction because it shows him that his constituents think he is doing things right.
"It really helps reaffirm why you do the job," he said. "It helps you to grow and move forward as a legislator."
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