Fred Wade announces his
run for the 77th Assembly District

I am running for State Representative in the 77th Assembly District to replace Spencer Black, who is retiring. As your State Representative, I would work to protect the environment, support the University of Wisconsin and K-12 education, and advocate campaign finance reforms. However, I would give the highest priority to addressing continuing abuses of the governor’s partial veto power that contradict the very idea of representative democracy.

It has become routine for governors to use the partial veto as a means of creating laws that the Legislature did not approve. Governors have spent billions of dollars that the Legislature did not authorize them to spend, imposed tax and fee increases “without representation,” increased a cap on borrowing authority by $860 million, gutted the enforcement provisions of other legislation, and even outlawed an entire industry with the stroke of a pen (For more details visit wadeforassembly.org).

In the face of these repeated assaults on the very idea of representative democracy, we need a representative in the progressive tradition of Robert La Follette, who will make the integrity of democratic self-government his highest priority. While I believe governors should have the power to veto separate items of appropriation bills, as originally intended, they should have no power to create new laws, without legislative approval, from vetoed remnants of a bill.

I would bring a broad range of experience in government to the representation of our district. This experience includes service as a senior executive of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the teaching of college level courses in American Government, work as a Legislative Assistant in the Wisconsin State Senate, and many years of work as a lawyer.

My wife, Marilyn Townsend, serves as a Trustee for the Village of Shorewood Hills. Our three children have attended Hamilton and West (Jon and Ben graduated from West in 2002 and 2010, and Katherine will graduate in 2013). We have lived in the 77th Assembly District for 23 years.

I would appreciate your support in the September 14 primary election. If you would like to give me your views, sign or circulate nomination papers, display a yard sign, contribute, or help in other ways, you may call us at home (608-231-2448) or at work (608-255-5111).

Authorized and paid for Wade for Assembly, Marilyn Townsend, Treasurer