Posted on 12/29/2006 5:32:06 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Gov. Jim Doyle today announced his picks for three top Cabinet slots and, contrary to much speculation, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk was not among them.
Doyle said he was appointing Kevin Hayden as secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services, Roger Ervin as secretary of revenue and Sean Dilweg as commissioner of insurance.
Both Hayden and Dilweg are moving to other posts from within Doyle's administration.
Hayden has been administrator of the Division of Health Care Finance within DHFS, while Dilweg held the third-ranking post at the Department of Administration.
Ervin is a senior executive in the Office of Government and Public Affairs in the law firm of Foley & Lardner. The firm has a number of close ties with Doyle's administration.
Doyle's announcements leave only one Cabinet post open: secretary of tourism. Falk has not been mentioned for that job.
Doyle's move today appears to settle months of speculation over Falk's political future following her defeat in November for state attorney general.
Falk was often mentioned as a possible pick to head the Department of Health and Family Services because of her experience in human services issues, which account for nearly half of the county's budget.
But Falk consistently downplayed those rumors, asking a reporter today, "What's the latest you've heard?" when she was queried about a possible job at DHFS.
She added flatly that she was "planning to remain as county executive, highly motivated and excited about the work to do in 2007."
Asked whether Doyle had offered her a job, Falk responded, "I would never comment about any conversations with the governor."
But while Falk appeared firm in her commitment to staying in her office on the fourth floor of the City-County Building, the County Clerk's Office on the first floor had already geared up today for a run on nomination papers for candidates to replace Falk as county executive.
"We have everything set to go, just in case," said Deputy Clerk Karen Peters.
If an announcement on Falk were to come from the governor's office before the end of business Tuesday, an election for the county executive seat could be included in the spring 2007 elections, which are set for February and April.
If Falk resigned any time after Jan. 2, a special election to fill the county executive post would have to be held later in the year, which could cost the county tens of thousands of dollars.
Falk's possible successors had been lining up since the fall.
Her immediate, albeit temporary, successor would be County Board Chairman Scott McDonell, supervisor from Madison's downtown district.
McDonell announced his candidacy for the county executive seat in September, a day after Falk won the Democratic primary against Peg Lautenschlager in the race for attorney general.
At that time, McDonell was so confident Falk was going to win the November general election for attorney general, he had a roster of supporters lined up, including City Council President Austin King, Dane County Sheriff-elect Dave Mahoney and other prominent Democrats.
The plans were put on hold when Falk lost the attorney general race in November to Republican J.B. Van Hollen.
Others eyeing the county executive's job included: former County Executive Jonathan Barry; John Imes, executive director of the watchdog group Wisconsin Environmental Initiative; Mike Bauer, who had been a top aide to Lautenschlager at the state Justice Department; former UW Regent Nino Amato; and county supervisors Brett Hulsey, Dennis O'Laughlin and Dave Wiganowsky.
If Falk remains in office, her current term won't expire until 2009. Falk has not yet indicated whether she plans to run for re-election then.
"Ha-Ha Kathleen" Ping! ;)
Something that doesn't involve driving , I hope---
As much damage as she can before officially being kicked out of office.
LOL!
Peg's been PR-ing up a storm these past few months. Haven't heard that she's gotten any job offers in the REAL WORLD, but I've probably heard her on the radio more often these past few months than in all of her years as AG.
Where the h#ll are the strong, Republican women in my state? I'm sick of these posers running things. Grrrrr!
WTH?
Wisconsin's DHFS is overloaded with butt scratching incompetent retards and I don't expect it will get any better regardless of who they put in charge.
I'm glad that at least Van Hollen won. He'll be somewhat of a check against Doyle and is a prime candidate for 2010.
Probably busy raising families or they don't have money to start a campaign.
Like me? LOL! I'm seriously thinking of a run for something local. Maybe get on the Town Board or something first and go from there.
I know I wouldn't like politics as a livelihood, though. I'm not one to pussyfoot around and play games and I have no patience for liberals, so I'm sure I'd be in the "scandal of the week" section weekly of any of the local yellow rags, though I would never apologize. :)
Apparently, we need more conservatives in public office with that attitude. Yes, I'm the same way, but I am such a scatterbrain, my constant comment would be, "Did I really say that?" followed by, "Then, I meant what I said!"
Hey! Quit looking in my windows, LOL!
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