Wanggaard Campaign Says Three Debates, Lehman Disputes That Definition
State Sen. Van Wanggaard's campaign today put out a press release saying he will participate in three debates with former Sen. John Lehman before the June 5 recall election. Lehman says media appearances don't count as debates.
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State Sen. Van Wanggaard's campaign today issued a press release saying he will participate in three debates with former Sen. John Lehman before the June 5 general election for the recall in the 21st Senate District.
According to the release, Wanggaard and Lehman will appear together on the radio, on TV, and in person over the next three weeks: on WRJN, for which the details are still getting hammered out; on "Upfront with Mike Gousha" on Channel 12 on May 27; and in person during the Patch/WGTD candidates forum on May 24 at Mount Pleasant Village Hall.
“I’m looking forward to contrasting my bipartisan record of job creation and balancing the budget without raising taxes to the billions in tax hikes and job-killing policies my opponent advanced in his failed term as Senator,” said Wanggaard. “I’m hopeful that former Senator Lehman will stick to the facts in these debates rather than the rhetoric and innuendo his campaign has advanced thus far.”
But Lehman said he knows of one forum and two media appearances.
"As far as I'm concerned, the only real debate we're having is the one at Mount Pleasant Village Hall, where we look people in the eye and get public input," he said. "Having six or eight minutes with Mike Gousha and calling it a debate is laughable. We are participating in a planned radio appearance, and maybe residents will call in, but I don't know the details yet."
The Patch/WGTD 91.1FM live candidates forum is scheduled for 7 to 8:30 pm on May 24 at Mount Pleasant Village Hall, 8811 Campus Drive. After Lehman defeated "protest" candidate Tamra Varebrook during the May 8 Democratic primary, details were finalized for the debate including utilizing Patch Regional Editor and veteran journalist Mark Maley and hammering out a format that would allow residents to participate by writing questions on notecards as they arrive.
Chris Wright
9:23 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
This campaign is four weeks and these guys just ran against each other about eighteen months ago. There are so few undecided votes that any more than what is scheduled would just be waste of time. Lehman just needs to stop complaining and get to work.
SkinnyDude
10:14 pm on Monday, May 14, 2012
Voters just need to do a little homework to see Taxing Tom Lehman was a complete disaster in Madison. Lehman certainly wont debate or run on his awful record.
Richard Head
7:19 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
John likes Tax and Spend in America - it's backed by a gun and you lose your house and get thrown in the streets IF you don't pay.... geez - sounds a lot like WAR to me.
Richard Head
7:18 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tax and spend your way to prosperity was a viable option when the tax base was increasing - now it's contracting. It's contracting because of increased energy costs - which has driven increased input costs at all levels, which has then been exacerbated by ignorant government officials who raise taxes on the private sector to cover those increases in the public sector - that is a policy that can't continue - it's driving business under.
The public sector needs to be made mean and lean - and this means the good times and the gravy train needs to end. Wages are going to be cut by 33 - 50%, no more defined pension plans, no more free insurance, no more outrageous paid weeks of vacation, liberal sick/personal days policy, etc.
Lehman will be a disaster - he's waging a war against the American working class and businesses in the private sector - (his policies) throwing families out of homes, destroying businesses, creating a younger generation of unemployable people, and destroying Communities. Didn't like war John? Why are you destroying Americans now? PLEASE - go back to Canada. (which is also in serious economic trouble)
Tuco
7:38 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Can you tell lehman was a unionista teacher? What a Crybaby! I hope the tough questions get asked of lehman. Would you have ran to Illinois with the rest of the democrats in the senate? Would you vote to save Wisconsin money by voting for Act 10? How many job bills did you vote for while you were in the Assembly and Senate? Would you have voted for or against the Mining bill?
GearHead
8:03 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Gee John, trying to be obstinate on purpose? Be grateful Van is willing to indulge you. Defending your record is going to take a lot of work. Are you ready?
WIwishes
10:07 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Really? Van is "willing to indulge"? Van has been hiding in a corner since his term began. Van was a cop but aren't the police backing Lehman? Van is the one who needs to be forthcoming about his own policies. He is an ALEC member and that is telling in and of itself. He has no backbone and hides from constituents. He doesn't even show up to vote on his own bill. The Tea Party Reolublicans have been bought and paid for and have to go.
Fred Dooley
10:20 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Seriously, get help.
Chris Wright
10:32 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Wiwishes with all due respect he hasn't been hiding. He has held weekly office hours in the county. He also has responded to local officials unlike a certain Assembly Member who is in the process of moving to a new district. He has also attended as many if not more Sturtevant meetings in 15 months than Lehman did in 4 years.
Dennis
11:59 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Van called his bluff and now he wants to back out. It would also be nice someday to see a liberal in this blog that can make a comment without name calling. They seem to have a very vicious nature about them.
Brian Dey
6:33 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
`When you have nothing, you resort to name calling. Its in the book, Unioncrat 101. 2nd lesson is you use the "its a political stunt card" any time you get asked what are you going to do differently.
mau
12:59 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
To quote Lehman: Hmmm, which way should I "run", Illinois or Canada?
WIwishes
9:39 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Chris Wright, with all due respect, also, I personally know of some teachers who tried to meet with him in Racine to discuss their veiws prior to the Madison protests. They were told that he would only meet with constituents in Madison. So, they went to Madison and tried to get an appointment to see him. They were flat out refused a meeting once they told his aide that they wanted to discuss the upcoming vote on collective bargaining being in the WI budget. The aide told them he would not meet with them because he had already made up his mind on how to vote. On the other hand, some Tea Party backers were given a meeting directly after this. So, he won't meet with you if he feels you do not back him? But he will meet with you if you do? Wrong. Let's call that "dodging" his constituents.
WIwishes
9:45 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Dennis, you call out the "name calling" by "liberals", but the only name calling occurring is by the conservatives. "Unioncrat", "unionista", "crybaby". Oh, and I'm told to "get help", insinuating I need the looney bin because...gasp...I don't feel Wanggaard has done a good job for the people he represents.
Kevin Presser
1:36 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I would like to hear what Lehman's plan is should he win. Haven't heard anything from Lehman about what he will do; only complaints about what Wangaard did. He was voted out of office for being out of touch with his district. How is he going to change that now?
dsaff
5:24 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
More righty flip-flop.
Keith Best
7:12 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wanggaard has done what he said he would do. Lehman will help to take this state back to huge deficts, over-spending, raising taxes. Do you want to go forward with Wanggaard or backward with Lehman??