Uppity Wisconsin

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind vowed Wednesday to decide "very soon" whether he will leave Congress to run for Wisconsin governor.

"The timetable is early this fall," the seven-term La Crosse Democrat told the Leader-Telegram editorial board.

When Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle announced 10 days ago he wouldn't seek a third four-year term next fall, Kind was one of the first Democrats mentioned as a potential successor.

Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton is the only Democrat who has declared her intent to join the race, but several other prominent party members are believed to be considering bids. In addition to Kind, that list includes Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach of Waunakee and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville.

On the Republican side, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann of Nashotah and Appleton businessman Mark Todd are already on the campaign trail, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen haven't ruled out bids.

With no incumbent in the race, the campaign holds the potential to focus on looking forward instead of looking backward, said Kind, indicating that his family has been supportive of a potential gubernatorial bid.

He also noted that, given how much Madison and Milwaukee dominate state politics, "having an outstate candidate to bring some balance to the deliberations I don't think is necessarily a bad thing."

Though at first blush it would seem like a particularly difficult time to serve as governor considering the weak economy and state budget deficits, Kind said the other way to look at it is that the next governor should benefit from an expanding economy.

Kind said U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called him shortly after Doyle's announcement to say she loves having him in the House of Representatives but understands that committing to a gubernatorial bid is a personal decision.

Until he makes that choice, Kind said he will remain focused on his congressional work, including his efforts to influence the No. 1 issue in the public consciousness: health care reform.