From State Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) on challenger Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa):
It looks like I will be running against one of Wisconsin’s most extreme and divisive politicians once again. Rep. Leah Vukmir has a long history of putting her own partisan agenda ahead of the needs of the district – It is no wonder that she was recently named one of the Worst Legislators in Wisconsin by Milwaukee Magazine.
The people of the 5th Senate District deserve much better than that.
Over the last two years I have championed the development of new biotech and medical research industries, and the new high-paying jobs that they bring. I have supported small businesses, and ensured that tax breaks are targeted towards creating jobs and investment in our community. And, most importantly, I have worked to keep our families safe by cracking down on drunk drivers, working to fix the DNA Crime lab backlog, and voting to institute GPS tracking of child sex predators.
I have lived up to my promise to be a strong, independent voice for the people of the 5th Senate District. Just last week I was the only Senate Democrat to vote against the state budget bill. While this did not make me very popular with my Democratic colleagues, it was the right thing to do for the district.
Rep. Vukmir, on the other hand, is incapable of putting aside her extreme partisanship to do what is right. Last year, when she had the chance to break with her party and support much needed funding for employers in our district, she refused.
Her partisanship was again on display when she voted against the “Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Act”, against fixing the DNA backlog at the state crime lab, and against a bill that would have prevented the state from contracting with companies that export American jobs overseas.
The differences could not be clearer.
I look forward to running a strong, issue based campaign over the next two years. I am confident that when the voters of the 5th Senate District compare my record of creating jobs, growing our local economy, and protecting our families with Rep. Vukmir’s record of extreme partisanship, they will make the right choice.