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Ziegelbauer Goes Independent

This is no surprise. 

State Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc quit the Democratic Party on Monday and said he would run for re-election as an independent.

Ziegelbauer, who also serves as Manitowoc County executive, said he felt he had been consistent in his positions since he was elected to the Assembly in 1992, but that the Democratic Party had changed in that time.

“I did not follow them as they became more enthusiastic about big government and big tax increases and farther away from pro-life issues,” he said.

Ziegelbauer has long frustrated Democrats by voting with Republicans against tax increases and for legislation championed by anti-abortion groups. In a statement, he said he was leaving because “the party machinery has made it clear that they want another ‘yes man,’ someone who will blindly go along with every tax increase or expansion of their power without the backbone to stand up for the people.”

His departure comes as Democrats are trying to cling to the majority in the Legislature. Without Ziegelbauer, they hold 51 seats, just one more than needed to control the 99-member Assembly.

Posted by Owen at 0631 hrs
Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

1. Good for him.

   I wonder if he were to go out and score a few drunk drivings over the next couple months if the Republicans would go to the mat for him?

   I find it interesting that he went independent rather than republican. I think it is further evidence at just how despised BOTH parties are right now, and I think that Ziegelbauer is very perceptive to have made this choice.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 22, 2010 at 0731 hrs
   
   
   

2. Who will he caucus with. That may determine control of the committees.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 22, 2010 at 0919 hrs
   
   
   

3. I don’t really know the specifics about Ziegelbauer, but often “the party left me” arguments ring hollow. Reagan used it to explain his switch to the GOP, but it’s a real stretch to say that the Democratic Party of the 1930s and 1940s was well to the right of the Democratic Party of the 1950s and 1960s on anything but race.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on June 23, 2010 at 0649 hrs
   
   
   

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