This is a column by Scott Frostman.
The clock is ticking, yet opportunity awaits. The time to organize a campaign for the Spring election is drawing near, with candidacy papers required by Tuesday, January 6th. While nearly a month away, the holiday season is upon us, and commitments are many for all of us. Across the state, municipalities and school boards are among the organizations needing candidates.
The most glaring omission at the moment is for a conservative candidate for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Failing a solid candidate declaring very soon, Wisconsin’s school children will be forced to continue amid an uber-progressive mantra coming out of Madison from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
Current State Superintendent Jill Underly has done such a poor job she faces opposition from her own brethren in Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, who many opine is essentially running to the “left” of Underly, both with a dedicated commitment to failed policies that produce poor results for Wisconsin’s kids.
It doesn’t have to be this way, and many of the characteristics that define this race are actually more favorable to a conservative ticket. It’s no secret the far left has a Vulcan death grip on public education, and will do anything and everything to maintain that stranglehold.
One need look no further than the joyous reactions of unions to the decision by Dane County Judge Jacob Frost to declare Wisconsin’s noted “Act 10” unconstitutional. The basic premise used by Frost is different bargaining units of public employees may not be treated differently. This falls flat on the simple fact that “collective bargaining” is not a right. It’s not enshrined in our U.S. or State Constitution.
Act 10 is a much deeper dive – but the zealotry of power-hungry unions and the chokehold on school districts and municipalities will be much more important than serving school children. One need to look no further than the dozens of schools shut down during the Act 10 tirades that left buildings empty.
Allowing employees the choice of whether or not to join the political behemoth of the Wisconsin Education Association (WEAC) was just a bridge too far. Despite the union fervor, there remain factors that may bode well for a conservative candidate. The competition between Underly and Wright looks like it can develop into a nasty primary that will split the
left. You’ll have Underly’s camp, while fanatics like Minocqua Brewing owner Kirk Bangstad and his super PAC are backing Wright, calling Underly and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers “feckless,” while saying the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is backing Underly.
Regardless of the outcome, this will be a fun race to watch as the candidates tear each other asunder. Another big factor that can assist in the promotion of a conservative candidate is the climate and culture of the massive movement for parental rights. The “parent’s rights” movement really caught fire amid COVID, when adults got to see behind school walls regarding what was being foisted upon our school children.
While not a primary driver in President Trump’s electoral victory in November, it has been clear most Americans and Wisconsinites have rejected the radical agenda that has brought boys on to girl’s sports teams, into their locker rooms, with conversations and actions regarding gender ideology pushed in public schools.
Parental advocacy groups like Moms For Liberty, which boasts about 20 county chapters statewide are leading the parental cause. Parents Rights in Education has groups in a number of school districts. Parents Defending Education, United States Parents Involved in Education, and others are groups that have sprung up in the past few years to join the battle for parental rights against the big education cabal so dominated by the left. These groups, along with organizations supporting choice in education, could provide a big lift for a conservative candidate seeking to head up the DPI.
Faced with the behemoth that is the teachers union, the election of a reform-minded Superintendent is a daunting task, and likely the reason there hasn’t been any entry thus far. With the assistance of the above-mentioned groups, this can be a contestable race. Underly won the post in 2021 with a margin of about 15% over Dr. Deb Kerr. This was as strong a showing as any since the approximate same numbers brought Evers to the post in 2009.
This Spring election cycle will also have more visibility with the other statewide political race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Republicans and conservatives have coalesced around Brad Schimel, while liberals and Democrats are backing Susan Crawford.
This promises to be every bit as expensive as the 2023 Supreme Court election that allowed liberals to take the majority on the high court. Act 10 and a whole range of other reforms are on the ballot as the liberal court has chipped away at needed conservative reforms.
Being ever the optimist, this can be done. We need a horse in the race. The time is drawing near for conservative to announce, gather the requisite signatures, and run a campaign offering Wisconsin’s school children a modicum of hope against the progressive juggernaut. Any takers??
