Newsmakers: Barbara Lawton
In her first day as a private citizen, after nine years of running for and holding the office of lieutenant governor, Barbara Lawton said she does not expect to ever run for office again and is searching for her next career. The Democrat said she will actively work for two candidates in spring elections – either of two women running against Supreme Court Justice David Prosser, for example, and for Milwaukee County executive candidate Jim Sullivan, a former state senator. Lawton admitted that she and former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle were not close during the eight years they served together, but said there are “inherent tensions” in relationships between governors and lieutenant governors nationally. Lawton said she withdrew as a candidate for governor after it became obvious that she could not raise the $11 million need to run a viable campaign.
