Newsmakers: UW-Milwaukee Political Science Professor Mordecai Lee
In an Aug. 16 Newsmakers interview, UW-Milwaukee Government Professor Mordecai Lee said the biggest change in Wisconsin politics this year has been the new interest in — and passion for — Capitol issues by voters statewide. A former Democratic legislator who left office in 1989, Lee also predicted that neither former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold or Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will run for governor early next year, if there is a recall election targeting Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Asked to handicap candidates for retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat, Lee said the leading Democratic candidate is Rep. Tammy Baldwin and a leading Republican candidate, former Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, may have too much of past record as a moderate to get his party’s nomination. Lee also said Supreme Court justices should be appointed — instead of the current system of electing them — and the State Constitution should be changed to prohibit the recall of elected state officials.
