I do not want Tom Barrett in this race. There were some serious limitations to his campaign in 2010, and we can not expect things to have improved in his abilities as a candidate since then. It is imperative that we have a dynamic and smart candidate to tackle the out-of-control-partisan Scott Walker. The stakes are too high to settle for anything less than a winner. While Barrett is very bright and capable on the issues, the first goal must be to win the election. On that score I find Barrett lacking. The whole state does.
The gambit by two large Wisconsin unions to force Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett out of a possible recall election appears to have backfired.
Two sources close to the Democratic mayor said this week that Barrett now is “seriously considering” running in a potential recall election of Gov. Scott Walker and will make an announcement in early January.
Both sources emphasized that Barrett has not yet made a final decision.
But nearly everything else they said suggested the mayor will seek a rematch with Walker.
The pair of Barrett sources said he might jump in even if the leaders of the Wisconsin Education Association Council and the Wisconsin State Employees Union put up another Democratic candidate. The unions are said to be supporting former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
“We don’t want a primary, but we’re not intimidated by it,” said one of the sources close to Barrett. “Tom’s decision will not be influenced by that. He’s not running to be governor of WEAC or AFSCME.”
Last week, two top WEAC officials – President Mary Bell and Executive Director Dan Burkhalter – had a face-to-face meeting with Barrett to discuss the potential Walker recall race. Also attending the meeting was Marty Beil, executive director of the state employees union and an open criticof Barrett.
In an email obtained by No Quarter, Bell told her senior staff that the group was unsuccessful in convincing Barrett to sit out the recall contest. Walker beat Barrett by 52%-47% in late 2010.
“In our judgment, the meeting did not convince Mayor Barrett that he should not run in a potential recall election,” Bell wrote to her board members and UniServ presidents.
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
It would be nice to have a pro-labor, pro-collective bargaining candidate, wouldn’t it?
With Tom Barrett’s present record of accomplishments in Milwaukee [about the worst in every catagory possible], he should run. That way Scott Walker will be elected.
Don’t doubt me on this. skip.
“It is imperative that we have a dynamic and smart candidate to tackle the out-of-control-partisan Scott Walker. The stakes are too high to settle for anything less than a winner.” Phew! That’s a relief! That means you fell off the Falk bandwagon too!
Solly, What was that women’s name who ‘everyone’ has been urging her to run for Governor in the “maybe” recall election late summer 2012?
She was interviewed last weekend by ?? John Bousche [sp?] and I forget his correct name as well. Is she presently the county administrator of Milwaukee county?
Not impressed.
skip.
Craig,
With your wealth of information you might want to start your own blog.
Might you be thinking of Kathleen Falk who was Dane County Exec?
You think this recall election is a “maybe” thing?