Biography
Husband, father of two school-aged kids, attorney of nearly 20 years, small business owner, volunteer firefighter, and former state representative. Raised in Northwest Wisconsin. Attended the University of Florida Law School. I've been practicing law for nearly 20 years - from large national law firms to partner at a regional law firm to owning my own private practice. I've worked with clients big and small, from Wisconsin municipalities to small business owners who had their doors shuttered by Governor Evers' illegal ˜Safer at Home Order". I represented Northwest Wisconsin in the State Assembly from 2015-2018, where I was a champion for personal liberties.
What motivated you to run for public office?
My two kids, Bo and Megan, are the reason I decided to run. When I left the State Legislature, I never planned on running for office again. That changed in the last couple of years when I saw the direction our state and country were headed. Crime is through the roof, repeat criminals are arrested and almost immediately returned back to our streets, cops are retiring in droves because nobody has their back, schools think parents of their students are the enemy, and the bureaucrats in Madison and D.C. have no regard for the letter of the law. I want my kids to grow up in a state and country that they're proud of. That's why I got in the race.
What skills, interests, and experiences have prepared you to be effective in the office that you are seeking?
As the father of two school-aged kids, I've experienced the frustration of what our children are being taught in schools, and I worry about them not having the same opportunities in Wisconsin that we had growing up. As a state representative, I proudly worked with constituents who were dealing with out-of-control Madison bureaucrats while also writing the laws of our state, formulating the state budget, and championing personal liberties for the people of Wisconsin. Like many small business owners, I've signed the front of paychecks and not just the back; I've worried about the wellness of my employees and their families; and most importantly, I succeeded through a results-oriented leadership style. We need an Attorney General who knows how to manage the close to 750 employees at the Department of Justice, and I have the broad career and life experience necessary to achieve results while doing it.
What do you believe is the most important issue currently facing our state and what would you do to address it if elected?
Out of control crime, hands down. In April, I introduced my Make Wisconsin Safe Again plan where I outlined four policy proposals to address violent crime and protect our communities. To reduce crime, I would work with the Legislature, many of whom are my former colleagues, to fully fund our police and address hiring challenges. I would create a Violent Crimes Taskforce at the Department of Justice, composed of agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecutors from Criminal Litigation, who would deploy at a moment\'s notice to assist local prosecutors in combating violent crime. I would work with the Legislature to give the Department of Justice original jurisdiction over violent gun crimes in Wisconsin's counties with first- and second-class cities, allowing the DOJ to hold violent criminals accountable when District Attorneys can't or won't do their jobs. Finally, I would transform the Office of School Safety into a standalone Division of School Safety, allowing for dedicated resources and staffing to address the mental health and physical safety for our teachers and students.
If elected, how would you govern differently than your predecessor; if you are reelected would you change anything from your most recent term?
If elected, I would do everything that my predecessor has refused to do. I'll fill the prosecutor and Division of Criminal Investigation vacancies at the DOJ, fix the issues at the crime lab, and hold criminals accountable for their actions. While my predecessor has weaponized the DOJ for political reasons, that is not how our justice system should operate. In contrast, I will defend the rule of law and leave politics at the door.
If elected, would you seek to significantly alter the responsibilities of the office or how it has traditionally operated in the past? And if so how?
The primary responsibility of the Attorney General is to ensure the safety of all Wisconsinites. We will right the wrongs that Josh Kaul has endured on our state starting day one. As Attorney General, I will work with the Legislature to give DOJ original jurisdiction over certain violent gun crimes. If prosecutors around our state can't or won't fulfill their duty of keeping violent criminals behind bars, I will. We will also work with the Legislature to make sure Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have the resources needed to hire officers and address recruitment challenges.
Who are your political role models?
Thomas Jefferson