>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FILLING IN FOR
FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW,"
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS HERE TO
TALK ABOUT HIS FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE AND WHAT'S TO COME IN
2020.
WE BEGIN OUR THREE-PART SERIES
OF INTERVIEWS WITH CANDIDATES
FOR THE STATE SUPREME COURT.
TONIGHT INCUMBENT JUSTICE DAN
KELLY IS HERE.
AND WE'LL HAVE A REPORT FROM THE
NORTHWOODS ABOUT SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAMS.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
JANUARY 3.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> 2019 WAS THE FIRST TIME WITH
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT AT THE STATE
CAPITOL IN MORE THAN A DECADE
AND THAT DIVISION SEEMED TO SHOW
UP IN JUST ABOUT EVERY WAY
POSSIBLE.
JOINING US NOW IS GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME HERE TODAY.
>> HI, ZAC.
>> WE'LL GET TO LAST YEAR AND
NEXT YEAR IN A SECOND.
BUT WITH THE U.S. MILITARY
STRIKES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF
IRANIAN OR TERRORIST RESPONSE
AROUND THE WORLD AND HERE IN
WISCONSIN, HAVE YOU PROVIDED ANY
GUIDANCE TO WISCONSIN NATIONAL
GUARD?
>> WELL, CERTAINLY THE NATIONAL
GUARD IS ALWAYS PREPARED.
THEY TRAIN ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WE'RE READY TO BE CALLED UP ON
MINUTE'S NOTICE, SO I FEEL VERY,
VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL BE
READY TO TAKE ON ANY CHALLENGES
PUT BEFORE THEM.
>> LOOKING BACK TO 2019, SHOULD
WE JUDGE THINGS BASED ON THE
TIME YOU AND LEGISLATIVE
REPUBLICANS DISAGREED OR THE
TIMES YOU WERE ABLE TO WORK
TOGETHER?
>> I'D SEE EITHER WAY TO LOOK
BACK IS A GOOD WAY TO DO IT
BECAUSE WE ACCOMPLISHED THINGS
EVEN WITHOUT US WORKING
TOGETHER.
AND THE BUDGET IS ACTUALLY A
GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
>> I MEAN, ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
ROBIN VOS SAID IN HIS END OF THE
YEAR MESSAGE THEY PASSED A
CONSERVATIVE BUDGET.
DID YOU SIGN A CONSERVATIVE
BUDGET?
>> I SIGNED A BUDGET THAT WE SET
A HIGH BAR FOR THEM AND MADE
SURE WE HAD MORE RESOURCES FOR
OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR ROADS AND
ACTUALLY IMPROVED HEALTH CARE IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.
SO WE SET A VERY HIGH BAR.
THE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T GET QUITE
THAT FAR.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT A
CONSERVATIVE BUDGET, LIBERAL
BUDGET IS A GOOD WAY TO FRAME
IT.
DID WE PROVIDE RESOURCES AND
WORK THAT TAKES OUR STATE
FORWARD?
YES.
AND I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT.
>> THE SIGN OF THE RELATIONSHIP
TOOK PLACE.
HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED YOU AS
GOVERNOR?
>> IT CERTAINLY SET THE WRONG
STAGE TO GET US OFF TO A GOOD
START.
IF THAT WAS THE GOAL, THAT
FAILED MISERABLY.
IF THESE LAME DUCK BILLS WERE SO
DARN IMPORTANT, THEY COULD HAVE
DONE IT IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
WALKER ADMINISTRATION AND
DECIDED TO DO IT AS HE WAS
WALKING OUT THE DOOR.
SO I THINK THAT'S A BAD WAY TO
START A RELATIONSHIP.
BUT WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS MUCH
COMMON GROUND AS WE CAN.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WAS NOT
A GOOD START.
>> WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET
ACCOMPLISHED YET THIS YEAR?
>> CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEVERAL --
THERE'S SEVERAL BILLS THAT HAVE
PASSED ONE HOUSE OR THE OTHER
THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING
SIGNED.
BUT OVERALL, WE STILL HAVE TO
FOCUS ON SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
THINGS, LIKE THE AGRICULTURAL
CRISIS IN THE STATE, THINGS THAT
WEREN'T ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY
IN THE LAST SESSION.
WE'RE HOPEFUL IT WILL BE ACTIVE.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY SEVERAL
MONTHS OUT FROM AN ELECTION THAT
SUDDENLY PEOPLE DISAPPEAR FROM
MADISON.
THEY NEED TO BE HERE WORKING.
>> IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS,
HOMEOWNERS HAVE BEEN GETTING
PROPERTY TAX BILLS, WHICH A LOT
OF THEM HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE.
YOUR PREDECESSOR, SCOTT WALKER,
HAD A VERY HIGH FOCUS AND
PRIORITY ON KEEPING PROPERTY TAX
BILLS LOW OR STAGNANT.
DO YOU THINK PEOPLE WILL BLAME
YOU OR YOUR ADMINISTRATION FOR
THE INCREASES THEY'RE SEEING
AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF NO RISE?
>> WELL, THEY SHOULDN'T, BECAUSE
THE REASON THE BILLS WENT UP TO
SOME EXTENT, A GOOD PORTION OF
THAT IS IMPORTANT THE PART OF THAT IS THE LAST
EIGHT YEARS, REPUBLICANS PASSED
REFERENDUMS AND THOSE ARE COMING
DUE.
IT BECAME A STATE TAX INSTEAD OF
A LOCAL TAX BECAUSE THE LOCALS
HAD TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO
SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS
DIDN'T.
SO WE MADE AN EFFORT TO MAKE
SURE THERE WAS MORE RESOURCES.
IT WASN'T A SURPRISE TO ME THAT
THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE,
4.5%.
THAT PRIMARILY CAME FROM
REFERENDUMS THAT WERE PASSED.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING ABOUT
PASSING A PROPERTY TAX CUT THIS
SPRING.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN SEEING
THAT?
>> WELL, THEY'RE LOOKING AT
USING MONEY THEY DON'T KNOW IS
THERE.
SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.
I GUESS FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW
I'M A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.
ONCE WE GET TO A POINT WHERE WE
KNOW THERE MIGHT BE SOME MONEY
AVAILABLE FOR THAT PURPOSE, WE
NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHETHER
WE SHOULD PUT THAT IN A RAINY
DAY FUND.
>> SENATOR MAJORITY LEADER SCOTT
FITZGERALD IS ALSO RUNNING FOR
CONGRESS.
DOES A RACE WHILE IN OFFICE
IMPACT WHAT POLITICIANS MIGHT
DO?
>> OF COURSE.
YOU TRY TO GET AS MANY VOTES AS
YOU CAN SO YOU CAN MOVE ON TO
GREENER PASTURES.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF ISN'T A
GOOD REASON TO SPEND MONEY WE
KNOW WE DON'T HAVE.
>> YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THE
LEGISLATURE SHUT DOWN ONE
SPECIAL SESSION YOU'VE CALLED ON
GUN CONTROL BUT YOU HAVEN'T
RULED OUT DOING IT AGAIN.
WHAT WOULD THAT ACCOMPLISH?
>> 70% OF THE PEOPLE SAY THESE
ARE COMMON SENSE ISSUES SO I'M
HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME
HEADWAY HERE.
BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE
OR AREN'T GOING TO HAVE A
SPECIAL SESSION ON GUN SAFETY.
BUT IT'S STILL AN ISSUE IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN.
PEOPLE FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT IT
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
FOR ME, I FIND IT AMAZING THAT
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A VOTE.
CALL THEM IN.
HAVE A VOTE.
IT WILL TAKE HALF A DAY AT THE
MOST AND WE'LL SEE WHERE PEOPLE
STAND AND THEN PEOPLE CAN RUN
FOR REELECTION BASED ON THAT
STANCE.
FOR ME, THAT'S THE MOST FAIR WAY
OF DOING IT.
BUT THE CONTROL OF THE
LEADERSHIP DOESN'T ALLOW US TO
DO THAT.
>> IN THAT CASE A SPECIAL
SESSION ON GUN CONTROL WOULD BE
APPLYING PRESSURE TO SOMEBODY
BEFORE THEY ARE ABOUT TO FACE
THE BALLOT.
>> THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.
IF INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATORS CAN'T
STAND UP AND SAY THIS IS WHAT I
BELIEVE, WHETHER IT'S GUN SAFETY
OR ANY OTHER THING, WHY BE
THERE.
YOU NEED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE
THAT ELECTED YOU TO OFFICE AND
IF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR
STANCE IS, HOW DO THEY MAKE THAT
DECISION.
>> WOULD YOU CONSIDER A SPECIAL
SESSION ON MED AID EXPANSION?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT.
SEVERAL THINGS COULD PASS IF
PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
THAT'S AN ISSUE.
>> YOU DECLARED THE YEAR OF 2019
TO BE THE YEAR OF CLEAN DRINKING
WATER IN WISCONSIN.
DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE HAS
TAKEN PFAS AND GROUNDWATER
CONTAMINATION SERIOUSLY?
>> CERTAINLY IT'S NOT DONE.
WE'VE MADE GOOD HEADWAY, BUT
THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING
THING.
THE PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE BEFORE
WE WERE, OUR NATIVE TRIBES, HAVE
MADE THIS AN ISSUE FOR HUNDREDS
OF YEARS.
IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE
YEAR.
BUT I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT WE
ARE IN A GOOD PLACE ON THIS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
BALANCE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND
THE ABOUTS OF
THE INTERESTS OF THE WATER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOBODY
WANTS TO DRINK CRAPPY WATER.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S
HAPPENED YET.
>> YOU'VE USED EXECUTIVE ORDERS
EXTENSIVELY YOUR FIRST YEAR IN
OFFICE.
IS THAT A WAY TO GET AROUND THE
LEGISLATURE?
>> TO GET SOME THINGS
ACCOMPLISHED I DON'T NEED
LEGISLATION TO DO.
AT THE END.
DAY I THINK THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN EXPECT US TO WORK
TOGETHER.
>> FOXCONN JUST ANNOUNCED THAT
THEIR FACILITY IS WEATHER-TIGHT
AND WHILE THEY'RE GOING TO
CONTINUE CONSTRUCTION ON THE
INSIDE, THEY COULD BE
OPERATIONAL BY THE END OF THE
YEAR.
DO THEY NEED TO RENEGOTIATE THE
CONTRACT WITH THE STATE BEFORE
THEY SHOULD START OPERATIONS
THERE?
>> WELL, THEY CAN CONTINUE ON,
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS I
CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THE
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN EXPECT US,
THE POLITICIANS, TO BE
TRANSPARENT AND HAVE THEM BE --
FOXCONN BE ACCOUNTABLE.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO DO THAT IF THE
DEAL THAT WAS CUT IS BASED ON
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST
NOW.
IT'S JUST COMMON SENSE.
WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF THE
DAY WE WILL BE ABLE TO SOLVE
THIS.
BUT IT TAKES PEOPLE TO COME
TOGETHER AND SEEK COMMON GROUND.
>> IN YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR
YOU TALKED ABOUT CUTTING
WISCONSIN'S PRISON POP POPULATION
AND TO CLOSE LINCOLN HILLS.
HOW CLOSE ARE WE?
>> WE STILL HAVE THINGS IN JOINT
FINANCE WE'RE WAITING FOR
APPROVAL ON.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO CLOSE THAT IF
WE DON'T HAVE A PLACE FOR THOSE
KIDS TO GO.
I THINK WE CAN GET THERE, MAYBE
NOT AS SOON AS WE WANT.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IS A BIG
ISSUE AND WE NEED SOME
LEGISLATIVE HELP TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN.
WE'RE DOING SOME THINGS IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS THAT I
THING ARE MORE FAIR.
WE'RE WORKING WITH PEOPLE THAT
ARE ORGANIZATIONS, LOTS OF
FAITH-BASED GROUPS THAT ARE
HELPING PEOPLE TRANSITION TO OUT
OF CORRECTIONS INTO THE REAL
WORLD.
SO WE'RE MAKING SOME HEADWAY.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE
GOING TO NEED SOME LEGISLATIVE
HELP.
>> WISCONSIN IS EXPECTED TO BE A
FOCAL POINT IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION THIS YEAR.
DO YOU EXPECT TO MAKE ANY
ENDORSEMENTS IN THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY?
>> NO.
MY GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE
THAT IS LEFT AT THAT TIME ARE
COMING THROUGH WISCONSIN, LET
PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN KNOW WHO
THEY ARE.
>> WE COULD EXPECT TO SEE SOME
INCREASED TURNOUT THIS FALL.
DO YOU EXPECT ANY OF THE
PRESIDENTIAL RACE TO IMPACT
DOWN-BALLOT RACES FOR STATE
SENATE OR ASSEMBLY, THAT COULD
IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO LEAD NEXT
YEAR?
>> SURE.
THEY'RE ALL CONNECTED.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE
ABILITY TO HAVE A ROBUST
DISCUSSION ABOUT LOTS OF THINGS
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN AND,
FRANKLY, ONE OF THOSE THINGS
WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT
IS THE ISSUE OF FAIR MAPS AND
MAKING SURE WE DON'T GET TO THE
POINT WHERE GERRYMANDERING FOR
ANOTHER TEN YEARS.
WE NEED FAIR MAPS NOW.
SOME OF THE SOLUTION TO THAT IS
TO MAKE SURE SOME OF THOSE
DOWN-BALLOT ISSUES, THOSE
COMPETITIONS BETWEEN REPUBLICANS
AND DEMOCRATS, HAVE TO HAPPEN IN
A WAY THAT GIVE ME THE VETO
POWER TO MAKE FAIR MAPS HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> THANKS A LOT, ZAC.
>> THERE ARE THREE CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR THE WISCONSIN
SUPREME COURT THIS SPRING.
WE'LL BE TALKING TO ALL THREE
THIS MONTH AND FIRST UP IS THE
INCUMBENT, JUSTICE DAN KELLY.
JUSTICE KELLY WAS APPOINTED TO
THE BENCH IN 2016 BY GOVERNOR
SCOTT WALKER.
BEFORE THAT, HE WAS IN PRIVATE
PRACTICE IN WAUKESHA.
JUSTICE KELLY, THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME TODAY.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME
ON.
>> YOU HAVE NEVER FACED THE
VOTERS OF WISCONSIN BEFORE.
WHY SHOULD THEY ELECT YOU TO A
FULL TEN-YEAR TERM ON THE COURT?
>> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION.
I THINK THE ANSWER LIES IN MY
PHILOSOPHY, FAITHFULNESS TO THE
CONSTITUTION AND APPLYING ITS
TERMS THE WAY IT'SEN IT'S WRITTEN AND
MAINTAINED BY THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
THERE'S A REAL REALLY IMPORTANT
REASON WHY THAT NEEDS TO BE THE
CASE.
AND IT LIES IN THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN,
THEIR CONSTITUTION AND THE
JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
SEE, WHEN I COME TO THE CHAMBERS
IN THE MORNING, I DON'T BRING
THE AUTHORITY WITH ME THAT I
EXERCISE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T
BELONG TO ME.
IT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.
THEY SIMPLY LOAN IT TO US
THROUGH THEIR CONSTITUTION.
THEY'VE STRUCTURED THAT
CONSTITUTION IN A WAY TO
ACCOMPLISH TWO VERY IMPORTANT
OBJECTIVES.
ONE IS SECURING THEIR FREEDOMS
AND LIBERTIES AND THE SECOND IS
PRESERVING LAW AND ORDER IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
SO OUR ROLE IN THAT IS TO SIMPLY
APPLY THE LAW AS IT EXISTS.
WE'RE THERE TO EXERCISE THE
JUDICIAL POWER TO APPLY THE LAW
TO THE CASE IN FRONT OF US.
PEOPLE HAVE NOT ASKED US TO
LEGISLATE FROM THE BENCH.
SO WE DON'T MAKE THE LAW, WE
DON'T IGNORE THE LAW, WE DON'T
PLAY FAVORITES WITH THE LAW.
WE SIMPLY APPLY THE LAW WITH
SIMPLY FEAR NOR FAVOR FOR ANY
PERSON OR PARTY.
WHEN WE DO THAT, WE'RE FAITHFUL
TO THE TERMS OF THE
CONSTITUTION.
WHEN WE'RE FAITHFUL TO THE
CONSTITUTION, WE'RE FAITHFUL TO
THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
THAT PRESERVES THEIR FREEDOMS
AND LIBERTIES AND IT PRESERVES
SECURITY IN THE RULE OF LAW IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> YOU RECENTLY DECIDED TO
RECUSE YOURSELF FROM A CASE THAT
COULD COME BEFORE THE SUPREME
COURT REGARDING A CONSERVATIVE
GROUP'S EFFORT TO FORCE THE
REMOVAL OF 230,000 NAMES FROM
THE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLES.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RECUSE?
>> WELL, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF WHAT
YOU JUST SAID.
THE CASE INVOLVES OVER 200,000
PEOPLE WHO WILL BE PARTICIPATING
OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE
ELECTION WHERE MY NAME WILL BE
ON THE BALLOT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE
PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DO
NOTHING BUT IMPARTIALLY APPLY
THE LAW WITHOUT RESPECT TO ANY
OUTSIDE INFLUENCES OR ANYTHING
THAT WOULD AFFECT ME PERSONALLY.
AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT TRUE IN FACT, BUT
THAT THE APPEARANCES OF THAT ARE
ALIGNED WITH WHAT IS ACTUALLY
FACTUAL.
AND SO I DECIDED TO RECUSE
MYSELF FROM THAT CASE.
>> JUSTICES HAVE BROAD AUTHORITY
ON WHEN TO RECUSE.
YOUR OPPONENTS HAVE SAID THEY
WOULD LIKE TO SEE TIGHTER RULES.
DO YOU THINK THE SYSTEM WORKS AS
IT IS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT HAS BEEN
WORKING FOR A VERY LONG TIME THE
WAY THAT IT IS.
AND WHILE I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO
LOOKING AT POTENT POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS,
I THINK WE NEED TO BE SURE WHEN
WE DO THAT, WHEN WE LOOK AT
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT CALL
FOR A CHANGE, THAT WE DO IT IN A
WAY THAT DOES NOT INTRODUCE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICAL
GAMESMANSHIP AMONGST PARTIES
AMONGST THE MEMBERS OF THE
COURT.
SO I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO LOOKING AT
NEW PROPOSALS, BUT WE NEED TO
MAKE SURE THAT IT ACCOMPLISHES
THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR RULES OF
RECUSAL, WHICH IS MAKING SURE
THAT WE DO THE JOB OF A JUSTICE,
THAT IS, IMPARTIALLY APPLYING
THE LAW TO THE CASE IN FRONT OF
US.
>> TECHNICALLY SUPREME COURT
ELECTIONS ARE NONPARTISAN, BUT
LATELY THAT'S BEEN IN NAME ONLY.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE
INVOLVED IN CAMPAIGNS,
ORGANIZING VOTERS.
SO WHY IS IT WRONG FOR SOME
VOTERS TO ASSUME YOU REPRESENT
REPUBLICANS AND YOUR OPPONENTS
ARE REPRESENTING THE DEMOCRATS
IN THIS CASE?
>> I THINK IT'S A CATEGORY ERROR
TO SUGGEST THAT WE REPRESENT ONE
PARTY OR ANOTHER OR THEIR
ISSUES.
AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF THE
PRIMARY AND CENTRAL ASPECTS OF
MY JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY IS
SETTING ASIDE PERSONAL POLITICS
AND PERSONAL BELIEFS AND
POSITIONS AND SIMPLY APPLYING
THE LAW THE WAY IT EXISTS.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT ALLOWS
US TO PRESERVE FREEDOM AND
LIBERTIES AND LAW AND ORDER IN
OUR COMMUNITIES.
SO WHEN I WORK ON CASES, WHEN I
DECIDE CASES, WHEN I WRITE
OPINIONS, THE WAY I APPROACH IT
TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THINGS
ARE PUT TO THE SIDE IS TO APPLY
RIGOROUS LOGIC.
WE HE START WITH THE START WITH THE PREMISES AND
USE RIGOROUS LOGIC TO WORK OUR
WAY DOWN TO THE CONCLUSION.
AND IF YOU DO THAT WELL AND
DILIGENTLY, THAT WILL SQUEEZE
OUT ANY OF YOUR PERSONAL
POLITICS OR ANY OF YOUR PERSONAL
POSITIONS OR BELIEFS, BECAUSE
LOGIC DOESN'T CARE ABOUT YOUR
POLITICS, RIGHT?
IT SIMPLY IS.
AND SO IF WE DO THAT WELL, THEN
WE'LL ALWAYS ARRIVE AT A
CONCLUSION THAT IS REQUIRED BY
THE LAW AND NOT BY OUR PERSONAL
PREFERENCES.
>> WE'VE GOT ABOUT A MINUTE
LEFT.
LAST YEAR DURING THE LAME DUCK
SESSION REPUBLICANS AND
LEGISLATION CONSIDERED MOVING
THE DATE OF THE SUPREME COURT
ELECTION TO GET AWAY FROM THE
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND
POTENTIAL HIGHER TURNOUT AMONG
DEMOCRATS.
HOW WILL INCREASED VOTER TURNOUT
IMPACT YOUR ELECTION?
>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO
IMPACT IT MUCH AT ALL.
THE REASON FOR THAT IS THIS.
I THINK PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL
PARTY TO WHICH SUBSCRIBE, THEY
WANT THE SAME THING OUT OF
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
THEY WANT A JUSTICE WHO WILL
APPLY THE LAW, WHO WON'T IN
THEIR PERSONAL BELIEFS OR
POLITICS INTO THE
DECISION-MAKING.
SO WHETHER THERE'S MORE
DEMOCRATS THAT TURN OUT THAN
REPUBLICANS, I DON'T THINK
THAT'S GOING TO MATTER MUCH
BECAUSE I THINK THEY ALL WANT
BASICALLY THE SAME THING, A
JUSTICE WHO WILL JUST APPLY THE
LAW.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING
SINCE 2016.
>> WERE YOU HOPING THAT THE DATE
WOULD GET CHANGED OR DID YOU
HAVE AN OPINION ON WHETHER THE
DATE SHOULD REMAIN?
>> WELL, I TRY NOT TO PEER INTO
THE FUTURE AND SEE WHAT MIGHT
OCCUR OR NOT OCCUR BASED ON
CHANGES LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU
NEVER KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES
MIGHT BE.
SO I LOOK AT THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN AND I HAVE FAITH THAT
WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR THE
ELECTION, THEY'RE GOING TO DO
THE RIGHT THING.
THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR
SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE
FAITHFUL TO THE CONSTITUTION.
AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO
THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER
THEY'RE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS
OR INDEPENDENTS OR WHATEVER
OTHER POLITICAL PERSUASION THEY
MIGHT BE.
SO I INVITE THEM ALL TO COME
OUT, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,
REGARDLESS OF THE PARTIES
THEY'RE AFFILIATED WITH.
COME OUT IN THE SUPREME COURT
ELECTION.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
AND I'LL REST MY FAITH WITH
THEM.
>> JUSTICE KELLY, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
>> EVERY YEAR IN WISCONSIN
DOZENS OF PEOPLE GET LOST IN THE
WOODS OR NED NEED RESCUING ON THE
WATER.
THE PEOPLE CALLED OUT TO LOOK
FOR THEM TRAIN LIKE
PROFESSIONALS, BUT GET TRAINED
LIKE VOLUNTEERS, LIKE THE ONES I
MET ON THE JOB IN SAWYER COUNTY.
>> ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON TWO
YEARS AGO, RYAN NADELHOFFER GOT
ON HIS ATV IN THE VILLAGE OF
WINTER IN SAWYER COUNTY AND
PREPARED TO RIDE THE TRAILS TO
HIS HOME IN HAYWARD 30 MILES
AWAY.
>> HE HAD HIS CELL PHONE AND
GPS, SO HE SAID I HAVE THE
TRAILS READY TO GO, I'M FINE.
>> RYAN'S SISTER AMBER SAID THE
GPS TOOK HIM ON THE WRONG TRAIL.
>> I WAS ON MY PHONE AND IT TOOK
ME TO THE SNOWMOBILE TRAIL.
>> HIS GS WAS TAKING HIMPS WAS TAKING HIM ON THE
SNOWMOBILE TRAILS.
HE LOST SERVICE.
HE PICKED A ROUTE AND DROVE AND
IT TURNED INTO NO TRAIL AND HE
WAS HUNG ON A FREE.
>> RYAN LOST WITH A DEAD
PHONE AND A STUCK ATV.
>> I HAD MY HEADLIGHTS ON FOR A
WHILE AND THEN WHEN THE BATTERY
DIED, THEN IT WAS PITCH BLACK.
>> WHEN HE DIDN'T ARRIVE HOME ON
TIME, RYAN'S FAMILY CALLED THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THEY
ACTIVATED THE SAWYER COUNTY
SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM.
>> WE KNEW HE WAS ON HIS ATV, SO
WE REQUESTED WINTER FIRE
DEPARTMENT TO COME IN AND ASSIST
WITH THEIR ATVs.
>> IS HE THET Vs
>> THEY SET UP A COMMAND POST.
>> WAS A AMAZING TO SEE THEY
HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT IN
SUCH SHORT TIME.
THE FACT THAT WE WERE SITTING AT
HOME WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEY
GOT THE CALL AND THEY DIDN'T
HESITATE.
>> JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT SEARCHERS
FOUND RYAN, WET AND COLD.
>> THE WAY THE TEMPERATURE WAS
THAT NIGHT, IF THE SEARCH
MEMBERS WOULDN'T HAVE LOCATED
HIM, YOU KNOW, IT MAY HAVE HAD
DIFFERENT OUTCOME.
>> BY THE TIME SEARCH ERSERS ITERS WERE
CALLED BACK, IT WAS MONDAY AND
MOST OF THEM HAD TO GO TO WORK
BECAUSE IN WISCONSIN SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAMS ARE MADE UP OF
VOLUNTEERS.
>> WE MAY HAVE 35 OF OUR MEMBERS
OR WE MAY HAVE FOUR.
>> YOU WANT TO SIGN IN OVER
HERE?
>> PAT SANCHEZ IS THE
COORDINATOR OF SAWYER COUNTY'S
TEAM, BUT THEIR SEARCH AREA
DOESN'T STOP AT THE COUNTY LINE.
>> THIS IS KIND OF THE INFO
SHEET ON THE PERSON THAT WE'RE
LOOKING FOR.
>> THIS SUMMER, THEY SPENT
MULTIPLE DAYS IN ASHLAND COUNTY
LOOKING FOR THE BODY OF A MAN
WHO LIKELY DROWNED IN THE LAKE.
>> THIS LAKE HAS BEEN SEARCHED
WITH TWO CADAVER DOGS.
DOGS HAVE SAID SOMETHING'S HERE.
WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMING
FROM THE LAKE OR OFF THE SHORE
INTO THE LAKE.
>> VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP TO
SEARCH THE SHORELINE AND WOODS.
>> HEAT INDEX IS GOING TO GET
REALLY HIGH.
MAKE SURE YOU GUYS STAY
HYDRATED.
THE REASON WE'RE HERE IN ASHLAND
COUNTY IS WE HAVE BEEN DOING
SEARCH AND RESCUE FOR MANY YEARS
AND OUR REPUTATION HAS GROWN
THAT WE ARE A TEAM THAT WILL
COME IN.
WE'RE WITH THE LOCAL AGENCIES.
>> THE TEAM HAS BEEN CALLED OUT
TO 85 SEARCHES OVER THE LAST
FOUR YEARS, NEARLY HALF OF THEM
OUTSIDE THEIR HOME TERRITORY.
>> THE SUCCESS RATE HAS BEEN
APPRECIATED BY THE SURROUNDING
COUNTIES.
>> SAWYER COUNTY SHERIFF DOUG
MROTEK SAYS A MISSING PERSON
CASE IS UNDER JURISDICTION OF
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ONLY
THEY CAN ACTIVATE A SEARCH.
IF A NEIGHBORING COUNTY ASKS FOR
HELP, THEY HAVE TO ASK HIM TO
ACTIVATE HIS VOLUNTEERS.
>> WE HAVE RECEIVED QUITE A FEW
REQUESTS FROM THE SURROUNDING
COUNTIES FOR OUR SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAM.
>> BUT ALL THOSE SEARCHES COME
AT A COST TO THE VOLUNTEERS.
THIS SEARCH TOOK PLACE ON A
THURSDAY.
>> THIS IS A VACATION DAY FOR ME
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I USE UP
JUST ABOUT ALL MY VACATION ON
SEARCHES.
>> SO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
STAY HYDRATED.
>> SAWYER COUNTY HAS RECEIVED
DONATIONS, BUT INDIVIDUAL
MEMBERS PAY FOR EVERYTHING ELSE
ON THEIR OWN.
>> WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN
CANINES, FOR OUR OWN TRAINING.
WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT OUT OF
POCKET.
WHEN WE GET OUR OWN VEHICLES AND
DRIVE, WE ARE HE PAYINGPYING WE AREPYING WE ARE PAYING OUR OWN
GOODS EXPENSES.
>> THIS IS THE WAY SEARCH AND
RESCUE WORKS STATEWIDE.
WE CALLED EVERY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE TO ASK
HOW THEY CONDUCT SEARCH AND
RESCUE.
ONLY SIX COUNTIES SAID THEY HAVE
ANY KIND OF IN-HOUSE SEARCH AND
RESCUE TEAM.
WHEN WE ASKED WHO THEY WOULD
CALL IF THEY NEEDED TO CONDUCT A
SEARCH, THEY POINTED TO NEARBY
VOLUNTEER GROUPS.
BUT NO ONE ACTUALLY KNOWS THE
ENTIRE LIST OF SEARCH AND RESCUE
TEAMS.
>> WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD SOLID
LIST AT THIS POINT OF ALL THE
TEAMS IN THE STATE BECAUSE THOSE
ARE USUALLY LOCAL ASSETS.
>> KEVIN WERNET IS AN EXERCISE
AND TRAINING OFFICER WITH
WISCONSIN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
HE CAN GET THE RIGHT AIRCRAFT IN
THE SKY.
>> WE SUPPORT APPROXIMATELY 30
TO 40 MISSIONS A YEAR FOR SEARCH
AND RESCUE REQUESTS.
>> WERNET SAYS EACH PART OF THE
STATE PRESENTS ITS OWN
GEOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES, WHETHER
IT BE WOODS OR WATER.
>> IN THE SOUTHWEST THERE'S A
LOT OF RIVER RESCUES.
PAT HAS A LOT OF FORESTRY TYPE
STUFF.
>> BUT WISCONSIN EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT REALIZED THEY DON'T
KNOW WHERE THE GAPS IN COVERAGE
MAY BE BECAUSE VOLUNTEER GROUPS
DON'T REPORT TO ANY SINGLE
AUTHORITY.
>> ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE
IDENTIFIED A GAP AND WE WERE
WORKING WITH DIFFERENT TEAMS AND
DIFFERENT FOLKS AROUND THE
STATE.
SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO EXPAND
THAT LIST.
>> PAT SANCHEZ UNDERSTANDS
THERE'S NO MONEY FOR PAYING
SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEERS,
BUT THEY WOULD LIKE THE SAME
LEGAL PROTECTIONS OFFERED TO
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.
>> IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE WERE
TREATED AS EQUAL TO FIRE
DEPARTMENTS, EMS AND LAW,
BECAUSE WE ARE FIRST RESPONDERS.
>> IN THE MEANTIME, SHE'LL KEEP
SHOWING UP WHEN THE CALL COMES
IN.
>> SO THIS IS MY HOBBY, BUT IT'S
MY PASSION, TOO.
BECAUSE I WOULDN'T BE DOING IT
IF I DIDN'T GET SOMETHING BACK
AND WHAT I GET BACK IS FROM ALL
MY TEAMMATES.
WE'RE FAMILY.
AND KNOWING THAT I'VE HELPED
SOMEBODY.
>> AND THAT IS SOMETHING FOR
WHICH AMBER SMITH AND HER
BROTHER RYAN WILL BE ETERNALLY
GRATEFUL.
>> IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT THE
VALUE OF LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT TO
THEM.
AND THEY DON'T GET ANYTHING IN
RETURN FOR IT EXCEPT FOR THAT
THEY'VE HELPED A FAMILY.
>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR
TONIGHT.
NEXT WEEK, FREDERICA FREYBERG
RETURNS AND WE CONTINUE OUR
INTERVIEWS WITH PRIMARY
CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR STATE
SUPREME COURT.
NEXT FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, ED
FALLONE WILL BE HERE.
CANDIDATE JILL CA KAROFSKY WILL
APPEAR JANUARY 17.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW," 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO PBS.ORG
AND CLICK ON NEWS.
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PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.