SHELLY MISSALL, THANKS FOR THE
CALL AND FOR YOUR WORK.
>> THANK YOU, THANKS FOR HAVING
ME.
>> TONIGHT WE BRING YOU THE
SECOND OF TWO INTERVIEWS OF THE
CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF
STATE.
LAST WEEK WE TALKED WITH
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT, SECRETARY
DOUG LA FOLLETTE.
NEXT WE HEAR FROM REPUBLICAN
REPRESENTATIVE AMY LOUDENBECK OF
CLINTON.
FIRST ELECTED TO THE STATE
ASSEMBLY IN 2010 AND SERVES AS
VICE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE
COMMITTEE.
AMY LOUDENBECK, THANKS FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> FIRST, WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE
SECRETARY OF STATE?
>> WELL, THE OFFICE CAN BE
IMPORTANT AND I BELIEVE IT'S
BEEN NEGLECTED FOR TOO LONG.
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY RESTORE
PURPOSE AND RESPECT TO AN OFFICE
THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL, DIRECTLY
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE VOTERS AND I
SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THAT
OFFICE WORK AGAIN FOR THE
PEOPLE.
>> NOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS TO
THAT OFFICE.
WHY?
>> I HAVE SUGGESTED THAT AN
ALTERNATIVE TO THE WISCONSIN
ELECTION COMMISSION COULD
INCLUDE A SECRETARY OF STATE.
I'M SUPPORTIVE OF A NEW MODEL
AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK
AT WHAT OTHER STATES DO,
SECRETARIES OF STATE ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTAIN DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES WITH
REGARDS TO ADMINISTERING
ELECTIONS.
IT'S A MINISTERIAL POSITION.
I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR COMPLETE
POWER OR CONTROL OVER ELECTIONS.
I AM ADVOCATING FOR A NEW MODEL
THAT UTILIZES THIS
CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE IN ANY WAY
THAT IT CAN ADD VALUE TO THAT
ROLE.
>> DOESN'T MOVING ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION INTO THAT ELECTED
OFFICE POLITICIZE THE FUNCTION,
THOUGH?
>> I'VE BEEN REALLY CLEAR AS
I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING THAT I AM
NOT TALKING ABOUT UNILATERAL
POWER.
I AM PROPOSING DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE
MINISTERIAL IN NATURE, THAT
COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THAT
OFFICE.
LOCAL CLERKS IN WISCONSIN RUN
ELECTIONS.
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS
TRAINING OR GUIDANCE OR
MAINTAINING THE VOTER ROLLS.
DUTIES THAT, LIKE I SAID, ARE
MINISTERIAL IN NATURE AND NOT
DISCRETIONARY.
>> HERE'S WHAT THE INCUMBENT
CHALLENGER SAID LAST WEEK
"TRUMPITE REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO TAKE
CONTROL OF SECRETARY OF STATE
OFFICES SO THEY CAN MAYBE FIDDLE
WITH THE ELECTION," HE SAID, "IN
2024."
>> PERHAPS IT'S HAPPENING IN
OTHER STATES WHERE SECRETARY OF
STATE HAVE MORE POWER THAN HERE,
BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.
I AM RUNNING BECAUSE DOUG LA
FOLLETTE DOES NOT THINK THE
OFFICE IS IMPORTANT AND I DO.
WE DON'T HAVE A SECRETARY OF
STATE THAT TAKES HIS JOB
SERIOUSLY, I WILL.
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.
>> SO THE ONLY WAY TO MOVE
ELECTIONS FUNCTIONS, I WOULD
THINK, TO THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE IS IF A
REPUBLICAN IS ELECTED GOVERNOR.
I ALSO SEE SPEAKER ROBIN VOSS
HAS ENDORSED YOU.
WOULD HE CEDE ANY KIND OF
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT OF
ELECTIONS TO YOUR OFFICE SHOULD
YOU BE ELECTED, HAVE YOU SPOKEN
WITH HIM ABOUT THAT?
>> HE HAS STATED HE IS NOT
INTERESTING IN TRANSFERRING
POWER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
TO OVERSEE ELECTIONS, LIKE I
SAID I'M TALKING ABOUT DUTIES
AND I THINK MY RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS,
AND THE DEMOCRATS IN THE
LEGISLATURE, IS THE STRONG ONE
AND IT'S ONE THAT IS BORNE ON
MUTUAL RESPECT AND RESULTS.
WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS,
LET'S NOT FORGET WE HAVE THE
OFFICE TO ADD VALUE TO THE
PROCESS OF ELECTION OVERSIGHT
AND ADMINISTRATION.
THAT'S THE FIRST STEP, I THINK
FOR A LONG CONVERSATION THAT IS
GOING TO BE PART OF THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
BUT AT A MINIMUM, IF ELECTED, MY
GOAL WOULD BE TO MODERNIZE THE
OFFICE, TO BE RESPONSIVE TO
REQUEST FOR AUTHENTICATION OF
DOCUMENTS, TO BE A BILLION
DOLLAR BOARD MEMBER FOR THE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ABOUT
PUBLIC LANDS AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE
IN THE ROLE THAT CURRENTLY
EXISTS FOR THE SECRETARY OF
STATE THAT I SEE AS BEING
NEGLECTED RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS
YOUR BEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN
YOUR CAREER IN THE LEGISLATURE?
>> WELL, OF THE OVER 50 BILLS
THAT I HAVE HAD PASSED AND
SIGNED INTO LAW SINCE I'VE BEEN
IN OFFICE, IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU
CAN'T REALLY CHOOSE AMONG YOUR
CHILDREN.
BUT I'VE DONE A LOT FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY, I'VE DONE A LOT IN
REGARDS TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
BEEN A REALLY DILIGENT MEMBER OF
THE JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE TO
PRIORITIZE OUR EXPENSES BUT ALSO
BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND
TURN A SURPLUS THAT OUR STATE
HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
WHEN I CAME INTO OFFICE WE HAD A
SIGNIFICANT DEFICIT, A LOT OF
THINGS I CAN BE PROUD OF.
>> WHY SHOULD VOTERS ELECT YOU
OVER THE LONG TIME INCUMBENT?
>> BECAUSE I THINK THIS JOB IS
IMPORTANT, I WANT IT TO BE
IMPORTANT, I DON'T THINK HE
TAKES THIS ROLE SERIOUSLY, I
THINK HE'S BECOME COMPLACENT AND
I THINK HE'S BECOME ARROGANT AND
I THINK WE DESERVE A SECRETARY
OF STATE THAT HAS RESPECT FROM
BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I
INTEND TO DO THAT AND DO THAT
WELL AND WITH A CONSISTENT WORK
ETHIC AND DIPLOMACY THAT THE JOB