Cullen announces he will run for state Senate
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At the beginning of his political career, Tim Cullen was elected to the Janesville City Council and as payback he set up a foundation for summer internship program in politics.
JANESVILLE — Tim Cullen hopes to get his old job back as the senator representing Wisconsin’s 15th Senate District.
Cullen held the post from 1974 to 1987. He gained a reputation as a tough and talented Democratic politician when the district covered more of Walworth County and less of Rock County.
Cullen, who turns 66 later this month, told The Janesville Gazette on Friday that he’s got the desire, time, energy and health to run again.
Cullen said he still needs to put a campaign organization together, but he figures there’s plenty of time to make a credible run in the November election.
Cullen said he’s a moderate. He believes the political center has largely disappeared in Madison in recent years.
Special interests’ campaign contributions have driven Democrat representatives to the left and the Republicans to the right, Cullen said, and the result is little desire on the part of lawmakers to work together.
Because of that belief, Cullen said he would limit contributions to his campaign to a level well below the $1,000 allowed by law. He hasn’t set that amount yet.
“I want to go to Madison as my own person, and I think that when you take large contributions from individuals or groups, I think it just raises an already high level of cynicism among citizens,” he said.
Cullen’s health might be questioned, but he said he got a clean bill from doctors in November after treatment for prostate cancer. He had open-heart surgery in 2007, but he said he recently returned to the Mayo Clinic for a checkup, and doctors there also gave him a thumbs up.
“They said it couldn’t be better, and that’s the way I feel,” Cullen said.
Cullen said he’s excited to start knocking on doors and introducing himself to voters. He said he will announce formally in about a month.
Cullen has served on the Janesville School Board for the past three years but is not running for re-election in April.
“I think I can come to Madison and bring some more adult-like behavior and hopefully bring the parties a little closer together and have a more moderate state Senate,” he said.
Cullen said political leaders did not ask him to run, but many people have often suggested he run for public office again.
Cullen said he would propose a tax and regulatory reform package, lowering some taxes and “loosening some regulations to make Wisconsin more attractive for companies to stay here or come here.”
Asked if the package also might increases some taxes, he said: “You can’t just drive the state further into debt. I have a lot of ideas. I’ll lay the entire package out in plenty of time for people to dissect it.”
The only other candidate so far is political newcomer and Republican Rick Richard, who, like Cullen, lives in Janesville Township. Richard has been running since last summer.
Richard’s wife, Diedre, is a Janesville School Board member and sits next to Cullen at board meetings.
Richard has made jobs the focus of his campaign. Asked for his response, Cullen said every candidate this year is talking jobs, “and I think people without jobs are getting tired of hearing that.”
Cullen agrees that jobs should be a top priority. He said any effort should resemble the group he was a part of that tried to save the GM plant: a combination of politicians of both parties; federal, state and local government officials; and, most important, private sector representatives.
“I think my year of trying to save GM taught me a lot,” he said. “I’ve learned to know all the players in the county. We trust each other, and I think I know when government can help and when government should stay out of the way. I think as a state senator I can play the role to assist the private sector to re-grow the Rock County economy and bring the jobs back.”
Cullen acknowledged things have changed since he left the Senate more than 20 years ago, but “I think I’m ready to go on Day 1.”
Tim Cullen’s political career
1969: Runs for Janesville City Council, loses.
1970: Wins campaign for Janesville City Council.
1971: Re-elected but resigns to become ombudsman for Rep. Les Aspin, D-Wis.
1974: Resigns from Aspin staff to run as a Democrat for the 15th Senate District seat. He upsets the incumbent Republican by a wide margin.
1978: Wins re-election.
1982: Re-elected. Becomes Senate majority leader, a post he holds through January 1987, building a reputation as one of the most powerful players in state government.
1985: Starts a campaign for U.S. Senate but pulls out.
1986: Re-elected. In December, he sends political shock waves as he announces he will leave the Senate in January to become secretary of Health and Social Services for Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson.
1988: Announces he will leave HSS to become a regional vice president of Blue Cross & Blue Shield United of Wisconsin, running Blue Shield’s regional office in Evansville.
2004: Serves on Gov. Jim Doyle’s 2004 Task Force on Educational Excellence.
2007: Retires as a senior vice president from WellPoint Inc., the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Wins a three-year term on the Janesville School Board.
2008: Becomes a member of the State Governing Board of Common Cause in Wisconsin, a nonpartisan political reform organization.
2009: Announces he will not run for re-election to school board.
2010: Judy Robson announces she will not run for re-election to the 15th Senate seat. Nine days later, Cullen tells The Janesville Gazette he will run to replace Robson.
Source: Janesville Gazette files
Feb 9, 2010 at 6:07 p.m.
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I don't know if Tim Cullen has a large ego, or a very small one. I am not smart enough to know if Tim Cullen was a good politician, or a bad one. One thing I do know about him is that he is a very good hearted man. I had not seen him for many, many years. I am sure that my mother had not seen him for over 20 years. Yet, when my mother passed away a little over a month ago, he took the time off to be present at her funeral. Simplistic as this may sound to some, for that reason only, I would vote for him, no matter what office he ran for. Thank you Mr. Cullen
Feb 9, 2010 at 2:50 p.m.
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And I say that by meaning no disrespect. It's about being knowledgeable on the subjects. Just like I wouldn't want Mr. Cullen building me an engine.
Feb 9, 2010 at 2:47 p.m.
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DiGriz - I really don't thing he's trying to one up himself. His past performance speaks for itself and he's very knowledgeable. No offense, but the guy from GM is the last guy I want running for this position.
Feb 9, 2010 at 1:14 p.m.
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I like Tim, I've talked with Tim, I know Tim I guess about the same as he knew my dad....
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But I have to ask "Why Tim?"
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If I had a choice between someone running that used to work at G.M. and lost his job, and Tim, I'd vote for the G.M. guy, because that's what we need. We don't need any more guys that are so bored with all their sucess in life that they feel that they have to one-up themselves just because they can.
Feb 9, 2010 at 12:58 p.m.
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I guess this means Kim Hixson is officially done "thinking" about running for Senate.
Feb 9, 2010 at 10:44 a.m.
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YADA- tough to be part of the "good ole boys" as a woman in my early 30's.
Nonheroicvet- perhaps review his work in healthcare before judging...the man was on our side, believing health care needed to serve PEOPLE better. Perhaps you missed this in the article: "Cullen said he would limit contributions to his campaign to a level well below the $1,000 allowed by law. I want to go to Madison as my own person, and I think that when you take large contributions from individuals or groups, I think it just raises an already high level of cynicism among citizens".
Does this sound like the goal of a man wanting to serve special interests? Thought not.
And while on the subject, why are we so afraid of healthcare reform? I understand most are afraid that the gov't will control our care. When the truth is that currently, OUR life and death decisions are made by Insurance Co's who deny and approve claims based soley on their financial gain or loss! Begin to recognize that our healthcare is ALREADY controlled...by insurance co's! In this case, our gov't is trying to help us, but we're too skeptical to accept it.
Feb 9, 2010 at 8:05 a.m.
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yada - Did you yawn because some of the posts made sense?
Feb 9, 2010 at 7:39 a.m.
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Nonheroicvet - Thank you for your comment. All I could do was yawn when I read many of the comments from the good ole boy network here in Janesburg. I found your comment to be quite educational.
Feb 9, 2010 at 7:06 a.m.
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Hmmm - A retired Insurance Company VP running for the Senate when Health Insurance reform is a major issue. No connection though, just interested in good government like another Senator named Lieberman.
Feb 9, 2010 at 5:26 a.m.
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((((y a w n))))
Feb 8, 2010 at 2:58 p.m.
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Go get 'em Tim. For the genius that suggested 'meals on wheels'.. may I suggest you do a little homework? This man has donated not only time but his own money to better this community many times over. Have you?
Feb 7, 2010 at 4:07 p.m.
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Turn out the lights, the party's over!!! Might as well just hand him the keys for the office door. I only hope he's true to his word and shuns the partisan, big money Madison political machine and works to move our state back toward the center. Welcome back Tim...
Feb 7, 2010 at 2:22 p.m.
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Cullen has a great resume of qualifications and would represent janesville well. As a republican I would have a hard time voting against Cullen and his track record. He can read the political tea leaves-he sees that the far left has hijacked the political process (in DC) and running as a moderate dem can only help him in a district where democrats out number republicans by a wide margin.
However, Cullen is fooling himself (as is Richards) if they think that job growth is going to be stimulated by State Govt. Job grow will occur only when the business climate improves for the private sector not the public sector
Feb 7, 2010 at 10:29 a.m.
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Sweet! I can't wait to pledge the Sheridan-Cullen frat house. If Mr. Cullen wants to serve the public, he should try serving some meals on wheels.
Feb 7, 2010 at 6:12 a.m.
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Good luck to Tim. Known him for over 50 yrs and he only improves with time. Running for this old position after such an impressive resume illustrates true dedication to public service. Would we only had more like him.
Feb 7, 2010 at 2:11 a.m.
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I think Mr Cullen has an ego problem,
Feb 6, 2010 at 11:19 p.m.
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"some more adult-like behavior"
Yes, we need more of this in all levels of politics.
Feb 6, 2010 at 9 p.m.
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Selling himself to the highest bidder.... doesn't just about everyone do this when participating in the labor market? Who would sell themselves to the lowest bidder?
Feb 6, 2010 at 7:45 p.m.
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How soon we forget that Mr. Cullen sold himself to the highest bidder when he accepted a job from then Governor Tommy Thompson. He was in line for a possible challenge to Thompson when "all of a sudden" he's offered a high paying job. I (WAS) a supporter of his candidacy but now I question his sincerity in seeking the position.
Feb 6, 2010 at 7:31 p.m.
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Welcome back! You had intergerty before and I'm sure it is there again. Perhaps someone else from the Jvl. can still learn from you. After all you led the charge to limit the interest credit card could charge on accounts, perhaps others could learn from you with these pay day loan situtations, maybe not, egos and other things are hard to over come!!
Feb 6, 2010 at 7:06 p.m.
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You've got my vote.
Feb 6, 2010 at 6:22 p.m.
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Enough said He'll get my vote,I've always like Mr.Cullen. His resume speaks for itself,123abc pkway losing him,But States gaining a Good An honest leader,Good Luck Mr. Cullen,welcome back and thank you for your service..
Feb 6, 2010 at 4:20 p.m.
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I would vote for you to replace Chuckie Benedict(Rep.Beloit,43rd District) in a heart beat.Way too early to commit to 15th Senate race.I will definetly be listening,reading,attending,staying informed.
Feb 6, 2010 at 4:06 p.m.
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Maybe a return to the good ole' days?
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