Unknown Vinehout running for governor
Alma in Buffalo County is about half the size of Elroy in Juneau County. The 2010 Census counted 781 Alma residents and 1,442 in Elroy.
Both rural communities have now sent to the Capitol lawmakers who ran for governor, defying odds that they would ever be elected.
Now it’s Democratic Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, who scrapped her career as a University of Illinois college professor and administrator to milk cows on her Alma-area farm, who wants to replicate the 1986 journey of Elroy’s favorite son, four-term Republican Gov. Tommy G. Thompson.
Another Democratic state senator who serves with Vinehout observed last week: “She has a story to tell.” And maybe it’s an advantage that so few Wisconsin voters have heard her story. Vinehout can do something that Kathleen Falk, the only other announced Democratic candidate in a likely summer recall election against Republican Gov. Scott Walker, can’t do with most rank-and-file Democrats: Make a first impression.
Without referring to the former Dane County executive by name, Vinehout vowed to run a grass-roots campaign and bring the “freshness” of someone who hasn’t lost two statewide campaigns. It’s a reference to Falk’s loss in a three-way primary for governor in 2002 and in 2006 for attorney general.
But Vinehout’s name prompts a one-word reaction—“Who?”—across Wisconsin.
She’s only been in the state Senate for six years and was re-elected by 403 votes—out of 60,225 votes cast—in November 2010. Then, her opponent was Ed Thompson, Tommy’s younger brother, who campaigned in between treatments for the pancreatic cancer that killed him last October.
Much of Vinehout’s 31st Senate District hugs the Mississippi River, and many of its workers commute to jobs in Minnesota. Its economy rises and falls with milk prices. The census said Alma lost 17 percent of its population in the last decade. There’s one traffic light in Buffalo County, Vinehout jokes.
Vinehout’s story?
According to her campaign and official resumes, her father was a member of the Laborer’s Union and her first job was as a nursing assistant.
She has a doctoral degree in “health services research,” which led to her teaching at and running graduate and undergraduate programs in health administration at the University of Illinois in Springfield. Her husband, Doug Kane, served in the Illinois House. They have one son.
In 1995, Vinehout said she quit as a health care educator to “follow her dream,” and they bought the Alma farm. For 10 years, she ran it as a dairy farm, although they couldn’t afford health insurance for about two of those years, and it’s now an organic farm that raises hay and grain.
People who don’t have health insurance “feel like it’s their fault,” said Vinehout, who is 53. “It’s not their fault. The system is very broken.”
What in Vinehout’s Senate record will be used against her?
First, she was one of the 14 Democrats who bolted to Illinois on Feb. 17, 2011, to block a Senate vote on Walker’s bill that all but eliminated collective bargaining for most public employees. The 14 Democrats didn’t return to the Capitol until March 12, one day after Walker signed the changes into law.
Although Republicans say Vinehout and all Senate Democrats did not show up for work, Vinehout said she worked very hard in Illinois because she and her staff responded to 27,000 contacts in that period.
When the Republican governor refused to negotiate, Vinehout added, “The only tool I had was a filibuster.”
Second, Vinehout led the 2007 push by Senate Democrats for a universal health care plan in Wisconsin—an idea despised by conservatives.
Vinehout said “aspects” of that Healthy Wisconsin plan are still needed—starting with creation of an Internet “exchange” that would let individuals and small-business owners compare coverage and prices for health insurance.
Third, Vinehout won’t rule out, as governor, vetoing the next state budget if it doesn’t restore the collective bargaining system Walker repealed last year—a promise Falk has already made to public employee unions.
Vinehout said she would first push for collective bargaining to be restored in a separate bill. But “I’m certainly not opposed” to vetoing the entire budget over that issue, she added.
Steven Walters is a senior producer for the nonprofit public affairs channel WisconsinEye. This column reflects his personal perspective. Email stevenscwalters@gmail.com.
Feb 23, 2012 at 6:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
puppet for the unions.... that's rich... as opposed to a whore for the corporations?
Feb 21, 2012 at 9:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
Moo,
I guess you cannot state why Vinehout wants to be governor either? Maybe its for the free healthcare or pension?
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
"Whoever runs for the Democrats will be nothing more than a puppet for the union lords"
-
Gotta love the totally meaningless blanket statements which lack all thought or reason based on nothing but blind allegiance to their lord of choice.
Feb 20, 2012 at 10:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
She should articulate a vision? huh? lol, she should spout some talking points and then do like Walker, get extreme.
Feb 20, 2012 at 10:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
She's getting quite a 'track' record. She finished in the top 14 in last years union dash to the clock tower.
Feb 20, 2012 at 9:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Let me get this straight. She's running FOR governor this year, and FROM governor last year. Enough already - I'm getting dizzy.
Feb 20, 2012 at 9:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
We all knew she would run - she ran to the clocktower last year - REMEMBER?
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Moo,
Why would you wait to have someone ask any candidate what they believe in? If vinehout cannot proactively articulate her vision for wisconsin why would anyone with a brain vote for her? This is the principle reason why she is not a serious candidate (or cullen for that matter). Maybe Vinehout will take a "stance" and say she is for "clean water" or "healthcare" or something specific like "jobs"....now that is a candidate you could back-right?
When she fails miserably as a candidate I want you to google Ted Kennedy and Roger Mudd....better yet: here is the link: 1979
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5TkhNWPs...
Now ask vinehout the same question "why do you want to be governor?"....you likely hear the same, rambling, incoherrant, non-answer-answer.
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
I would vote for Democratic Sen. Kathleen Vinehout because I think a woman could bring a lot to the Governor's office - and I'm a Republican. Your biggest obstacle will probably be that you are one of the infamous Senators that ran to Illinois when it was time to do your job. Aside from that ... You go girl! I mean, you stay girl! or ... whatever.
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
TCB, thank you for the compliments to Vinehout. You're partially right, she isn't running on a "platform" like party-puppet Walker is, nor she is taking orders from a special interest like Walker is, nor is she barking think tank talking points like Walker is. Sorry to sound childish and pathetic, but Scott Walker is a threat to the people of Wisconsin. Our quality of life, employment, education, economy and our resources are all under threat from Walker and his support base. He is on a path to destroy the state. Preventing that from happening should be every citizen's direction and vision.
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
Can't you see that Mutterman is trying to act like a civilized adult here? Give her a break. So you've had a bad day .... BLAHahahahahaha
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:35 p.m.
Suggest removal
Motormom - only the Gazette can forgive you for the comment you made that was removed. I bet it was a doozy.
Feb 20, 2012 at 8:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
Motormouth - we forgive you - your apology is accepted.
Feb 20, 2012 at 6:53 p.m.
Suggest removal
Moo,
I looked at her website-there is no platform. Platitudes-yes, Platform or personal ideology-no. No where does she say "the reason I want to be governor is"...she is like a later day Ted Kennedy when Roger Mudd asked him-why do you want to be President and Kennedy could not answer him....
As for Cullen-perhaps he read my post moments before he said with a whimper that he would not run for Governor. Cullen could always change his mind when Walker chooses not to run-same for Vinehout. I would suggest that these politicians actually have something to run on-something they actually believe in-rather than running on a platform of "I'm not (fill in your name here)"....so vote for me....If vinehout actually produced a platform-she might have punchers chance-until then she is just another angry liberal who finger is extended seeing which way the wind is blowing...hoping that no one asks her a relevant question about governing.
Feb 20, 2012 at 5:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
I'll vote for her before I'll vote for Falk.
Feb 20, 2012 at 5:06 p.m.
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
She articulates a direction very well for the state of Wisconsin. That is to prevent Scott Walker and his axis from destroying it.
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
why does she want to be governor? Is it because she wants to tell "stories"? Is this person yet another democrat that cannot, will not, or is not able to articulate a vision and direction for the state of wisconsin?
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
She is an interesting candidate - but Falk has the big dollars behind her. That will be hard to beat. Do not be shocked, though, if legions of union workers don't vote for Falk. She really isn't all that popular.
--
In the end, I would tend to agree that providing insurance for people who just "follow their dreams" is not the job of the state. But I would gladly give on that point to get rid of the robber-barons who are trying to take over our good state.
Feb 20, 2012 at 4:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
Key word is "unknown"
Feb 20, 2012 at 3:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
Motorman
Feb 20, 2012 at 2:29 p.m. - you made a strong case and then lost it with your painfully typical leftist comeback. Gutter trash talk.
Feb 20, 2012 at 3:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
Don't be surprise if she beats Falk in the primary. Falk has openly pledged allegiance to the unions and not to the people of Wisconsin. Falk has caged herself now and Vinehout can make that case. However, neither will defeat Scott Walker as even Tom Barrett has used tools from ACT 10 to save his city.
Feb 20, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.
Feb 20, 2012 at 1:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
She is also one of the dems that ran and hid at the clock tower inn.
Feb 20, 2012 at 9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
She was also a lobbyist for a short time for the Wisconsin Farmers Union.
Feb 20, 2012 at 9:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
So it wasn't her fault that she and her husband didn't have insurance? She had a job, she had insurance and she "quit to follow her dream" but that dream did not provide enough income for her to purchase insurance? Now, in her world, I should pay for others to follow their dream? My dream is to play golf most every day. I'm not much good at it and certainly could not afford health insurance on my winnings. If I quit my job to follow my dream I would hope Ms Vinehout would support my dream by providing my family with insurance and perhaps (coming from the organic ag business) some grants to make sure I can make ends meet.
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.