Sunday, July 6, 2025
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Sunday, July 6, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

A Safer Wisconsin: My Pledge as Your Governor

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By: Kevin Nicholson

Last May, I wrote about escalating violence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At that point, homicides in the city had already doubled over what they were the year before – matching trendlines in spiking violence in cities across America. Ultimately, Milwaukee ended 2021 with 197 homicides, the most in the city’s history. Other communities throughout our state have also seen escalating violent crime rates between 2010 and 2020 – including Green Bay (49%), Eau Claire (37%), Kenosha (31%), and Wausau (71%).

Wisconsin is not just facing a crime wave; we are facing a dissolution of law and order wrought by our inept political class. Through nearly two years of lockdowns, shuttered schools, riots, and the systematic besmirching of law enforcement as a profession, we are in a deep hole and off-kilter.

As a candidate for governor, I understand the severity and scope of this problem – and I have practical ideas for addressing the problem. This week, I announced a 5 Point Plan for a ‘Safer Wisconsin.’

Today, Wisconsin’s law enforcement agencies struggle with the same issues that plague law enforcement across America: slow recruiting and poor retention. Yes, this is a problem in Milwaukee, but it is also a problem throughout our state. At a moment when the U.S. murder rate is at the highest the nation has seen in 25 years, officers are leaving their jobs, and new joins are not signing up, despite the desperate need.

What is causing this? To start, notable politicians in Wisconsin have proactively thrown law enforcement officials under the bus following use of force episodes. Certainly, Democrat Governor Tony Evers is guilty of besmirching the reputation of law enforcement officials across the state following the officer-involved shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha on August 23, 2020. On the same night of that shooting, Evers released a statement saying, “While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country.” Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes followed suit in indicting Wisconsin law enforcement.

After a full investigation – conducted by an outside and independent agency – the officer involved in the Blake shooting was not charged, and was found to be “acting within policy.”

But Evers and Barnes were not the only ones to rush to judgment on the Blake incident. The day after the shooting, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch (my primary opponent) further maligned the officer-involved when she stated: All I can judge by is the cell phone video that’s been passed around Twitter and Facebook over the last 24 hours. From what I saw, it looked horrific. From what I saw, it was something that scared me and scared my kids … I don’t know what the investigation is going to yield. All I know is what I saw and what I heard, which was far too many shots for a man who had his back turned.

While former Lt. Governor Kleefisch may today decry Evers as “judge, jury, and executioner” in the case of Kenosha law enforcement, when the pressure was on law enforcement, she folded and issued an uninformed, public indictment of a cop.

To be clear, accountability and transparency are important in professions that use force, such as the military and law enforcement. While an investigation after a use of force incident may be uncomfortable, the transparency helps to build trust. That said, there is nothing worse than doing a dangerous job with a boss who is eager to burn you for mistakes. Look no further than the statements from Evers, Barnes, and Kleefisch to understand our state’s law enforcement recruiting and retention problems.

Today, we continue to see sky-high murder rates, carjackings, and ineffectual District Attorneys – like Milwaukee’s John Chisholm, whose oversight allowed the perpetrator of the Waukesha parade attack free just days after driving over someone elseI have called for Chisolm to resign, and I pledge to fire him when I am your governor – but it will take a far more comprehensive approach to restore law and order to meaningfully reduce violence in our state.

First, my campaign has announced a ‘Law Enforcement Advisory Team,’ which includes 30 sheriffs from throughout the state. Some of these sheriffs have also endorsed my primary opponent; some have not. I’ve spoken with every single one of these sheriffs, and they support my candidacy. I will continue to call on them for advice as we create further plans to re-establish law and order in our state. The governor of our state should have a relationship with law enforcement leaders from Wisconsin – even if they don’t always agree – and I’m proud to have that process well underway.

Second and third, we need mandatory minimums for bail and sentencing of charges and convictions in the case of violent crimes. Cash bail should not be eliminated because it helps to keep violent criminals in jail as they await trial for violent offenses. As I have said repeatedly, these mandatory minimums will help to stop the immediate flow of violence onto our state’s streets. Had mandatory minimum bail requirements been in place for violent crimes in the state of Wisconsin – as it should have been over a decade ago – then the Waukesha parade attack never would have occurred.

Fourth, as your governor, I pledge to have a staff member in my office who will be a direct point of contact for every sheriff and police chief in our state. As I’ve talked to them over the last several weeks, cops have asked me to do this, and I will listen to them. This member of my team will be available 24/7 to all law enforcement leaders in Wisconsin, giving them a direct line to my office so I am up to speed on their challenges, problems, and needs. Leaders know the importance of communication, and it has been far too long since Wisconsin had a governor with a direct line of communication to those who keep us safe.

The last step will be difficult and more complicated. As your governor, I pledge that I will work with the legislature, sheriffs, police chiefs, municipal leaders, and county executives and boards across our state to rebuild and fund our law enforcement departments.

Just how do you turn around poor recruiting and retention? We need strong, moral leadership to rebuild the morale and capabilities of law enforcement.

While I have not walked in the shoes of law enforcement, I have served and put my life on the line as a Marine Corps officer during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know what it is like to do a dangerous job; it is a calling.

Those in the law enforcement profession need training, mission clarity, support and a leader who enforces high standards and accountability – while also standing behind them when they meet those standards. In the case of Wisconsin cops, that means having a governor who will not immediately throw them under the bus when the going gets tough – a governor who has the common sense to say, “I don’t make snap judgments on the basis of cell phone videos taken during use of force incidents. There will be an investigation. I will ensure that it is quick and transparent, and then the judicial process will play out from there, as appropriate.” That’s it. That’s the appropriate response of an informed leader following a use of force incident in our country.

What has our governor, Tony Evers, done about any of this?  Nothing at all. In fact, he doesn’t even have time to talk to the victims of crime in Wisconsin, let alone try to rebuild law enforcement agencies in order to prevent future crimes from happening.

The ideas I have laid out above are real, they are sound, and they will make our state safer. Going forward, I pledge to you: when it comes to your safety and the safety of your family, as your governor, I will never give you cheap, trite talking points. I will work to get to understand the issues that drive our state’s problems, and then develop solutions that actually solve those problems and get our society back on track.

Kevin Nicholson is a businessman and candidate for governor of the state of Wisconsin.  He is the former volunteer president and CEO of No Better Friend Corp., a conservative public policy group in Wisconsin. A combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps (Iraq, 2007 and Afghanistan, 2008-2009) he was also a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2018. Follow him on Twitter @KevinMNicholson.

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(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

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(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

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Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

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DOJ Begins California Title IX Investigation Over ‘Trans’ Boys Dominating Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”