Judge Randy Koschnick for Supreme Court

Widgerson writes about this here:

On April 7, Wisconsin voters will have a choice between two candidates for state Supreme Court, incumbent Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and Judge Randy Koschnick.

Abrahamson is a left-wing activist. Bill Lueders of The Isthmus in Madison even calls her record “progressive.” The state teachers union, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, described Abrahamson as a consistent vote for their interests.

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Of special interest to Waukesha voters, in 1995 Abrahamson was the lone vote against the law that keeps sexual predators behind bars if it’s determined they continue to be a threat to the public.

On other issues she likes to call them as she sees them, too, regardless of the laws created by the Legislature.

On school voucher programs, Abrahamson has been a reliable vote for the teachers unions, voting to strike the voucher programs down.

On medical malpractice, Abrahamson sided with the trial lawyers and voted to raise the caps, again contrary to the law and contrary to the public interest.

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Her opponent is a conservative judge, a strict constructionist. He is opposed to usurping the power of the Legislature as a judge. Despite his personal preferences, Koschnick would be bound by the law provided it is constitutional and would not give in to any ideological whimsy.

Bill Lueders calls Koschnick, “knowledgeable, measured, personable and articulate.

“He’s a far better candidate than any of the last three victorious conservatives. And, more to the point, he’s a far better candidate than Shirley Abrahamson.”

More importantly, Koschnick has run the style of campaign recent court watchers have wished for. He stuck to the issues and Abrahamson’s record. He has not run a misleading ad campaign. He authored a clean campaign pledge, something Abrahamson refused to sign. He has even raised the issue of campaign contributions from lawyers appearing before the court, something good government types should be praising him for.

This was the campaign everyone wanted after the last two state Supreme Court elections. We have a clear choice, a debate on the issues, and one of the candidates (Koschnick) is not expecting outside interest groups to intervene.

We will see if the voters recognize the opportunity for rewarding Koschnick for his campaign on April 7.