South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel, who recently resigned his post in the Assembly, has accepted a position at Goodwill Industries.
Check out the BizTimes story here.
I wish Mark well. He’s a good man, and I’m glad he’s bringing his talents to an organization like Goodwill, which does so much good for our community.
Filed under State Lawmakers
“No regrets.”
That’s the message from state outgoing Rep. Mark Honadel in an extensive interview with Oak Creek Patch.
See it here. From it:
In a wide-ranging interview with Oak Creek Patch last week, Honadel said “he was going out on top,” proud of his career, accomplishments and approach to politics.
He’s long prided himself on working with people of all political beliefs, while at the same time staying true to his. That philosophy guided his years as a legislator, he said.
“If the cause was worthy, I’m not going to get all shook up about what’s what. Either you’re with me or you’re not. No sweat off my rear end,” he said.
His accomplishments include changing the payout formula for communities hosting power plants. The formula used to be based on the value of the facility, which depreciates over time, and now is based on how much power the plant generates. …
Honadel also successfully pushed for a deregulation of the telecommunications industry and the Drexel Interchange, which opened late last year. In fact, the apples shown on the Drexel Avenue overpass are a tribute to the apple orchards, including the Honadel’s, that once graced the area.
One of his most controversial causes was the mining legislation that passed last year. Honadel was a chief sponsor and advocate of the bill.
Several groups and lobbyists approached Honadel, with his industrial background, about sponsoring a bill that would loosen regulations and overhaul the state’s mining laws.
Supporters said the bill would help create a mine in northern Wisconsin, and Honadel also believed it would help southeastern Wisconsin companies like Caterpillar.
“I said, ‘Yes, I want to be your guy. I’ll take this on,'” Honadel said.
Then there were the Capitol protests of 2011, when thousands descended on Madison rallying against widespread changes to collective bargaining for public employees.
Honadel views that as an ugly period for the Legislature, with protestors taking over the Capitol and Democratic state senators making a high-profile trip to Illinois.
“I think the Legislature lost some dignity,” Honadel said. “I hope respect and dignity comes back, and I think it has.”
What do you think of Honadel’s record? Post your comments below!
Filed under South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Update: And, now, a fourth …
Three Republicans have stepped up so far …
An Oak Creek alderman, a school choice champion and tea party leader.
Here is the Oak Creek Patch story on Jessie Rodriguez and Larry Gamble. And here is the story on Ken Gehl.
I’ll keep you posted … and post your comments below!
Filed under 2012 Elections, Oak Creek, Politics, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Now we just need some candidates …
Here is the Oak Creek Patch story. The special election in the race to replace South Milwaukee Republican Mark Honadel for his 21st Assembly District seat is set for Nov. 19, with any primary being held on Oct. 22.
Also, check out the press release and executive order. Nomination papers are due Sept. 24.
Filed under 2013 Elections, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Mark Honadel has yet to officially step down from his Assembly seat, but the search for candidates is in full swing.
The Wisconsin State Journal and Oak Creek Patch have stories, including this information …
But Jessie Rodriguez, who is making plans to run for an Assembly seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, could represent a significant step forward in the state GOP’s attempts to diversify.
Rodriguez is an outreach coordinator for Hispanics for School Choice, a non-profit advocacy group that pushes for the expansion of private voucher schools. It has close links to several Republicans, such as former Department of Administration Secretary Jim Klauser, the group’s advisory chairman. The group is also tight with socially conservative Christian groups, as illustrated by the motto on the group’s website: “Faith, Family, Freedom.”
Rodriguez did not respond to emails seeking comment. So far, she appears to have registered a campaign website but the content, if any exists, is still not publicly accessible. She has a Facebook campaign page up which includes a short statement declaring her support for local government and school accountability.
The district, which includes South Milwaukee and Oak Creek, leans Republican but is competitive. Mitt Romney edged out President Obama in the district last year, 51-49. But in a low-turnout special election, the Republican advantage is typically greater, meaning Democrats have an uphill battle.
The district is only seven percent Hispanic but in a swing district, that bloc of voters is too sizable to ignore.
Joel Gratz, executive director of the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, says Democrats expect to have an announced candidate next week and hope to avoid a primary.
“It’s a very winnable seat so finding the best candidate and getting them a quick, strong start will be important to winning it,” he says.
Filed under 2013 Elections, State Lawmakers
Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi won’t run after all for the Assembly seat Mark Honadel plans to vacate next month.
Oak Creek Patch has the story. From it:
Scaffidi told Patch earlier this week he wanted to take on both the roles of mayor and state representative. His remarks came shortly after state Rep. Mark Honadel announced he would resign the 21st Assembly seat in mid-September.But after a few days of consideration, he said Friday it became apparent that wouldn’t be possible.
“The residents of Oak Creek elected me to represent their city, so I feel it is important to continue to serve as mayor and focus my efforts on the considerable opportunities that lie ahead of us,” Scaffidi said.
Those “opportunities” include the massive Drexel Town Square project, which will feature a “new downtown” for Oak Creek, as well as a new business park on Oakwood Road and a redevelopment of the city’s lakefront.
“Oak Creek is poised to take a leadership role in southeastern Wisconsin in new business development and job creation,” Scaffidi said. “I’m honored and privileged to be a part of that story, and will continue to do whatever I can to make that a reality.”
So, what’s next? Who would you like to see run?
Post your comments below!
Filed under Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Media reports are filling in some of the blanks around South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel’s decision to step down early from his fifth term in office.
Check out reports from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Oak Creek Patch. Patch is also reporting Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi will run in a special election as a Republican …
Scaffidi, who will run as a Republican, said he would continue to serve as Oak Creek mayor if elected. His term expires in April 2015.
“I have no intention of leaving Oak Creek,” Scaffidi said. “I will do both jobs if I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity to serve.”
And there is this from the Journal Sentinel:
Honadel, a former metal fabricator and welding instructor, said in an interview that he had one job opportunity lined up but would consider others and announce the final decision next month.
His last day will be sometime in mid-September, Honadel said. He said he expected a Republican primary for his seat as well as a general election contest but said he wasn’t sure yet who the potential candidates might be.
Gov. Scott Walker spokesman Tom Evenson said the governor would call a special election soon.
“By law, the formal date of vacancy must come first,” Evenson said.
Filed under Oak Creek, South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
South Milwaukee’s Mark Honadel is stepping down after 10 years in the Assembly. He made the announcement this afternoon.
Here is the press release. His statement:
“Today I am announcing my resignation from the Wisconsin State Assembly. I am proud to have represented the 21st Assembly District for ten years. I will be stepping down in mid-September to pursue an opportunity in the private sector.
It has been an extreme honor and pleasure to serve my constituents as their voice in Madison. On their behalf I helped enact significant reforms that balanced the state budget without raising taxes, held the line on property taxes, and created a state surplus.
I am pleased to have worked hard on many other meaningful bills that have benefited our state’s economy and way of life for the people of Wisconsin. Most recently, The Mining for Jobs Act passed earlier this year will allow responsible and safe use of our natural resources and create thousands of good-paying jobs around our state.
I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle throughout my six sessions in the Assembly. I will always treasure my time serving with them to work on the pressing issues facing our state.
Finally, I want to thank my family, friends, and neighbors in the 21st Assembly District for their constant trust and support. Serving my state in this way has truly been a unique and special opportunity.”
I’ll post more on this soon. In the meantime, post your comments below!
Filed under South Milwaukee, State Lawmakers
Read South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel’s recent opinion piece in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and post your comments below!
As to me, I at least agree with this line: “Americans should keep the door open to all forms of energy, so we can be the most competitive, strongest, most free nation in the world.”
Yes, coal should be part of that, a big part for the time being. But I’m not nearly as all-in with coal as Honadel is, certainly not for “many generations to come,” as he puts it. What say you?
Filed under State Lawmakers
Check out these South Shore headlines …
Filed under Cudahy, Headlines, Oak Creek, South Milwaukee
South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel is at the center of the first big debate in the new legislature — the effort to pass a new mining bill.
Honadel is one of four authors of the Assembly bill. Check out the press release here. From it:
“Not only will this provide family-supporting jobs in northern Wisconsin, but it will have a direct impact on businesses in the Milwaukee area such as Caterpillar and Joy Global,” Rep. Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) said.
Of course, not everyone agrees with Honadel, who is also quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Associated Press stories. South Shore state Sen. Chris Larson is among those concerned with the proposed bill. His quote in this story:
“They have the votes to do whatever it is that they want,” added Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee. “But if they go in another partisan direction, if they continue down the wrong path that they did the last two years, it’s going to show that we’re not going to have jobs, we’re going to continue to be divided and the people of Wisconsin are going to be frustrated.”
Of course, I’d like to know what you think about the mining bill. Post you comments below.
Me? I’m concerned that it bends too much toward mining companies. The concerns I raised last summer are still valid, and this line in today’s Journal Sentinel story really concerns me: “The bill would also allow for the filling in of a lake bed in some circumstances and allows for the destruction of wetlands, if the loss is made up elsewhere in ceded territories of northern Wisconsin.”
Really? That strikes me as a bridge too far. I’m no tree hugger, but I hope any mining bill maintains sensible environmental protections. Provisions like that don’t strike me as sensible.
Filed under State Lawmakers
Rep. Mark Honadel has been named chairman of the Assembly Committee on Energy and Utilities for the second straight session.
See the press release and Oak Creek Patch coverage.
And check out these South Shore headlines …
And Oak Creek Patch has an item on Saturday’s Holiday Stroll at Oak Creek’s Market Place Village. Stop there after you go to the South Milwaukee Christmas Market.
Filed under Headlines
Check out the story in Oak Creek Patch, which had an interview with Rep. Honadel today. From it:
The 56-year-old welder and businessman said he looked at election results and found that, particularly in South Milwaukee, many people voted for both him and President Barack Obama.
He took those crossover votes as a tribute to his commitment to set politics aside and provide constituents good service.
“I’m a firm believer that if you don’t get caught up in all the fluff and politics, and you just do the job well, people will continue to reward you,” he said.
Honadel said mining legislation will be at the top of his agenda when the next session starts in January. He was a co-author of mining legislation proposed last session that was ultimately rejected. While opponents have voiced environmental and oversight concerns, a vibrant mining industry is important to help create jobs at local companies like Caterpillar, Honadel said.
Filed under 2012 Elections
South Shore State Rep. Mark Honadel is returning to Madison for a fifth full term.
Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) easily defeated Democratic challenger William Kurtz on Tuesday. With 80% of the votes counted, Honadel had 16,098 votes, or 60%, to Kurtz’s 10,542 votes, or 40%, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Honadel was first elected to the Assembly in a special election in 2003 and has been re-elected since 2004.
Filed under 2012 Elections
Oak Creek Patch has a story previewing the race for the 21st Assembly District, which includes all of South Milwaukee and Oak Creek and a small part of Franklin.
See it here … and be sure to vote in my poll.
Mark Honadel or Bill Kurtz?
Filed under 2012 Elections
South Milwaukee Blog 