Here & Now

Race for Governor: Paul Soglin

Frederica Freyberg:

A closer look now at the governor’s race in our next in a series of interviews with democrats running in the primary. Tonight we speak to Madison Mayor Paul Soglin. Soglin has served as mayor of Madison for 20 years since his first term in 1973. He’s an attorney and a former Madison Common Council member. He had an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. Paul Soglin joins us now. Thanks for being here.

Paul Soglin:

Thanks for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:

So why can you beat Scott Walker over the other candidates running in this primary?

Paul Soglin:

Im not quite sure what the situation is with the other candidates, but we did a poll. In fact, it was a requirement, so to speak when I asked Sarah what she thought of my running. She said you can only run if you win. So we did a poll to see how I would do head to head against Scott Walker. There’s been some other polls. But the point is you have to create the circumstances that are going to exist as you approach election day. And that means you have to know what we refer to as the negatives of the candidate. Generic candidate doesn’t have negatives because nobody knows who that person is. So we kind of forecasted what we thought they’d say about me. Four things: my age, the fact that I was very active in demonstrations against the war in Vietnam as a student at the university. That Im “a tax and spend liberal,” and that I gave the key to the city of Madison to Fidel Castro. Well, turns out my numbers in terms of defeating Walker actually get better when people hear that. Probably it’s a generational thing. But in any case, Im the only candidate with a really robust poll that shows on the issues that Ill defeat Scott Walker.

Frederica Freyberg:

What do you say to voters who might think you’re not trying hard enough because you’re doing this what you call “supper club campaign” where you mostly just talk with people as you’re out and about?

Paul Soglin:

Well, Im at a considerable disadvantage compared to most of the rest of the candidates. I’ve got a job that consumes between 40 and 60 hours a week. And so as much as I want to defeat Scott Walker and I intend to, Ive got those responsibilities. I just this morning turned down a campaign appearance because I have a city council meeting that night.

Frederica Freyberg:

Let’s run through the issues. On the economy, you say that affordable housing is first. Why?

Paul Soglin:

Well, as we’ve known from the studies, whether you have a job, access to health care, all the other things that are essential for a robust family, if there is no affordable housing, the efforts in these other areas generally fail. And so several states, Arizona, Utah, Minnesota, they have robust housing programs. We’re talking about folks with very little income to working families where you may have two members of the household bringing in $30,000 a year. But if you’re spending 35%, 40% of your income on housing, you’re not going to be able to take care of food. You’re not going to be able to get internet services so the kids can do their homework. Housing is the first and most essential thing for a robust family, so that everyone can then participate in the job creation and all the other economic opportunities.

Frederica Freyberg:

On Act 10 you say “we need to restore full collective bargaining rights for public and private employers.” How do you try to do that?

Paul Soglin:

Well, key is to get the legislature to adopt a new bill which recognizes the role of workers in our state historically, making Wisconsin a place with higher incomes, safer working conditions, all the things that raise the level, the standard of living, whether you’re in organized — an organized bargaining unit or not.

Frederica Freyberg:

Now, on education you call for increasing the income tax for high-income earners and possibly the sales tax to fund schools. What do you think the appetite is for tax hikes?

Paul Soglin:

Well, from the work we’ve done, from the feedback Im getting from the people of this state, they recognize and they are prepared to pay higher taxes for better education. And let’s point out that the question of good schools goes beyond the classroom. We’re talking here about — well, there was a New York Times article this past week. Is Arena going to survive? What happens when you don’t have a school? Speaking with people who are in their 60s, they’re saying, you know, my son or daughter have no intention of raising my grandchild in our community. We have record numbers of young Wisconsinites who are leaving our towns and villages. Go and look at the county population statistics for virtually every county in the state. Normally in the United States, you should have the same number of people in the 50 age group as in the 20s. In some Wisconsin counties you don’t even have half as many 20 year olds as 50 year olds.

Frederica Freyberg:

And you believe that clearly, community schools and schools are essential to maintaining the population. Briefly, with less than a minute left, what would be your response to health care policy in Wisconsin?

Paul Soglin:

Well, we’ve got to undo so much of what Scott Walker has done in terms of rejecting federal programs. We have to recognize the importance of a robust Medicaid program, especially in light of nutrition challenges, behavioral health, substance abuse. Just now some politicians are catching on to the opioid crisis.

Frederica Freyberg:

So you would go for the expanded Medicaid?

Paul Soglin:

Certainly for expanded Medicaid.

Frederica Freyberg:

Paul Soglin, thanks very much.

Paul Soglin:

Thank you.