ANNOUNCER:

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF OUR “HERE AND NOW” 2016 WISCONSIN VOTE ELECTION COVERAGE. FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

GOOD EVENING. I’M ZAC SCHULTZ SITTING IN FOR FREDERICA FREYBERG. THIS WEEK ON “HERE AND NOW,” THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD HAS GONE AWAY AND WITH IT GOES THE SHORT TIME WITH NONPARTISAN OVERSIGHT OF OUR POLITICAL PROCESS. PLUS URBAN AGRICULTURE, A LOOK AT THE NEW PUSH FOR THE EAT LOCAL MOVEMENT. WE’LL TAKE AN IN-DEPTH LOOK OF WHAT’S BECOME OF THE FORMER BADGER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT. BUT FIRST, WISCONSIN’S NONPARTISAN GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD IS NO MORE. THE AGENCY THAT OVERSAW ELECTIONS AND ETHICS ISSUES IN THE STATE CEASED TO EXIST AS OF WEDNESDAY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD WAS CREATED IN 2008, WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. LAWMAKERS WANTED A NONPARTISAN GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG IN THE WAKE OF THE CAUCUS SCANDAL WHICH RESULTED IN CRIMINAL CONVICTION FOR LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH PARTIES. THE GAB WAS RUN BY KEVIN KENNEDY, BUT ALL DECISIONS WERE VOTED ON BY A BOARD OF RETIRED JUDGES APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. IN ITS EIGHT YEARS OF EXISTENCE, THE GAB OVERSAW A NUMBER OF CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE RECALL ELECTIONS FOR 13 STATE SENATORS AND GOVERNOR WALKER. IT AUTHORIZED A JOHN DOE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS BY GOVERNOR WALKER. ULTIMATELY, REPUBLICANS AT THE CAPITOL ARGUED THE GAB HAD OVERSTEPPED ITS BOUNDS AND THEY VOTED TO GO BACK TO THE OLD MODEL OF SEPARATE ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSIONS, WITH PARTISAN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. WE ARE JOINED BY THE FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GAB, KEVIN KENNEDY, WHO AFTER 37 YEARS IN CHARGE OF WISCONSIN ELECTIONS HAS DECIDED TO RETIRE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE ONE LAST TIME.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

YOU’RE WELCOME.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

WE DID SOME RESEARCH. THIS IS AT LEAST YOUR 29TH TIME ON WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION, BUT THAT’S ONLY GOING BACK TO 1994, SO WE’RE GUESSING IT’S A LOT MORE. AND SPEAKING OF 1994, WE’D LIKE YOU TO WATCH A CLIP AND SEE IF YOU RECOGNIZE THIS PERSON.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

OKAY.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

132 EXPERTS ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND 535 IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND SO THEY KNOW IT WORKS FOR THEM.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

GOOD-LOOKING GUY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

DO YOU STILL HAVE THAT TIE?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

I DIDN’T CHECK THE TIE THAT CLOSELY. I’LL CHECK IT.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

IN THAT CLIP YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT 132 EXPERTS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE JOKING ABOUT THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATORS. BUT IS THAT STILL THE CASE 22 YEARS LATER, EVERYONE’S AN EXPERT?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

EVERYONE THINKS THEY ARE. AND THEY ARE. THEY’VE ALL HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING THROUGH AN ELECTION, SO THEY KNOW IT INTIMATELY FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE GAB ONLY LASTED FOR EIGHT YEARS. EVEN COMPARED TO YOUR TIME IN OFFICE THAT’S NOT A REAL LONG TIME. BUT WHAT WILL THE ENDURING LEGACY OF THE GAB BE IN YOUR MIND?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

I THINK IT WILL BE THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO NAVIGATE THE TROUBLES OF 2011 AND 2012. 16 RECALL ATTEMPTS, NINE OF WHICH WENT TO AN ELECTION. A STATEWIDE RECOUNT, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALL OF THE ACTIVITY AROUND ACT 10, WITH 100,000 PEOPLE ON THE GROUNDS, FOLLOWED RIGHT AWAY WITH A RAMPING UP FOR THE FIRST STATEWIDE RECALL IN STATE HISTORY. I THINK I SAID RECOUNTS BEFORE. I MEANT RECALLS. YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A VERY TUMULTUOUS, TURBULENT TIME, AND I DON’T KNOW THAT THERE’S A BETTER MEASURE OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AGENCY AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IN A FAIR MANNER. OBVIOUSLY, NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY WITH SOME OF OUR DECISIONS. EVERY COURT DECISION, 11 TIMES WE WERE SUED DURING THAT PERIOD, WERE ALL UPHELD. BUT MOSTLY PEOPLE CAME UP TO ME DURING THAT PROCESS ON THE STREET AND THEY’D SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME, BUT YOU JUST SEEM SO CALM. AND PEOPLE ACCEPTED THE OUTCOME OF THE WAY THINGS WENT. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A MELTDOWN OF PORTIONS WE’VE SEEN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. WE WERE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT EXEMPLARY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

SO ULTIMATELY WHY DID REPUBLICANS VOTE TO GET RID OF THE GAB?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

MY PERCEPTION IS IT WAS CONTROL. YOU HAVE AN INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG AGENCY TO ENSURE FAIR, INDEPENDENT ELECTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE LOBBYING AND ETHICS, AND WHAT FRUSTRATED — I THINK THE MAJOR THING THAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS THEY COULDN’T CONTROL THE OUTCOME. AND IF YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT’S DONE IN THE LEGISLATURE FROM THE REPUBLICANS, IT’S ALL ABOUT LEGISLATIVE CONTROL. AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT WAS DRIVING THIS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

HOW MUCH WILL IT BE DIFFERENT UNDER THE NEW ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSIONS?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

WELL, WE WON’T REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE UNTIL THEY’RE CONFRONTED WITH SOME CHALLENGING DECISIONS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE. FORTUNATELY, ALMOST ALL OF THE STAFF STAYS ON THE ELECTION SIDE. THAT BODES WELL FOR VERY HIGH-PROFILE ELECTION COMING UP THIS YEAR. THERE WILL BE NEW LEADERSHIP ON THE ETHICS SIDE BECAUSE BOTH JON BECKER AND I HAVE LEFT. AND THAT’S A LOT OF CONTACT WHERE PEOPLE WERE CALLING US UP ON A DAILY BASIS ASKING FOR SENSITIVE ADVICE. AND WHILE THE PROGRAM STAFF IS THERE AND THEY’RE JUST TOP-NOTCH, THINGS WILL RUN WELL. YOU WILL SEE ON THE TIMELY MANNER THE DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITY, CAMPAIGN FINANCE ACTIVITY THIS SUMMER. SO THE PUBLIC WON’T SEE MUCH UNTIL THERE IS A CONTROVERSIAL DECISION AND THEN WE’LL HAVE TO SEE HOW DO THE NEW COMMISSIONERS WORK.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

SPEAKING OF A CHALLENGE LIKE THAT, WOULD THIS ELECTION COMMISSION HAVE VOTED TO CERTIFY THE RECALL PETITIONS?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

I DON’T KNOW. I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE COME CLOSE TO A PARTISAN DEADLOCK IN THOSE CASES. THERE WERE STRONG COMPETING INTERESTS. THE DEMOCRATS WERE UNHAPPY THAT WE WEREN’T MOVING FAST ENOUGH. THE REPUBLICANS WERE UNHAPPY THAT WE EVEN CERTIFIED THE RESULTS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

SO WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED UNDER THESE COMMISSIONS AND THAT MODEL.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT I SUBMIT TO YOU THAT WE WERE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

YOUR STAFF SENT OVER SOME STATISTICS REGARDING YOUR TIME IN PUBLIC SERVICE, 365 ELECTIONS, 14,000 STATE AND FEDERAL CANDIDATES AND THEY COUNTED 158 MILLION VOTES CAST. WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT AS YOUR LEGACY IN YOUR TIME RUNNING THE STATE ELECTIONS?

KEVIN KENNEDY:

YOU KNOW, I THINK THE FACT THAT, ONE, BECAUSE I SERVED AT THE PLEASURE OF A CITIZEN BOARD AND I COULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED AT ANY TIME, THE FACT THAT I COULD SERVE FOR THAT LONG A PERIOD AUDITIONING FOR MY JOB EVERY DAY SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED WITH ME AND THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. SECONDLY, AGAIN, I COME BACK TO WE NEVER HAD A MELTDOWN IN ANY OF OUR ELECTIONS. EVERYTHING WENT VERY, VERY WELL. THERE WAS ALWAYS GLITCHES. WE ALWAYS LEARNED FROM SOMETHING. WE WERE RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY FOR OUR ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR POLLING PLACES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THE DATA WE COLLECT ON COSTS FOR ELECTIONS. WISCONSIN ALWAYS IS RANKED HIGH IN INDEPENDENCE PERFORMANCE, LOOKING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT FACTORS OF ELECTIONS. THERE’S JUST A LOT TO BE VERY PROUD OF.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE, KEVIN KENNEDY.

KEVIN KENNEDY:

THANK YOU.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE NEWLY-CREATED ETHICS AND ELECTIONS COMMISSIONS HELD MEETINGS THIS WEEK AND IN THE NEAR TERM THEY WILL OPERATE A LOT LIKE THE OLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD. WITH THE AUGUST PRIMARY AND NOVEMBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COMING UP SOON, THERE’S NO TIME FOR LEARNING ON THE JOB. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT TRANSITION IS DON MILLIS, A MEMBER OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

DON MILLIS:

MY PLEASURE.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

YOU WERE APPOINTED TO THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION BY REPUBLICAN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER SCOTT FITZGERALD. HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT LABEL IN TERMS OF HOW YOU DO YOUR JOB AND HOW THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES WHAT THE COMMISSION DOES?

DON MILLIS:

WELL, I DON’T THINK IT MATTERS WHAT PARTY APPOINTED ME. I THINK EVERY DECISION THAT WE’VE HAD THUS FAR WE’VE HAD SOME PRE-MEETINGS THAT WE’RE ALLOWED TO HAVE. EVERYTHING WE’VE DONE HAS BEEN UNANIMOUS. THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE AGREED. I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE SAME INTEREST IN HAVING FAIR AND FULL PARTICIPATION IN OUR ELECTIONS. I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS NOT SO MUCH THAT IT’S REPUBLICAN, BUT THAT IT’S PARTISAN INPUT OR PEOPLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH HOW ELECTIONS RUN. I THINK ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES OF THE FORMER ARRANGEMENT WAS THAT YOU HAD PEOPLE — YOU HAD STAFF PEOPLE AND FOLKS THAT WEREN’T REALLY INVOLVED IN ELECTIONS. I THINK ONE OF THE STRENGTHS OF THE NEW SETUP IS YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE, FOUR OF US, ACTUALLY ALL SIX OF US, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED EITHER PARTICIPATING IN ELECTIONS OR ACTUALLY RUNNING THEM, LIKE THE TWO CLERK MEMBERS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

NOW, DO YOU AGREE WITH THE DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE OLD GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD?

DON MILLIS:

I THINK THIS WILL BE A BETTER SITUATION, IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. ONE IS I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE THE ELECTIONS FUNCTION FROM THE ETHICS AND CAMPAIGN FINANCE. I THINK UNDER BOTH THE OLD ELECTIONS BOARD AND UNDER THE GAB, I THINK IT’S POSSIBLE THAT THE EMPHASIS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO POLLING PLACES AND HAVE BETTER PARTICIPATION, I THINK THEY GOT LOST AND I THINK UNDER THE NEW SETUP IT WILL BE EASIER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF ACTUAL ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ALSO MAKING EARLY VOTING MORE UNIFORM AND ACCESSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN SOME RURAL AREAS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

NOW, KEVIN KENNEDY HAS SAID THE TRUE TEST WILL COME WHEN THE FIRST BIG ISSUE COMES BEFORE THE COMMISSION. DO YOU THINK IF THIS COMMISSION HAD BEEN HERE DURING THE RECALL TIME, WOULD PARTISAN MEMBERS HAVE VOTED TO CERTIFY THOSE RECALL PETITIONS?

DON MILLIS:

OH, I DON’T KNOW. IT’S REALLY HARD FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WOULD OCCUR. I THINK THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW THE LAW. WHEN I WAS ON THE ELECTIONS BOARD, THERE WERE CERTAINLY TIMES IN WHICH WE HAD SITUATIONS WHERE I’M SURE PEOPLE APPOINTING ME WOULD HAVE WANTED A DIFFERENT RESULT. BUT WE’RE THERE TO ADMINISTER THE LAW. IF WE DON’T DO IT PROPERLY, A COURT WILL TELL US OTHERWISE. SO I DON’T KNOW IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE AT ALL.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD IS GONE BECAUSE OF THE JOHN DOE INVESTIGATION AND SOME OF THE ETHICS CONCERNS RATHER THAN HOW THEY ADMINISTERED ELECTIONS?

DON MILLIS:

I THINK IT’S PROBABLY A COUPLE OF THINGS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASN’T GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION IS NOT JUST IN THE JOHN DOE PROBE BUT IN GENERAL, THE GAB OPERATED IN SECRECY. I’M AN ATTORNEY. I REPRESENTED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEFORE THE OLD GAB, CANDIDATES, DONORS, POLITICIANS, PUBLIC, CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES. WE OPERATED IN SECRET. I HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE INVESTIGATED BY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THOSE RESOLVED, PAY FORFEITURES OR FINES AND NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT. NOW, THAT WAS GREAT FOR ME AND MY CLIENTS. I DON’T THINK IT WAS GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC. SO I’M HOPING THAT THE NEW SYSTEM, I THINK THE ETHICS COMMISSION WILL BE ABLE TO OPERATE A LITTLE BIT MORE TRANSPARENTLY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

ONE OF THE FIRST ACTIONS WAS TO HIRE MIKE HAAS A FORMER GAB EMPLOYEE AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS NEW COMMISSION AND THERE’S BEEN SOME KICKBACK ALREADY FROM REPUBLICANS SAYING HEY, THE NEW BOSS LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE OLD BOSS.

DON MILLIS:

I’VE WORKED A LITTLE BIT WITH MIKE WHEN HE WAS ON THE GAB. STEVE KING, ANOTHER REPUBLICAN APPOINTEE, WORKED WITH HIM YEARS AGO PRIOR TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS. I THINK MIKE DID RUN AS A DEMOCRAT FOR STATE OFFICE A FEW TIMES. I THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED KNOWS HE’S A STRAIGHT SHOOTER. I PERSONALLY TALKED WITH SEVERAL CLERKS AROUND THE STATE. THEY THINK MIKE’S A STRAIGHT SHOOTER AND A COMPETENT FELLOW. I SUPPOSE NOT EVERYONE’S HAPPY BUT I DON’T THINK WE’RE GOING TO PLEASE EVERYONE. MIKE WILL BE UP FOR SENATE CONFIRMATION AFTER THE 1ST OF THE YEAR, AFTER THE ELECTION. SO WE’LL FIND OUT. IF THE ELECTION GOES WELL AND THINGS GO SMOOTHLY AND WE DON’T HAVE THE MODERN EQUIVALENT OF HANGING CHADS IN WISCONSIN, I THINK THAT HE’LL PROBABLY BE CONFIRMED. BUT TIME WILL TELL.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

WE’VE GOT LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT. YOU MADE YOUR FIRST BIG DECISION, AND THAT’S HOW TO SPEND A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS ON PROMOTING VOTER ID THIS FALL. WERE YOU HAPPY WITH HOW THE PROCESS WENT IN THAT FIRST MEETING?

DON MILLIS:

I THINK IT WENT WELL. I HAD A LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ON BROADCAST ADS. I THINK WE WANT TO TARGET THE MONEY TOWARDS THOSE POPULATION, THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING HOW TO GET A VOTER ID OR TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT. I THINK WE NEED TO TARGET FOLKS. WE KNOW SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY. THAT’S WHERE WE WANT TO SPEND OUR MONEY. I’M CONFIDENT THE STAFF AND THE CONSULTANT THAT WE HIRED WILL DO A GOOD JOB.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

DON MILLIS:

YOU’RE WELCOME.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THIS WEEK THE U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTED A WISCONSIN APPEAL SEEKING TO REINSTATE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION CLINICS. THE SUPREME COURT RULED A LAW REQUIRING DOCTORS WHO PERFORM ABORTIONS TO ALSO HAVE ADMITTING PRIVILEGES AT NEARBY HOSPITALS, ARE MEDICALLY UNNECESSARY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY LIMIT A WOMAN’S RIGHT TO AN ABORTION. WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL BRAD SCHIMEL SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION IN PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF WISCONSIN V. SCHIMEL IS QUOTE NOT SURPRISING GIVEN THE COURT’S DECISION EARLIER IN THE WEEK WITH A SIMILAR TEXAS ABORTION LAW CASE. IN A STATEMENT FROM TANYA ATKINSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD ADVOCATES OF WISCONSIN, SHE SAID QUOTE, THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND OUR STATE HAVE SAID ALL ALONG THAT THIS MEASURE DID NOTHING TO ENHANCE PATIENT SAFETY. RATHER IT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO PUT OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF WOMEN SEEKING SAFE, LEGAL ABORTION CARE. WE ARE PLEASED THE SUPREME COURT RECOGNIZED THE TRUE INTENTION BEHIND THIS LAW.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

IN OTHER NEWS THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE IS GETTING INTO THE SCIENCE OF FARM TO TABLE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT. WITH THE BURGEONING INTEREST IN EATING LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD, EACH YEAR NEW FOODS ARE APPEARING AT FARMERS MARKETS ACROSS THE STATE. REPORTER ANDY SOTH HAS THE STORY.

ANDY SOTH:

IN A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN IN MADISON, A UW AG SCHOOL PROJECT IS HOLDING A TASTE TEST OF LOCAL PRODUCE ORGANIZED BY JULIE DAWSON.

JULIE DAWSON:

I DECIDED I WANTED TO BE A FARMER WHEN I WAS ABOUT EIGHT. THIS IS AS CLOSE AS I’VE GOTTEN.

ANDY SOTH:

DAWSON IS NOT A FRAMER. SHE’S AN AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS. SHE’S INTRODUCING SOME INFLUENTIAL LOCAL CHEFS TO NEW WISCONSIN-GROWN PLANT VARIETIES. AND THEIR EXPERTISE IN FLAVOR PERCEPTION HELPS DAWSON’S RESEARCH.

JULIE DAWSON:

FLAVOR IS A VERY COMPLEX TRAIT. IT’S OBVIOUSLY SUBJECTIVE BECAUSE IT’S SOMETHING EVERY PERSON EXPERIENCES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

ANDY SOTH:

THE CHEFS ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO FEATURING LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE. THE PROJECT HELPS EXPAND THEIR REPERTOIRE.

DANIEL BANANNO:

BY TASTING DIFFERENT TYPE OF THESE TOMATOES OR PEPPERS, JULIE IS HELPING ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT TOMATOES AND VEGETABLES IN GENERAL. WHATEVER I’M LOOKING FOR FOR A DISH, I CAN GET THAT PERFECT TOMATO TO MATCH THAT DISH.

JULIE DAWSON:

THE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS REALLY TO EXPERIMENT WITH INTERESTING VEGETABLES THAT CAN BE GROWN FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LOCAL FOOD MARKETS IN WISCONSIN.

ANDY SOTH:

THE PRODUCE IS GROWN AT A UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AG RESEARCH STATION.

GROWER:

THIS IS BRANDYWINE OVER HERE.

ANDY SOTH:

DAWSON’S TEAM IS EXPERIMENTALLY BREEDING A VARIETY OF CROP SPECIES UNDER A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT GROWING CONDITIONS.

KITT HEALY:

BASICALLY WE’RE DOING A COMPARATIVE VARIETY TRIAL OF 38 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATOES.

JULIE DAWSON:

I REALLY LIKE THE GENETICS AND THE STATISTICS TOO, BUT THE UNDERLYING MOTIVATION IS MORE BECAUSE I WANT TO SEE THESE FARMERS SUCCEED.

ANDY SOTH:

THE FARMERS DAWSON IS TALKING ABOUT ARE ON SMALL-SCALE FARMS SELLING LOCALLY TO RESTAURANTS, GROCERIES AND CONSUMERS, A MODEL DAWSON SAYS HAS GREAT BENEFITS.

JULIE DAWSON:

IF YOU’RE GETTING VEGETABLES FROM A LOCAL FARMER, OFTEN THOSE HAVE THE BEST FLAVOR AND SO YOU’LL WANT TO EAT MORE. THAT IN ITSELF WILL IMPROVE PEOPLE’S HEALTH.

ANDY SOTH:

BREEDING THOSE VEGETABLES TO HAVE THE BEST FLAVOR IS A BIG PART OF WHAT DAWSON AND HER TEAM DO. BY CROSS-BREEDING DIFFERENT PLANTS WITH DIFFERENT GENETICS, THE RESEARCHERS MAY FIND FAVORABLE TRAITS. TRAITS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE DESIRABLE IN LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURE.

JULIE DAWSON:

FOR SOME OF THE LARGER GROWING REGIONS THAT SHIP ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE PRIMARY TRAITS ARE YIELDS, SHELF LIFE, SHIPPING, THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO GET THE VEGETABLE FROM THE FIELD TO SOMEBODY’S TABLE WHEN THAT’S 4,000 MILES APART.

ANDY SOTH:

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH HELPED DEVELOP THOSE COMMODITY CROPS. DAWSON’S PROGRAM IS WISCONSIN’S FIRST TO DEVELOP CROPS SPECIFICALLY FOR A LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM.

JULIE DAWSON:

LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS AND FARMS THAT ARE GROWING FOR THE LOCAL MARKET CAN MANAGE FOR THE BEST FLAVOR, CHOOSE VARIETIES THAT HAVE THE BEST FLAVOR AND GET IT TO YOUR TABLE WITHIN HOURS OR A FEW DAYS SO THAT THAT FLAVOR IS STILL THERE.

ANDY SOTH:

FINDING FLAVORS THE PUBLIC LIKES GOES BEYOND CROSS-BREEDING AND EXPERT TESTING. THE DAWSON TEAM GETS A VARIETY OF PUBLIC INPUT AS WELL AT EVENTS LIKE FIESTA HISPANA.

MAN:

HEY, I LOVE IT.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE EFFORT IS NOT JUST ABOUT GROWING FOOD, BUT GROWING COMMUNITY AROUND FOOD THAT’S HEALTHY AS WELL AS TASTY.

DANIEL BANANNO:

SO SHE’S GATHERED ALL THE INFORMATION FROM THE CHEFS AND THE COMMUNITY AND GOING TO THE FARMERS AND GIVING THEM THE BOOK, BASICALLY, THE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO GROW WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

JULIE DAWSON:

AND SO PEOPLE ARE REALLY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING AND ALSO THEY’RE GLAD THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS WORKING ON THIS KIND OF PROJECT BECAUSE IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE FOR EVERYBODY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

IT MIGHT SEEM SURPRISING TO SOME THAT AGRICULTURE ALSO PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE ON THE LAND THAT WAS ONCE THE LARGEST MILITARY PROPELLANT MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN THE WORLD. WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS BEEN COVERING THE BREAKUP OF THE BADGER ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE. THIS WEEK, WE HAVE CONTINUING COVERAGE AS PRODUCER JOEL WALDINGER AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THIS PROPERTY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE FORMER BADGER AMMUNITION PLANT IS GOING THROUGH A RENAISSANCE. IT WAS NEARLY 1500 ARMY BUILDINGS LINKED BY A NETWORK OF PIPES. THE U.S. ARMY SEIZED THE PROPERTY IN THE 1940s TO PREPARE FOR WORLD WAR II. MORE THAN 100 FARM FAMILIES WERE FORCED OFF THEIR LAND. AT ITS PEAK, THE ARMY EMPLOYED 13,000 PEOPLE HERE. FRANK ANSTETT BEGAN TO WORK HERE WHEN THE PLANT MOBILIZED FOR THE VIETNAM WAR.

FRANK ANSTETT:

IT WAS 24/7. YOU’D COME OVER THE HILL AT NIGHT, IT WAS LIT UP. WE WERE MANUFACTURING ROCKET AND SINGLE BASE AND BALL POWDER PROPELLANTS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

NEARLY 70 YEARS AFTER THE PLANT OPENED, DEMOLITION IS DONE UNDER A SPRAY OF WATER, INTENDED TO KEEP ANY EXPLOSIVE RESIDUE FROM DETONATING ON IMPACT. THERE WAS ALSO CONCERN ABOUT ASBESTOS AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS. THE FORMER ARMY LAND BETWEEN BARABOO AND SAUK CITY IS NOW MANAGED BY THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS: THE WISCONSIN DNR, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE HO-CHUNK NATION.

JON GREENDEER:

I NEVER REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE HISTORY OF THE BADGER LAND.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

JON GREENDEER IS THE FORMER HO-CHUNK PRESIDENT. DURING HIS TERM THE DECISION TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY WAS NOT EASY.

JON GREENDEER:

WE TAKE THIS PROPERTY AND PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES. TAKE ON THE LIABILITY AND INHERIT THIS CONTAMINATED PIECE OF PROPERTY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

WITH THE LONG HISTORY OF CONTAMINATION, THE HO-CHUNKS STILL HAVE CONCERNS.

JON GREENDEER:

I DON’T THINK I’M PUSHING THE ENVELOPE TOO MUCH TO SAY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT DONE FILLING IN THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. I DON’T THINK YOU GET TO WASH YOUR HANDS AND SAY YOU GOT YOUR LAND BACK AND WALK AWAY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE HO-CHUNK NATION IS STILL DEVELOPING FUTURE PLANS FOR THEIR 1500 ACRES.

JON GREENDEER:

THE FUTURE IS ABOUT CREATING A SUSTAINABLE PIECE OF PROPERTY FOR THE NATION, BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY, BOTH FINANCIALLY, CULTURAL. AND THAT MEANS MAKING SURE THAT WE COVER ALL ASPECTS. WE’RE DOING A LOT OF PRAIRIE RESTORATION AND MAYBE SOME LIGHT RECREATIONAL AREAS, VISITING HISTORY, INTERPRETATIVE CENTERS AND PERHAPS THE EVENTUAL REINTRODUCTION OF BISON ON THE PROPERTY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

ONE OF THE GROUPS THE HO-CHUNK WILL LOOK TO FOR HELP IS THE USDA, WHICH ALREADY HAS A LONG HISTORY ON THE PROPERTY.

MARK BOGGESS:

WE WORKED WITH THE HO-CHUNK NATION IN THE PAST, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HELP THEM RECLAIM SOME OF THE PROPERTY FOR NATIVE VEGETATION.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

MARK BOGGESS IS WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

MARK BOGGESS:

WE ARRIVED HERE IN THE EARLY 80s AS PART OF THE US DAIRY FORAGE RESEARCH CENTER. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 2200 ACRES.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

DESPITE CONTAMINATION IN OTHER AREAS, BOGGESS HAS LITTLE CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HIS OPERATIONS.

MARK BOGGESS:

WE DO A LOT OF VERY SYSTEMATIC SOIL TESTING AND MONITORING. THE ARMY STILL HAS ALL THE TEST WELLS. THEY’RE MONITORING WATER QUALITY. WE’VE BEEN ASSURED AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DUE DILIGENCE AND SOME VIGILANCE IN THAT AREA THAT THE ACRES THAT WE USE ARE CLEAN AND NOT CONTAMINATED. WE HAVE SEVERAL BUILDINGS LEFT THAT ARE IN PRETTY DRAMATIC STATE OF DECAY NOW. WE DEFINITELY HAVE A HIGH PRIORITY TO GET THEM REMOVED AND REMEDIATED. AND THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AS ALL THE OTHERS THAT PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT. THEY HAVE SOME ASBESTOS, ET CETERA.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE USDA ALSO HAS ITS OWN COMMITTEE FORMULATING A MASTER PLAN FOR THE PROPERTY.

MARK BOGGESS:

I SEE THIS PLACE EVOLVING FROM BEING ESSENTIALLY IGNORED AND JUST FARMED ON INTO A VERY DYNAMIC, INTERACTIVE PLACE WHERE SCIENTISTS AND THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND INTERFACE AND LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGIES BEING APPLIED, IMPROVEMENTS IN WATER QUALITY, IMPROVEMENTS IN SOIL ECOLOGY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THE PLAN IS THE SAUK PRAIRIE RECREATION AREA. IT’S UNIQUE BECAUSE THIS PROPERTY DOES ADJACENT DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

DEVIL’S LAKE IS ONE OF WISCONSIN’S MOST POPULAR STATE PARKS. AND IT WILL SOON CONNECT TO THE SPRALWING SAUK PRAIRIE RECREATION AREA THAT ENCOMPASSES MORE THAN 3300 ACRES.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THE HIKING AND HUNTING AND TRAPPING AND SOME FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE AREAS THAT ARE ALONG THE RIVER. WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME HORSE TRAILS, BIKE TRAILS, SNOWMOBILING, SNOWSHOEING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING, WILDLIFE VIEWING.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE DNR ALSO WANTS TO UTILIZE THIS EXISTING RAILROAD BED.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THAT CORRIDOR WILL BE UTILIZED MUCH LIKE A LOT OF OUR TRAILS IN WISCONSIN THAT WE’VE HAD CONVERTED FROM ABANDONED RAILROAD TRACKS TO TRAILS. WE’RE HOPING THAT THAT CAN CONNECT THE CITY OF SAUK CITY ALL THE WAY TO DEVIL’S LAKE.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

A SINGLE HELICOPTER FLY OVER BY THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD FOR TRAINING IS ABOUT THE ONLY TRACE OF THE MILITARY YOU’LL FIND HERE TODAY. BUT THE ARMY STILL PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE. WHILE METAL FROM THE ORIGINAL DEMOLITION COULD BE RECYCLED, THE WOOD CHIPS AND CRUSHED CONCRETE FROM 83 MILES OF PAVED ROADS WENT TO THIS LANDFILL ON SITE.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THE ARMY WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN AND MONITOR THE LANDFILL AND ALSO OTHER LANDFILLS WITHIN THE AREA. ALSO, MONITORING THE GROUNDWATER, AS YOU’LL SEE THROUGHOUT THE PROPERTY. THERE ARE MONITORING WELLS THAT THEY ARE CHECKING ON AND MAINTAINING.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE DNR SAYS THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF USING THIS FORMER HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

WE DO TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY FOR THE PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES WHO ARE WORKING ON THE PROPERTY. THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING MAINTAINED AS SAFE FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

WHILE THE PLANNING CONTINUES FOR THE FUTURE, THE PROPERTY IS ALREADY IN USE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SINCE 2014.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THERE IS ACTUALLY PUBLIC OUT HERE RIGHT NOW AND THAT’S GOOD TO SEE.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE NEW PUBLIC ACCESS IS ALSO SHEDDING LIGHT ON AN OFTEN-FORGOTTEN PIECE OF HISTORY.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THERE’S THREE CEMETERIES WITHIN THE PROPERTY.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

DURING THE TIME THE ARMY CONTROLLED THIS AREA, FAMILIES WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE GRAVES OF LOVED ONES. NOW THAT’S CHANGING.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

THESE CEMETERIES GO BACK CERTAINLY BEFORE THE ARMY STARTED THE AMMUNITION PLANT.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

THE DNR IS ALSO LOOKING TO PARTNER WITH ITS NEIGHBORS, THE USDA AND THE HO-CHUNK NATION.

PAUL ZAJACKOWSKI:

IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER ON VEGETATIVE MANAGEMENT. WE’RE HOPING TO DO THAT, MAYBE SHARING SOME TYPES OF FACILITIES. IT’S VERY EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THIS CAN BE IN THE FUTURE AND THE POTENTIAL THAT IT HAS.

ZAC SCHULTZ:

RIGHT NOW THE DNR IS IN THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PROPOSED SAUK PRAIRIE RECREATION AREA. LATER THIS YEAR, THE NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD IS EXPECTED TO FINALIZE THE MASTER PLAN. BEFORE WE GO THIS WEEK WE WANT TO SALUTE A COLLEAGUE OF OURS. VIDEOGRAPHER WENDY WOODARD IS RETIRING AFTER 32 PLUS YEARS AT WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION. WENDY’S VIDEOGRAPHY WORK ON “HERE AND NOW” AND OTHER WPT PROGRAMS LIKE “WEEKEND,” “IN WISCONSIN” AND “WISCONSIN LIFE” HAVE HELPED TELL THE STORIES ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS OF WISCONSIN AND BEYOND. WE WANT TO THANK WENDY FOR HER HARD WORK AND ENTHUSIASM DURING THE LAST THREE DECADES. ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT AND GOOD LUCK, WENDY. WELL, THAT IS OUR PROGRAM. FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEKEND. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. THANKS.

ANNOUNCER:

FUNDING FOR “HERE AND NOW” IS PROVIDED, IN PART, BY FRIENDS OF WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON “HERE AND NOW’S” 2016 ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO wisconsinvote.org.