In making up one’s mind as to whom to vote for in the race for attorney general of Wisconsin, experience in serving the people as a public prosecutor should be the primary consideration.Peg Lautenschlager, the Democratic candidate, served as U.S. attorney for eight years from 1993-2001 in the western district of Wisconsin, a jurisdiction that covered 44 counties.
Her responsibilities included the supervision of 50 people as well as making the difficult decisions concerning charging and prosecution – not to mention personally prosecuting significant cases.
One of Peg Lautenschlager’s significant cases was a victory on behalf of an HIV infected child, who had no positive signs of AIDS. The child was denied admission to three daycare facilities in Rock County until U.S. Attorney Lautenschlager’s legal intervention.
Another example of Peg Lautenschlager’s successful prosecutions is one that put an end to attacks against mink farm owners by Justin Clayton Samuel, an activist in the Animal Liberation Front, an organization described as “a national animal rights terrorist organization” in a press release released by her office on Sept. 1, 2000.
In addition to her eight years as a U.S. attorney, Peg Lautenschlager served as district attorney of Winnebago County for three years from 1985-1988 as well as a member of the Wisconsin state legislature, representing the 52nd assembly district from 1989-1993.
The Democratic candidate for attorney general is married to Neenah police officer Bill Rippl. She is the mother of three children and two stepchildren.
Her Republican opponent, Vince Biskupic, can only boast eight years as district attorney of Outagamie County.
It should be obvious that Peg Lautenschlager has more experience than her Republican opponent when it comes to defending the community against criminals and hoodlums of all types.
William Herziger
Neenah, WI