Here is what local legislative candidates had to say, if they responded to the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council survey:
Assembly 67
Wren Keturi (D) answered ‘yes’ to all of our questions.
Rob Summerfield (R) did not respond to our survey.
Assembly 68
Jesse James (R) did not respond to the survey.
Wendy Sue Johnson (D) gave mixed answers:
Yes to Ending the legislature’s exemption for open records retention : “I would like to learn more about why this hasn’t already occurred.”
Yes to Supplying records in electronic form : “Public records should be provided in the most efficient format or method.”
Yes to Recording closed sessions : “We should pursue transparency, whenever possible, without placing unnecessary burdens on our public entities.”
No to Ending the legislature’s exemption for open meetings : “These questions are not conducive to yes/no responses without more context; I would need to read the legal opinion before commenting.”
No to Ending the closed caucuses : “I would need to learn more about this issue before taking a firm position.”
Yes to Identifying bill sponsors : “We should pursue transparency, whenever possible I would like to learn why this occurs before taking a firm position.”
Assembly 91
Echo Reardon (R) did not respond to the survey.
Jodi Emerson (D) answered ‘yes’ to all of the questions and had these comments.
Recording closed sessions : “I would favor this recording only be available to the judge and not to the general public unless ordered by the judge. ”
Ending the closed caucuses : “I think it is fine for caucus meetings to be private (not secret but private) because it gives people a chance to ask questions and discuss bills without having every word be public. Lawmakers need to be able to ask questions and understand an issue and it is ok for that to happen in private. ”
Assembly 93
Warren Petryk (R) did not respond to the survey.
Charlene ‘Charlie’ Warner (D) answered ‘yes’ to all of the questions.
Senate 23
Kathy Bernier (R) did not respond to the survey.
Chris Kapsner (D) either didn’t respond to the survey or was omitted from it. His name does not appear in the Freedom of Information Council listing.
Senate 31
Aaron Elaine Camacho (I) did not respond to the survey.
Mel Pittman (R) did not respond to the survey.
Jeff Smith (D) gave mixed answers:
Yes to Ending the legislature’s exemption for open records retention
Yes to Supplying records in electronic form
No to Recording closed sessions : “I haven’t seen the bill and cannot, in good conscience, commit to supporting something I haven’t read. But I like the concept as it sounds like a reasonable compromise. Unfortunately, this survey forces me to give a yes or no answer even though I don’t have enough information to make that sort of commitment either way.”
Yes to Ending the legislature’s exemption for open meetings : ” I would like to know more about this ruling and the context in which it was made. Please bring me up to speed on how the open meetings law will affect the leguslature and why the legislature is currently not subject to the law. Unfortunately, this survey forces me to give a yes or no answer even though I don’t have enough information to make that sort of commitment either way.”
No to Ending the closed caucuses : “Frankly, having been in these caucus meetings as a member of the Assembly, it is important that legislators feel free to open up to each other in front of their colleagues without being scrutinized by press for every word that they speak. Unfortunately, because some press are only there to catch someone slipping up rather than reporting on the results of such meetings, most legislators become so guarded and cautious with the press in the room we don’t hear their true feelings on some issues. We already have enough trouble getting the legislature to get anything done.”
Yes to Identifying bill sponsors