Senator Spencer Coggs looks at 2010 lieutenant governor run
Taking it Statewide
Taking it Statewide
By Jonathan Gramling
After 26 years in the legislature, State Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee is giving serious
consideration to running for lieutenant governor in the September 2010 Democratic primary.
While he has achieved many successes during his 26 years — he was instrumental in involving minority-
owned and women-owned businesses in the construction of Miller Park and the Marquette Interchange —
Coggs comes across as a regular guy who never lost his labor roots as vice-president of Local 1091, District
Council 48, AFSCME.
When Governor James Doyle announced that he would not seek reelection in 2010 and Lieutenant
Governor Barbara Lawton announced for the governor’s race, friends urged Coggs to think about running for
lieutenant governor. While his exploratory committee is still evaluating Coggs’ chances, he is sounding like a
candidate. “So far, in announcing that I have set up an exploratory committee, I’ve been getting an abundance
of well wishes from almost everyone I’ve talked to,” Coggs said during an interview with The Capital City
Hues. “So it is looking very, very good.”
Coggs is well-versed on all of the issues facing the state and the Democratic Party. 2010 is an important
year in state politics. The national census will be conducted in 2010 and the states will have to redistrict its
legislative seats after that with the party in power controlling the redistricting process.
One thing that could be difficult for the Democrats is the state of Wisconsin’s economy and the state budget
deficits. Coggs feels the Democrats have done a good job in a lousy situation. “Our state budget is a creature
of the economy,” Coggs said. “It’s not just the state of Wisconsin, but the entire nation that is experiencing
deficits. Our deficit of $5.6 - $6 billion seems daunting except the vast majority of states have $10 - $25 billion
deficits. So as deficits go, we are in the middle toward the lower end. Now that doesn’t bring any solace to
people who are suffering in the state of Wisconsin.
After 26 years in the legislature, State Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee is giving serious
consideration to running for lieutenant governor in the September 2010 Democratic primary.
While he has achieved many successes during his 26 years — he was instrumental in involving minority-
owned and women-owned businesses in the construction of Miller Park and the Marquette Interchange —
Coggs comes across as a regular guy who never lost his labor roots as vice-president of Local 1091, District
Council 48, AFSCME.
When Governor James Doyle announced that he would not seek reelection in 2010 and Lieutenant
Governor Barbara Lawton announced for the governor’s race, friends urged Coggs to think about running for
lieutenant governor. While his exploratory committee is still evaluating Coggs’ chances, he is sounding like a
candidate. “So far, in announcing that I have set up an exploratory committee, I’ve been getting an abundance
of well wishes from almost everyone I’ve talked to,” Coggs said during an interview with The Capital City
Hues. “So it is looking very, very good.”
Coggs is well-versed on all of the issues facing the state and the Democratic Party. 2010 is an important
year in state politics. The national census will be conducted in 2010 and the states will have to redistrict its
legislative seats after that with the party in power controlling the redistricting process.
One thing that could be difficult for the Democrats is the state of Wisconsin’s economy and the state budget
deficits. Coggs feels the Democrats have done a good job in a lousy situation. “Our state budget is a creature
of the economy,” Coggs said. “It’s not just the state of Wisconsin, but the entire nation that is experiencing
deficits. Our deficit of $5.6 - $6 billion seems daunting except the vast majority of states have $10 - $25 billion
deficits. So as deficits go, we are in the middle toward the lower end. Now that doesn’t bring any solace to
people who are suffering in the state of Wisconsin.
But since we, as Democrats, have taken over, we have whittled away at the deficit. To a great extent, we’ve had no say so over market
fluctuations, but we have rolled with market fluctuations very well and we have been whittling away at the structural deficit with each budget.
We had a $5.6 billion deficit with this past budget and we’ve come closer to eradicating it than we have ever come before. So that’s why I am a
little sad to see Governor Doyle leaving because I think under his leadership, we did what many people thought was impossible, which was cut
this deficit down.”
Coggs is cool to the idea of the city of Milwaukee and Mayor Tom Barrett — whom he considers to be a nice guy — taking over the
Milwaukee Public School System. He questions the mayor’s academic and teaching credentials and wonders if it would be a case of divided
loyalties. “In the future, if we went to a mayoral takeover and we have a new mayor who we thought was lousy as it relates to education, you can’
t just unelect the mayor on education alone if other people are pleased with what he’s doing in public safety and economic development and all
of these other things,” Coggs observed. “Let’s just say for the sake of argument that he’s just a lousy education mayor. Whereas currently, we
can at least can either recall or unelect individual school board members, with a mayoral takeover, we couldn’t. And a lot of people just don’t
want their right to vote to be taken away from them.”
Coggs could bring a lot to the Democratic ticket in 2010. He has a lot of connections with people all over the state and has a strong labor
voting record. He has a deep understanding of the issues and has extensive experience in getting legislation through the Wisconsin legislature.
In many ways, he could be a ‘Joe Biden’ to a newly elected governor.
Strategically it is important that Coggs is from Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. “Scott Walker, the leading Republican candidate for
governor and Milwaukee county executive, understands one thing,” Coggs emphasized. “That is southeastern Wisconsin is a heavily dense
demographic and he wants to claim that for himself. Without a counter to him, I think he feels he could do that. I think I help provide that counter
on a team and in the general election, we run as a team. I think I can blunt and defeat Scott Walker’s influence in Milwaukee County and
southeastern Wisconsin.”
While the lieutenant governor position is a statewide elected office, it has no real authority outside of moral persuasion, the bully pulpit, and
the role that governor allows the lieutenant governor to assume. “I have no illusions,” Coggs said. “As lieutenant governor, I would be helping to
carry out a team vision that the person at the top of the ticket would dictate. But I also think I have the strengths and the tools to be able to do
that, but also whisper — just like Joe Biden — in the ear of the political CEO of the state of Wisconsin about helping to give some direction. So as
Barack was very wise to get a seasoned person to help him, I intend to be that seasoned person for the top of the ticket.”
Coggs is cognizant of the difficulties that African Americans have had in being elected to statewide offices, especially in recent elections.
“Lou Butler has a statewide campaign that came up short, nothing that the state of Wisconsin should be proud of because of the tenor of that
race,” Coggs said. “I do not intend to let my race stoop that low or let anyone drag my race into the mud. I would be proud to be the first person of
color to win a statewide race in the state of Wisconsin since Vel Philips because she is just a great mentor.”
It’s been 31 years since Vel Phillips became the only African American — and still the only — elected to statewide office in Wisconsin. State
Senator Spencer Coggs intends to break that streak in 2010.
fluctuations, but we have rolled with market fluctuations very well and we have been whittling away at the structural deficit with each budget.
We had a $5.6 billion deficit with this past budget and we’ve come closer to eradicating it than we have ever come before. So that’s why I am a
little sad to see Governor Doyle leaving because I think under his leadership, we did what many people thought was impossible, which was cut
this deficit down.”
Coggs is cool to the idea of the city of Milwaukee and Mayor Tom Barrett — whom he considers to be a nice guy — taking over the
Milwaukee Public School System. He questions the mayor’s academic and teaching credentials and wonders if it would be a case of divided
loyalties. “In the future, if we went to a mayoral takeover and we have a new mayor who we thought was lousy as it relates to education, you can’
t just unelect the mayor on education alone if other people are pleased with what he’s doing in public safety and economic development and all
of these other things,” Coggs observed. “Let’s just say for the sake of argument that he’s just a lousy education mayor. Whereas currently, we
can at least can either recall or unelect individual school board members, with a mayoral takeover, we couldn’t. And a lot of people just don’t
want their right to vote to be taken away from them.”
Coggs could bring a lot to the Democratic ticket in 2010. He has a lot of connections with people all over the state and has a strong labor
voting record. He has a deep understanding of the issues and has extensive experience in getting legislation through the Wisconsin legislature.
In many ways, he could be a ‘Joe Biden’ to a newly elected governor.
Strategically it is important that Coggs is from Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. “Scott Walker, the leading Republican candidate for
governor and Milwaukee county executive, understands one thing,” Coggs emphasized. “That is southeastern Wisconsin is a heavily dense
demographic and he wants to claim that for himself. Without a counter to him, I think he feels he could do that. I think I help provide that counter
on a team and in the general election, we run as a team. I think I can blunt and defeat Scott Walker’s influence in Milwaukee County and
southeastern Wisconsin.”
While the lieutenant governor position is a statewide elected office, it has no real authority outside of moral persuasion, the bully pulpit, and
the role that governor allows the lieutenant governor to assume. “I have no illusions,” Coggs said. “As lieutenant governor, I would be helping to
carry out a team vision that the person at the top of the ticket would dictate. But I also think I have the strengths and the tools to be able to do
that, but also whisper — just like Joe Biden — in the ear of the political CEO of the state of Wisconsin about helping to give some direction. So as
Barack was very wise to get a seasoned person to help him, I intend to be that seasoned person for the top of the ticket.”
Coggs is cognizant of the difficulties that African Americans have had in being elected to statewide offices, especially in recent elections.
“Lou Butler has a statewide campaign that came up short, nothing that the state of Wisconsin should be proud of because of the tenor of that
race,” Coggs said. “I do not intend to let my race stoop that low or let anyone drag my race into the mud. I would be proud to be the first person of
color to win a statewide race in the state of Wisconsin since Vel Philips because she is just a great mentor.”
It’s been 31 years since Vel Phillips became the only African American — and still the only — elected to statewide office in Wisconsin. State
Senator Spencer Coggs intends to break that streak in 2010.
State Sen. Spencer Coggs
