In the midst of this fall election, Wisconsin residents could be forgiven for thinking that only the federal government really matters in the voting this Nov. 5. The fiercely fought races for both president and U.S. Senate occupy so much space in campaign ads — and to some extent, news coverage — that some voters might conclude that their state and local races are of little importance.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The federal government serves many critical functions, such as providing for the national defense and administering entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Yet state and local governments loom large in their own ways, as this statistic from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics makes clear. Nationally, all state and local governments combined employ roughly six and half times more workers than the federal government does. Services such as K-12 education, police and fire protection, roads and bridges, and parks are primarily delivered at the local and state level in Wisconsin.
These state and local offices are therefore of tremendous importance. Voters this fall will consider races for state Senate and Assembly, district attorney, county clerks and treasurers, and a sizable number of K-12 and other local government referenda. Their votes will play a role in shaping the education that children receive, the property and other taxes paid by home and business owners, and the criminal justice system in our state.
As we consider these votes, we find ourselves awash in arguments from all sides. Amid this tossing sea of claims and counterclaims, the Wisconsin Policy Forum serves as a lighthouse that helps each citizen choose their own heading and destination. It’s a role we have played for more than 50 fall elections in Wisconsin over the past century.
Whether you are considering a school referendum or the priorities of legislative candidates, our research can help inform your choice. The Forum served that concrete role in the run-up to the April vote over the Milwaukee Public Schools referendum and will do so again in November for the Madison city and schools referenda – as the accompanying article in this newsletter details. We will also analyze the statewide impacts of many other ballot questions after the votes are tallied.
Our members have generously supported the Forum’s work all year, and now is our time to return the favor. We hope our research helps you cast your ballot secure in the knowledge that you know the basic facts about the issues facing your community and our state. With your help, we will do so in every election to come.