Pat Bomhack, a former legislative staffer to former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and former law clerk to Judge Bill Dyke of Iowa County, announced April 30 that he is running as a Democrat for the 17th Senate District seat that incumbent state Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) is vacating.
Bomhack is dropping a bid for the 51st Assembly seat currently held by state Rep. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, who is also running for Schultz’s seat.
He was considered an underdog in the Assembly primary against fellow Democrat Dick Cates, who had raised more money and is considered the Democrats’ best chance to recapture the district Marklein has held for four years.
Bomhack will compete in the Democratic primary with Ernie Wittwer, a retired Wisconsin Department of Transportation official and a political newcomer with little support from the party.
He did not reference ending his Assembly candidacy or give a reason for the switch in a press release.
“I’m running because I love my community and our way of life in southwest Wisconsin. I want to make a difference for our rural communities, and I believe the best way I can serve is by fighting for our values in the State Senate,” he said.
“There’s so much work to be done to move Wisconsin forward. We need to reform redistricting. We need to ensure strong, local controls over frac sand mining. And we need to strengthen our rural communities by repairing our roads, expanding access to broadband, and reinvesting in our public and technical schools.
“From talking with friends and neighbors, I know that the people of southwest Wisconsin have had enough of the tea party agenda in Madison.
“The Wisconsin way is not to ‘divide and conquer.’ The Wisconsin way is to invite everyone to the table so we can solve the problems that affect all of us here in the Badger State.
“Our best legislators have been independentminded. As state senator, I will always put the interests of our rural communities first.
For more information about Bomhack’s campaign, visit www.patbomhack.com.
