Contact: Olivia Hwang
608.266.5504
Madison – Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D – Kenosha) released the following statement this afternoon after the election of Rep. Gordon Hintz as the Minority Leader effective at the end of the month:
“It has been a great privilege to serve as Minority Leader for the last seven years. As many folks who have served the citizens of Wisconsin know, this role is not an easy one. It requires a focus not only to the Wisconsin Democrats elected to serve their districts but to each and every Wisconsinite who relies on a fair and transparent government. It also demands significant personal sacrifices as the needs of Wisconsin must often come before those of the leader’s own family, friends and personal business.
“I’d like to congratulate Rep. Hintz on his election as leader today. Knowing the hard work and commitment it takes, I wish him well in the months ahead and will offer my assistance when needed. We have a great deal of work to do in the months and years ahead. As we so clearly saw last week with the passage of a budget that is rigged against Wisconsin families and workers, Republicans in this state are more interested in rewarding special interests than helping the working people of our state succeed. We have to double down on our efforts to expose Gov. Walker’s misaligned priorities and highlight the approaches we have prepared to build an economy that works for everyone.
“In the months to come, I will work tirelessly for the people of my district and continue to be an advocate for common-sense solutions in communities throughout Wisconsin. We need better, more accessible job training and more support for Wisconsin small businesses and entrepreneurs to create family-supporting jobs. We must also support our students and public schools. And we must make smart investments to improve our communities, especially in the crumbling roads and bridges neglected by Republicans.
I am grateful to my constituents for their continued support. As they are aware, I will always put their interests first.”
