Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said he would veto maps the Republican-controlled Legislature sends to him if they are “gerrymandering 2.0.”
“If they’re continuing or making worse the gerrymandering that exists right now, yes,” Evers said in an interview aired Sunday on “UpFront,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com.
“I want fair maps. I don’t want gerrymandered Democratic maps, I want fair maps, and that’s what the people of Wisconsin deserve,” he said. “So if indeed what comes to my desk is gerrymandering 2.0, I’ll veto it.”
Evers expressed confidence “fair maps” would be in place if redistricting is settled in court.
“It’s going to work out. If it goes to court, it’s going to work out, and I feel confident that the people of Wisconsin will have fair maps,” he said.
Evers also said he supported the Department of Natural Resources in the quota of 130 wolves it set for the fall wolf hunt. The DNR went against the Natural Resources Board’s vote for a quota of 300.
“We’ve had conversations, certainly I knew the department was going to make that recommendation, and I support it,” Evers said.
“The last wolf hunt was a disaster. It was, it went way over the limits,” he said. “In many cases, I would suggest that what was going on was anything but hunting.”
“UpFront” host Matt Smith asked Evers if he had any way of forcing out NRB Chairman Fred Prehn, an appointee of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker who refuses to leave the board after his term expired in May. Evers said he was waiting for court action to play out.
“At the end of the day, this should be about common sense. We shouldn’t have to worry about someone not leaving when their term is over.” Evers said. “I just hope that we can resolve this as soon as possible. It’s embarrassing for everybody, and frankly, it’s embarrassing for the state of Wisconsin.”
Smith also asked Evers if he would consider sending the State Patrol or National Guard into Milwaukee to help the city with a recent surge in violence.
“Violence prevention isn’t necessarily having a State Patrol officer on every corner,” Evers said, adding that it was important to react in a way that is “evidence-based, and that we can actually make a difference.”
“If the mayor and the county executive decided they needed more help in certain areas, we’d consider it, but this isn’t about establishing a police state in Milwaukee. This is about making sure that violence prevention works and that we have the resources necessary to stop it before it starts,” he said.
“What’s happening is unacceptable. There’s just no two ways about it. When we see a child killed in that fashion, it obviously breaks your heart,” he said.
Evers also said he expected a big field and a primary in the Democratic race for lieutenant governor.
“I’m just sitting back and waiting for the field to appear,” he said.
So far, Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee is the only announced candidate in the Dem race for lieutenant governor.
The program also featured Ann Jacobs, chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and Scarlett Johnson and Amber Schroeder, who organized a recall election for four members of the Mequon-Thiensville School Board.
See more from the show:
https://www.wisn.com/upfront
