March 27, 2023 at 2:15 p.m.
La Follette resigns; Evers appoints Godlewski as secretary of state
GOP calls for special election to fill out term
That prompted howls of protest from Republicans who say the governor should call a special election rather than make an appointment. La Follette - only a distant relative of Bob La Follette - had just won re-election in November, and his resignation leaves most of his term to be served.
La Follette said in a resignation letter that he wasn't getting the resources he needed from the state to do an effective job.
"After many years of frustration, I've decided I don't want to spend the next three and a half years trying to run an office without adequate resources and staffing levels," he wrote. "After decades of public service, I must now focus on my personal needs."
Evers thanked La Follette for his decades of service and lauded Godlewski.
"Secretary of state La Follette's retirement after more than 40 years of state service leaves an incredibly important role to fill, and I want to thank him for his years of dedication to the people of Wisconsin throughout his long career," Evers said. "In a critical position that has seen no turnover in decades, maintaining continuity with a leader who's prepared and committed to fulfilling this office's constitutional obligations could not be more important - and there's no one more uniquely qualified or better suited for the job than Sarah."
The governor wasted no time in making the Godlewski appointment, saying she had already served valuably in a statewide role. Godlewski was state treasurer from 2019 to 2023, but did not run for re-election to pursue a U.S. Senate seat instead.
"The people of Wisconsin placed their trust and faith in Sarah's experience and values to serve as our state treasurer, and she'll bring those same qualities to her new role as Wisconsin's secretary of state," Evers said. "Sarah will bring unparalleled leadership and vision as a tenacious advocate who's passionate about making smart, sound financial decisions that protect our state's future, and I'm excited to continue our work together over the next four years."
Evers observed that Godlewski, before she was state treasurer, helped to save that office from extinction, leading the 2018 effort against a constitutional amendment to abolish the office, which was before the voters for final approval. More than 60 percent of voters voted to retain the office.
Godlewski will become the third woman to serve as secretary of state.
"It was a privilege to serve the people of Wisconsin as state treasurer for four years, and I am humbled that Gov. Evers has called upon me to serve as secretary of state," Godlewski said. "To become just the third woman in our state's history to hold this office is the honor of a lifetime. I know how important this role is and my responsibilities are, and I'm looking forward to getting to work."
Actually the position has almost no responsibilities after role after role was removed from the office over the years. A constitutional office, the secretary of state is charged with maintaining official legislative and gubernatorial acts and affixing the Great Seal of Wisconsin to all official acts of the governor.
However, there are caveats. The secretary of state serves on the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), which has significant holdings in northern Wisconsin.
The other issue is that many Republican leaders would like to transfer some if not all of the responsibilities of running state elections to the secretary of state's office. Some have proposed abolishing the Wisconsin Elections Commission and transferring that agency's responsibilities to the secretary of state's office.
Democrats have vociferously opposed any such transfer of election responsibilities.
Republican discontent
Given the potential stakes, it's not surprising that Republicans went on the attack after Godlewski's appointment, saying the governor should have called for a special election. La Follette only narrowly defeated Republican and former state lawmaker Amy Loudenbeck last fall.
State GOP chairman Brian Schimming said the quick appointment explained why Godlewski dropped out of last year's Democratic primary for U.S. Senate at a time when polls showed she was running a competitive race.
"Now we see why Godlewski ducked out of the U.S. Senate race, as she was apparently promised a soft landing," Schimming said. "La Follette has done little or nothing for decades, and now Democrats will hand millionaire Godlewski a $72,000 a year job where she will self-promote and use the office to prepare for her next campaign."
Over in the Legislature, the Senate passed a resolution calling for Evers to call a special election, and Senate majority leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), said the vote, which passed 20-11 along party lines, sends Evers a clear message that the people of the state should have an opportunity to elect the secretary of state.
"Instead of appointing an interim secretary and calling a special election, Gov. Evers has decided to subvert Wisconsin's democracy to reward a political ally," LeMahieu said. "Calling for a special election would reassure Wisconsinites that elections, not cronyism, decide who represents them in Madison."
None of that is likely to change Evers's mind, and in fact Godlewski went to work on March 18.
Prior to her time in state government, Godlewski worked for almost a decade at the Pentagon. She was co-founder of MaSa Partners, an impact investment firm that funds early-stage businesses, and a co-founder of WE Capital Fund, which empowers female entrepreneurs through financing opportunities.
Godlewski, in 2022, ran for the U.S. Senate, advocating for policies she said were critical for Wisconsin families, including reproductive health care, affordable child care, and paid family leave.
Richard Moore is the author of "Dark State" and may be reached at richardd3d.substack.com.
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