Harriet Rowan's News Articles

Wisconsin Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs announced today that he will be assuming a new position with Dane County starting in June. In a press conference held at the County Executive's Office, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced that he had selected Tubbs as the new Director of Dane County Emergency Management.

Tubbs was applauded by many for his handling of the massive protests against Governor Walker's collective bargaining bill in the winter of 2011. Tubbs was responsible for the security and safety of Capitol staff as well as protestors inside and outside the Capitol building. Despite an 18-day Capitol occupation and protests topping 100,000 on a regular basis, there were no injuries and few arrests. Tubbs was praised by many protesters for his respectful communication, which helped maintain a peaceful atmosphere. In more recent months, Tubbs has received some criticism regarding the rising number of arrests in the Capitol.

Mitt Romney won the Wisconsin Republican presidential primary on Tuesday, but not before word of the "SubGate" scandal rocketed around the state. Romney spent much of the week campaigning with Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, but in a "get out the vote" effort on Primary Day, Romney and Ryan were videotaped handing out free sandwiches to voters at a Cousins Subs shop in an apparent violation of Wisconsin law.

At the campaign stop Romney said: "I want to thank you for voting. Get your friends to go vote, get your friends to go with you, that's how you can legally vote multiple times. So bring your friends to the polling place, get out and vote, and if you want another sandwich, there are more back there."

Governor Scott Walker is currently running a million dollar TV ad campaign on "Promises Kept," but after misleading the public on his plans to radically reshape collective bargaining in the state, Walker can't even be bothered to negotiate with the few unions who played by the new rules and are coming to the bargaining table in good faith.

Mahlon Mitchell announced today that he is running for the position of Lt. Governor of Wisconsin in the upcoming recall election against the current Lt. Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch. Mitchell is the president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin and a familiar face from the Wisconsin uprising.

Firefighters joined the struggle to preserve collective bargaining rights last year, even though firefighters were exempt from the collective bargaining bill. Firefighters saw it as their duty to stand up for their unions brothers and sisters: "We have a fire in the house of labor, we are here to put it out," Mitchell was fond of saying during the 2011 winter protests.