Wednesday, November 28, 2012
8:56 AM
Pridemore exploring DPI run
GOP state Rep. Don Pridemore said he is exploring a run for DPI superintendent and will make a decision by Monday.
Pridemore, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2004, told WisPolitics.com he has been weighing a bid for a while and decided to explore it further after Superintendent Tony Evers proposed increasing general and categorical aids $615 million in the upcoming budget.
Pridemore, R-Hartford, accused Evers of seeking to send the funding “to places where money hasn’t solved the problem before and more money isn’t going to solve the problem again.”
Pridemore is a former electronics research technician and electronics design engineer. He served on the Colleges and Universities and Education committees this session. He also chaired the Education Reform Committee in the 2007-08 session.
He said his next step is to call supporters to gauge whether he could raise the necessary money to mount a statewide campaign. Pridemore estimated he needs $50,000 in commitments for the first month of the campaign with an overall budget of between $250,000 and $500,000.
Pridemore said Evers has benefitted from the support of WEAC, but noted the union does not have the financial resources it’s had in the past because of the guv’s collective bargaining reforms.
“If I can’t raise at least $50,000 within about the first month, it’s not going to be an effective campaign,” Pridemore said. “I have to get commitments for that between now and Monday.”
-- By JR Ross
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