By james art It doesn’t matter much who wins the largely ceremonial post of secretary of state this fall.
That’s because the job has virtually no duties or impact on the citizens of Wisconsin.
So let’s get rid of it and save some money.
Many Republicans and Democrats have supported eliminating the secretary of state position for years. It’s a shell of an office with a part-time job.
The Secretary of State conducted an election. But that difficult task is now handled by the State Government Accountability Board, which is insulated from political influence.
The Secretary of State registered corporations and oversaw business documents. Now the professional department of financial institutions does this.
The Secretary of State published bills, something the Legislative Reference Bureau took over.
Current Secretary of State Doug LaFollette, a Democrat from Madison, has held the position for most of the past four decades. He continues to cling to the nearly dismantled work, suggesting that the post may still have a purpose.
Republican challenger Julian Bradley of La Crosse spoke similarly about restoring the powers. Instead, he had to campaign on a promise to close the idle business.
Critics complain that the previous responsibilities of the secretary of state have been transferred to “unelected” and “unaccountable” boards. In fact, having nonpartisan agencies that conduct elections and publish bills in a neutral manner—without politicians seeking an advantage—improved government.
Both major party candidates for secretary of state in the Nov. 4 election dream of expanding the office’s power and costs. Instead, it’s time to close this pointless and outdated post.