Former congressman considers run for governor
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Mark Neumann
The “Doyle deficit” is one reason prompting former Janesville resident and Republican congressman Mark Neumann to consider running for governor next year.
Neumann said he’s leaning “very heavily” toward getting into the race, though he won’t decide until fall.
It’s been a decade since Neumann served in public office. He represented Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District from 1995 to 1999, before losing by a 2-percent margin to Sen. Russ Feingold in the 1998 Senate race.
Gov. Jim Doyle has not announced whether he will seek re-election, but his campaign is raising funds at the Web site www.jimdoyle2010.com.
Doyle’s State of the State address Wednesday showed the “Doyle deficit” is massive, Neumann said.
“He got us to a point in the state where we’re in debt up to our eyeballs, and it needs to be fixed,” he said.
Neumann said he’s not confident, at this point, that elected officials who have been in politics all their lives are going to bring the right assets to solve the problems the state faces without raising taxes.
Our nation was formed by people who served in office between terms in the private sector, Neumann said, and now seems like the right time for him to return to public service.
Neumann owns Neumann Developments, a home-building company devoted to preserving open and green spaces in southern Wisconsin.
The environment also is something about which, Neumann said, he’s “extremely concerned.” For each acre his company develops, one acre of green space is set aside, he said.
He’s troubled by the billions of dollars sent overseas to buy oil and the buildup of greenhouse gases.
“I’d like to see some solutions to that,” he said.
A former math teacher, Neumann said education also would play a big role in a possible run for office. Neumann is the co-chair of the board of directors for Hope Christian Schools, which have built three schools for underprivileged, low-performing students in Milwaukee and one in Arizona.
Next month, his real estate business plans to announce a big project.
“It will keep me tied up until about September,” he said. “I’m extremely committed to it.”
After that, he likely would announce whether he will run for office.
Jan 30, 2009 at 2:49 p.m.
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It would be nice to see someone run against Doyle he has made this state a tax hell.
Jan 30, 2009 at 1:55 p.m.
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I like having someone who has actually ran something before and knows what a budget is. Doyle is a clown and has done nothing good for this state except drive away jobs. We need some change in Wisconsin. Neuman would be a good fit. We are taxed to death in Wisconsin and are not a business friendly state. I got an idea that would stimulate the economy how about cut payroll taxes. That would give people more money each pay period to use to buy things that maybe they can't afford now. This stimulus plan they have now is a joke. It provides government jobs. That's not the kind of jobs we need. It's also lined with pork. More spending of money we don't have. To put a $500 check in a person's hand isn't going to stimulate anything. You need to give the taxpayers something to look to. If I know that my payroll taxes are going to be cut for 3 years than I know my paychecks for three years are going to be bigger. Better than a one time $500 check that I would use to pay off a bill or two.
Jan 30, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.
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Yes, we need another talking point Republican in office. Let me guess he wants tax cuts for rich people. The "Doyle Deficit" is clearly another Republican talking point. I am sure he will repeat it over and over and over again. This states deficit was brought on by an international financial crisis whose root cause is in the national financial system. Blaming the wrong people for political gain means your just a jacka--.
Jan 30, 2009 at 1:02 p.m.
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I hate to break this to you Mark, but you're really not that good. Better stick with what you know; taking a persons hard earned money while providing substandard housing.
Jan 30, 2009 at 10:51 a.m.
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I'll vote for whomever runs against him.
Jan 30, 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
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Go for it Mark, I'll vote for ya!!!
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