don't you wonder what kind gifts she gave him?

If he had come out to the taxpayers and said, "you know, I've been wanting to see this person. I really like her, but she's a lobbyist for the payday loan businesses and there is legislation coming up...I want to be upfront about this so it doesn't look bad to the people who voted for me and trusted me....." it might look a little more on the up and up...right now, he's just a shady character that kind of creeps me out...

Who cares!!

All this time I thought the term "getting in bed with lobbyists" was a cliche'........Bye bye
Sheridan...how can you do the people's work when you are so busy with.....let's just say distractions ????? JMO

From channel 27 "Last fall, Sheridan said a proposal to cap interest rates on pay day loans at 36% could kill the industry and cost jobs"
Wonder when in the fall he said this considering he started dating the lobbyist around August/September

Its kind of interesting how in another article, he stated that he just dated someone and took them to a christmas party.

Yet he is clearly in a relationship with this person and was or may still be flying to ohio every weekend to see her. I wonder if all those trips were paid by the taxpayer.

Also this guy has lived on Ruger street, outside of his district the whole time he has been in office.

Clearly a shady politician who I have lost complete faith in.

I really hope some other interesting facts make the news, that haven't yet, to truly expose his character

The house Sheridan said was in his district is the house that his wife owned that he never did live in. When they got married he did build a new house out of the district. The soon to be ex wife lives in the house in his district. He is just using his buddy's address now.

The quoted headline reminds me of another from years gone by, "I'm not a crook".

what a load of bull! he has ALWAYS LIVED in the house outside of his district! he just used the "other address" so it would all legal like.

http://www.wkowtv.com/Global/story.asp?S...

http://www.wkowtv.com/global/story.asp?s...

"[There can be no] rational administration of government when good men are held in the same esteem as bad ones."
-- Polybius (ca. 203-120 BC,) Greek historian

Even if it passes, he should be removed. The operating terminology is that he should avoid "the appearance of impropriety."

If this legislation passes, then he's showing that he can separate his personal and professional life. This may be more of a story if no real payday loan legislation is offered.

You are pathetic

I have met and worked with Mr Sheridan and he was always professional and considerate. He never ever appeared to abuse his position. Politically promises don't exist: he can only promise to try. We have legislatures not dictatorships.

dear mr sheridan,

we dont care what you do in your personal life, as long as it doesnt affect your job performance. you should not care what we do in our personal life either, as long as it does not affect our job performance. you should not only push to pass the jacki rickert medical marijuana act asap, you should go one step further and support a responsible adults right to choose, as you have.
thank you

your humbled responsible tax paying american citizens

Mike unfairly used his Local UAW 95 President position by convincing members to get him into the legislature with promises and then turning his back. Ship him out, as there has to be another UAW Member out of work willing to run in that district.

Time to step down Mike.

I'd vote for an unemployed "guy" with integrity. How much experience do you need to vote yea or nay? Common sense and an honest approach to life are valuable commodities that are sorely lacking in Madison and Washington right now. I'd take that over a well connected professional politician with no scruples any day.

All I have ever heard from Mike is a bunch of promises that never materialize and his ability to evade issues. It's time to move on...

Billnewbie:
As I posted earlier; it really depends who is running. Seriously, is there any credible candidate even running against him? The last time I remember the candidates running for that seat it was him, an ex-con, and some unemployed guy that was running every year as the 2% also ran candidate. If there is no serious candidate, he can obviously be not just re-elected, but win easily. I hope someone from from one of the many successful small business in Janesville will step up to the plate and run, but I would not get my hopes up. Lot of headaches, and often a MAJOR cut in pay.

When you have a website like the Daily Kos ripping on ol' mikey, you're in trouble.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/2/2/7...

Mike did not leave his first wife for his second wife. He met her many years after his divorce.

I'm not so sure that Mike Sheridan can't be re-elected. For many people, character issues are secondary to political issues. And then there is the name recognition factor, the root of the power of incumbency in any election, as many who don't pay any attention to politics and the news will just vote for a familiar name in the election booth, oblivious to scandals such as these. Similar to that too are those who vote the straight party ticket (my party, right or wrong). So, don't count Mr. Sheridan out for re-election this year. It's 9 months until election day. That's a lot of time for people to forget what has happened.

As much as there is a moral problem here and I cannot support Mike for his lack of moral fiber, there really is 2 issues here. Mike might as well resign as there is no way he will get re-elected. The Democratic party must be having a fit right now as three of their top party members have made some very serious mistakes and are resigning over them. This continued lack of leadership by the Democratic party will end up opening the door to a large Republican swing in the state government.

Yes, lucky her.

It seems like Mike wants to find the fountain of youth through progressively younger women. So that's 2 wives he's insulted with the same modus operandi. He needs a new job.

Is his middle name Tiger ?

His first wife is the mother of his children. His second wife is 10 years younger than Mike and thank god for her they have no children.

Just another crooked elected official caught in bed with big business/special interest groups.It is time for the voters to rid government of these leeches, and elect people who will represent the tax payers, and not line their own pockets with big business/ special interest cash!

Makes me wonder if he was the only one that she was hired to "target".....

It's not a tumor, not at all....errr
It's not a conflict, not at all

I don't "support" them. They are total rip off joints. I just don't have any problem with them existing. They only exist because of people's reckless behavior. As I have posted before; if you want them banned, be prepared for a huge under world of local organized crime. You can not stop certain human behavior. People will always engage in reckless behavior, no matter what laws you pass, and others will cater to that behavior to profit, whether it is legal, or illegal.

YA Kiowa, and I think Libertarians who support pay day loan operations are tools too.

"If you want to prove that there is no conflict, put the bill on the floor of the Assembly ASAP and vote in favor of tighter controls. My guess is your lobbyist gal will stop "dating" you if you do."
.
YA THINK! LOL
.
Mike is still under the impression that this is a genuine concubine! It was what was promised to him upon taking the leadership position!

Sheridan is just as qualified for his job as Honest Jim Doyle is for his. LOL!!!

Congratulations Sheridan and Shanna Wycoff. I'm sure she'll stay with you long after you pass the bill she's "lobbied" for. LOL!!!

"I got a call from my home newspaper and it just -- it kind of evolved," Sheridan said when questioned by WisPolitics today about why he decided to acknowledge the relationship.

Sounds like good reporting on behalf of the Gazette!

Mike, you let down a lot of your loyal supporters from the democratic ranks.
*
It does not matter what you say, it only matters what people believe. My perception is my reality.
*
If you want to prove that there is no conflict, put the bill on the floor of the Assembly ASAP and vote in favor of tighter controls. My guess is your lobbyist gal will stop "dating" you if you do.

Two words come to mind that spark some questions: "Judgement" and "ethics."

Corzine, another ethically challenged democrat, certainly worked wonders in NJ with his affair with the president of the state employees union! Maybe John Edwards, another Democrat super star, could provide some advice to Sheridan and Corzine.

The simple fact is that Wisconsin is the only state in the country that doesn't regulate pay-day loans. The question isn't who a legislator dates, it's whether a strong bill gets passed.

“I have dated a gal who is a lobbyist,” Sheridan said. Mr. Sheridan uses the term "gal" to make himself sound like just an ordinary guy. Gee, how sweet, a "gal". He's dating a "gal." I use the term on occasion, but when Mr. Sheridan uses it it sounds oddly fishy. What an opportunist!

billnewbie, is there any platitude that you might be unwilling to impose on innocent bystanders?

DiGriz, the most recent post of yours that was deleted, was your "monkey" post response to my two "monkey" posts which were also deleted.

The operating terminology is: "appearance of impropriety." Of course it is unlikely that we will ever know what Sheridan is doing or has done with the lobbyist, but as the postings on these stories show, he's impugned himself with his behavior.

He shouldn't be involved with her in any way.

DiGriz - get over it - back on topic.

Protip: At least wait until your divorce is final before you start dating lobbyists.

Well, Mr. Sheridan didn't fly to Argentina to see Ms. Lobbyist, he just squired her around Madison. But as the old adage says "if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, quacks like a duck....". True, there's not enough proof to prosecute Squire Mike, and it's also true that correlation does not equal causation, but it does hint strongly at it, sometimes very strongly such as in this case since the Sheridans have filed for divorce. I doubt the marriage is breaking up because someone snores too loudly, even though I have no proof of that either.

Wouldn't it be funny to find out that Ms. Lobbyist is a "specialist" hired to lure Mr. Sheridan into changing his position (please pardon the unintended double entendre). If she were, wouldn't that be grounds for demanding Mr. Sheridan's resignation?

DiGriz,
Swear all you want, but that was not the content of the comment that we removed.
We wrote and published the story. We've allowed dozens of comments about people's perceptions of a conflict of interest. Your allegation is way off base.

Scott W. Angus
Editor

Sheridans comment is almost as good as Richard Nixons "I am not a crook"

Many legislators have lobbists as their BFF. If fact many lobbists are former legislators. So is going golfing, hunting, fishing etc improper. If so we need to change the rules so it applies to all.

I always thought dating while married was okay too! NOT

I agree as well dating a lobbyist doesn't seem right to me and I don't know a lot about politics.

" I did not have sexual relation with.. Oh never mind YES I did"

Zoom -SURE they just held hands! Yes right.

"Spotted together" is dating? She's a LOBBYIST.

Dating a lobbyist is the real issue. The legal definition of adultery (sex with someone other than your spouse) can rarely be proven unless someone incriminates themselves. Using adultery as your argument just diminishes the provable unethical behavior.

Hey Zoom - I appreciate your thoughts about the definition of adultery and seperation, but so many diiferent sources, dictionaries, states, countries etc - you get the picture - it depends on way toooo many things to say it is or it is not a crime. It's a cloudy definition like the words coming from a good politician.

Mike fails to realize that as a politician/public figure everything he does, every woman he dates, is a matter of public scrutiny. If you are "dating" (that's a euphemism) the pay day loan industry lobbyist, you shouldn't be voting on regulating them.

Some of you folks (billnewbie) should really look up the definition of adultery. Dating another person after you are separated and have filed for divorce is not a crime. Good luck proving adultery.

That being said, dating a lobbyist who has a stake in legislation currently pending is pretty stupid, and unethical.

I don't know, DiGriz. We need SarahB1 here to settle this thing.

Hilarious

I would love to see Sheridan get beat in the next election. That doesnt mean I will vote for someone just because they arent Mike Sheridan. Not all incumbents are bad, not all candidates are worth electing, especially if their only qualification is that they arent in office.

First it was the generous bribes that were rejected by GM, then the infamous golf outing before the final budget approval, and now this. He's getting to be as democratically careless as President Obama.

Nice catch, SarahB1. I guess he doesn't know EVERYTHING!!!

billnewbie: I don't know about this situation, but the words "few" and "several" mean two or three in journalism lingo.

I never had a view on this guy either way for the most part but it seems he's breaking some political rules here? I also see people defending him here for doing that ... I wonder what these people would be saying if it were "the other parties" doing this. Get rid of him I can't stand slime ball politicians

Of course its not a conflict of interest. Trust him, he's a politician. ;-)

What would Mr. Sheridan consider a conflict of interest?

I guess "Mr. Sheridan" can take solace in the fact that he won't be burned at the stake.

Speaker Sheridan and/or his wife filed for divorce in October though the article doesn't say why. Mr. Sheridan admits dating this woman for "several months, the last being about a month ago." Since his divorce filing was less than 4 months ago it seems safe to assume that Mr. Sheridan was dating this lobbyist before the divorce filing. Ergo, Mr. Sheridan appears to be an adulterer. Not too many people think that poorly of adulterers these days, but if a man will cheat on his wife, he'll cheat on anyone else as well, including his constituents. Party affiliations aside, we need people of integrity to represent us. Mr. Sheridan doesn't fill the bill. He promised his wife that he would be faithful. He says this relationship with the lobbyist isn't a conflict of interest. Is his word worth anything? Not to me and I doubt his wife puts any value in it either.

Now I know why Mike couldn't address Rep. Woods behavior, Mike has his own issues. Remove both! VOTE

Send Sheridan packing. He's just another double-dipping, double-talking, hack politician.

All you "loyal dems" who do not see any problems here, substitute Rep. Brett Davis, R, or Rep. Steve Nass R, or Rep. Neil Kedzie R, and then tell me there is no conflict. His personal life ceased when he became an elected official - We as citizens have a right to question the elected officials associations and friends especially if they involve lobbyists.

The mere fact that Mr. Sheridan does not understand this key principle, shows and proves he is unfit to represent us any longer.

If any good comes out of the GM demise here in this area, it will be that the Democratic Liberal/Socialist stangle hold on politics will evenually go away.

Not a conflict?!??! Oh please. Who does Sheridan think he's kidding? If anything sounds like he's trying to convince himself. He got caught with his pants down so now he needs to try and talk himself out of a hole. Good luck. I'm not buying it.

Highlighter29: His personal life is NOT his own when he's representing Janesville and legislation is involved. Good job? I beg to differ. His judgment has been and still is clouded.

Retired: PREVIOUS lobbbyists is different than practicing lobbyists.

Payday Loans: I worked briefly for one of the payday loan companies and I agree, they need to be shut down. The company I worked for (2 weeks) approved loans for people as long as they had the correct documentation, were employed, did not have any other payday loans, and met any other qualifications. Staff may suspect that the checking account the customer is using may be closed after they leave with the loan, or may be closed by the time the loan comes due and then have no recourse in cashing the customer's check. The interest is unreasonable and is why these loans suck people into a cycle that's difficult to get out of.

I don't care how they do it, or who does it. But these payday loan places need to be shut down. I also do not care who is doing who, as long as they do their job. Which even if he did date this lobbyist, he is still going a head with this bill. Shut down this pay day loan places they are as bad as sexual predators.

I am only going off the name that MadeinUSA reported. She is a registered lobbyist in the State of Wisconsin. She represents Check 'N Go.

http://ethics.state.wi.us/scripts/Curren...

She is also facebook friends with Rep. Sheridan. Go to the friends list, click "see all", and scroll till you hit the M first names.

http://www.facebook.com/shanna.wycoff

I don't care who elected Representatives are friends with as long as they are NOT registered lobbyists. Good Grief!!!!

Please stop removing the truth about Sheridan's fake address. He is using his friends address of 828 Sentinal Dr. So he can be in his district.

He can kiss Judy Robsons job bye bye. I would not even vote for SheriDONE in a city council race. Time to hang it up Mikey.

SarahB1 must be a very die hard Dem. She never focuses on real issues! The issue here is total inappropriate use of power. SO I guess the best way to get something passed is send a hot young lobbyist to Mike's office and your bill will get special consideration. Mike should consider not running as his days are going to be numbered making public mistakes like this.

"If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck............"

Wake up Wisconsin! What are we going to do about the elected officials here that think they are above the law, ethics or the citizens of Wisconsin. Don't they work for us? Make sure you vote these poor excuse of public officials out of office in November!!

when are the voters going to figure out, mr. sheridon is for mr. sheridon and no one else! I will bet his ex's will agree, with this statement!

Much ado about nothing. Quit taking the focus off legislation that needs to be approved.

highlighter29 - when you say "Janesville will have an inexperienced person in the job with no idea how things really work - a lot of good that will do Janesville" does this mean that when Mike was elected that he had a ton of experience on this job before he took it. That is a stupid statement that is like saying that why vote for a new president because they dont have alot of experience at being president. Duh! I am voting against him next time!

Yeah - I hope he gets kicked out of office - a lot of good that will do. Then, Janesville will have an inexperienced person in the job with no idea how things really work - a lot of good that will do Janesville. Get a reality-check, people.
Mike - keep up the good work. Your personal life is personal, and I don't care.

A leopard cannot change its spots.

He just took that raise for himself just lately...didn't he? That extra money came in handy on those dates I bet.

I hope someone viable runs against Sheridan in the primary and general election. He needs to be gone.

What's that smell?

This does not pass the smell test. Sheridan is the top guy and controls what bills come to the floor and in what form. Is he seriously saying that his relationship with this lobbyist:

http://ethics.state.wi.us/scripts/Curren...

does not have an impact on legislation?

He should not be allowed to vote on any bill that this women was a lobbyist for or against. He should have known better to get with a lobbyist.

"he doesn’t believe dating a lobbyist for the payday loan industry was inappropriate, even though legislation to regulate the industry is pending in the Legislature."
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He would fit right in at the white house, the president just said in the state of the union "we've excluded lobbyists from policy-making jobs or seats on federal boards and commissions" yet he forgot he hired William Lynn, Eric Holder, Tom Vilsack, William Corr, David Hayes, Mark Patterson, Timothy Geithner, Ron Klain, Mona Sutphen, Melody Barnes, Cecilia Munoz, Patrick Gaspard, Michael Strautmanis; all of these people are previous lobbyists.