Schimel Calls Happ An ‘Activist’ During Final Attorney General Debate

In the final debate between the two candidates for attorney general, the Republican candidate called his opponent an activist who would use environmental laws to prevent economic growth in the state.

In the televised debate at the state bar association headquarters in Madison, Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel used his opening statement to warn businesses that his opponent, Jefferson County District Attorney Susan Happ, may try to block plans for an iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin.

“That’s a threat to Wisconsin’s economy, because you know her activism is not only going to affect the mine,” he said. “If you work for any size business in Wisconsin, you should fear her ‘do more’ agenda.”

Happ has not promised to oppose the mine, but she has said in previous debates that the attorney general has a role in insuring the state’s environmental laws are strictly enforced.

Happ rejects the activist label. During the debate she repeated her promise not to defend laws that she believes are unconstitutional.

“Unlike Brad, I don’t think the attorney general is a robot,” she said. “We can look at the last three attorneys general who have not defended certain laws when they believed they were unconstitutional.”

Schimel also criticized Happ for demonstrating her lack of experience by asking for advice from other DAs during a double homicide trial. Happ said that prosecutors often seek each other’s assistance in difficult cases.

The most recent Marquette University Law School poll shows Schimel and Happ neck and neck in the race, with 15 percent of voters still undecided.