Letters To Wisconsin State Officials

As Wisconsin business leaders, we know that to grow the economy, create jobs, and increase wages and opportunities, we must have a strong, vibrant democracy that ensures the rule of law and civic stability. That’s why we have come together as a bipartisan group of business leaders to advocate for our democracy. We are committed to ensuring all eligible voters with access to the ballot; enacting non-partisan, transparent election policy and administration; and advocating for secure and modern election systems. We believe in a core set of democratic tenets that have served our state well for generations. We are calling on state officials to join us in our pledge to uphold these tenets and guide our state to a prosperous future.

Letters To The Gubernatorial Candidates:

Dear Governor Evers / Mr. Tim Michels,

Please see the letter below and attached from Wisconsin Business Leaders For Democracy. Please reply to this letter by responding to this email at info@wibusinessfordemocracy.org.

Thank you

Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy

September 26, 2022

Gov. Tony Evers

c/o Tony for Wisconsin

PO Box 1879

Madison, WI 53701

info@tonyevers.com

Tim Michels

c/o Michels for Governor

PO Box 26909

Milwaukee WI 53226

info@michelsforgovernor.com

Dear Candidates for Wisconsin Governor:

That’s why we have come together as a bipartisan group of business leaders to advocate for our democracy. We are committed to ensuring all eligible voters with access to the ballot; enacting non-partisan, transparent election policy and administration; and advocating for secure and modern election systems.

We are asking you, the two major candidates for Wisconsin Governor, to join us in pledging support to 10 fundamental tenets of democracy and democratic elections that have served our state well for generations.

Many of these foundational beliefs are based on those put forth by the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections, a bipartisan coalition of more than 50 organizations and individuals – including the Carter Center and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Conservative Policy Leadership Institute and Leadership Now Project. They all agree that candidates for public office should lead by example and uphold the core doctrines of democratic elections: integrity, nonviolence, security, oversight, and the peaceful transfer of power.

The pledge appears below. We welcome your responses by October 3, 2022, so we can accurately inform fellow business leaders and the public about your positions on elections and democracy. For clarity, a non-response will be interpreted as a “no, I don’t support” declaration.

Sincerely,

Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy

https://www.wibusinessfordemocracy.org

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Candidate Pledge:

1. I pledge to respect voters' freedom to exercise their lawful rights to register and vote, free from interference, obstruction, or intimidation.

2. I pledge to encourage a peaceful election atmosphere during the pre-election, polling, counting, and post-election periods.

3. I will cooperate with election officials, adhere to rules and regulations, and refrain from knowingly propagating falsehoods about the electoral process.

4. I pledge to denounce any attempt to intimidate, harass, threaten or incite violence against opponents, their supporters, and election workers.

5. I pledge to encourage political parties and others to train poll-watchers on the election process and appropriate roles and behaviors, responsibilities, and obligations.

6. I pledge to make any claims of election irregularities in full accordance with the law and acknowledge the legitimacy of the outcomes after the results have been certified and all legal contests resolved.

7. I pledge to accept the outcome of the 2022 Wisconsin gubernatorial election once results are verified by the Wisconsin Election Commission and any valid legal challenges have run their course.

8. I pledge to veto any measures approved by the legislature to decertify the 2020 presidential election results in Wisconsin.

9. I pledge to certify the winner of the 2024 presidential election, whomever it is, after the results are verified by the Wisconsin Election Commission and all valid legal challenges resolved.

10. I pledge to veto any measures approved by the legislature that would politicize election administration in our state, including efforts that would limit the oversight role of the Wisconsin Election Commission by giving more power to political actors.

I agree to the above pledge: Yes ____ No _____

Candidate signature: ______________________

Date: ___________

Our Letters To The Election Officials

Given recent attacks on our election administrators, we are sending emails to show our support for the work they do to uphold our democracy. There are two versions: 1) Letter to Meagan Wolfe and the Wisconsin Elections Commission Staff, and 2) Letter in Support of Wisconsin Local Election Officials. These letters will be emailed to each election administrator and will also be made publicly available.

Letter to Meagan Wolfe and the Wisconsin Elections Commission Staff

Dear Meagan Wolfe and the staff of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC),

We, the undersigned, represent business leaders from industries across Wisconsin. We are deeply concerned about the state of our democracy. Although the 2020 elections were among the most successful in American history thanks to your efforts, we recognize election administrators nationwide are facing increasing unwarranted threats and harassment. We hereby offer our sincere gratitude and full support.

Since the creation of the WEC in 2016, each of you has upheld our state’s tradition of nonpartisan, expert election administration. In 2020, you enabled over 3.2 million voices from Wisconsin to be heard in the midst of a global health crisis. You also supported and trained over 1,800 local election officials across the state. As the support of your colleagues across the country make clear, your commitment and integrity are a model for election administrators nationwide. We write to voice our support and to thank you for your courageous work and dedication.

We are aware that aggressive attempts of legal action, calls for your resignation, and even threats of violence make the job of administering our elections more difficult than ever. As an election official, your work is the glue that bonds our processes and upholds our democracy. We are lucky to have your talent and expertise here in Wisconsin as we head into the 2022 elections. You continue to ensure the voices of voters are heard through an impartial process that allows for accessible and fair elections.

We also want you to know that we will continue to call upon our colleagues and peers to stand with us, support the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and commit to efforts that defend our democracy from further attack.

Thank you,

Russell Barcelona, Co-Owner of Ascend Talent Strategies

Elizabeth F. Brenner, Former President & Publisher of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sean Cummings, COO of Kacmarcik Enterprises

Jill Enos, Managing Director of TitletownTech

Peter Feigin, President of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum

John Florsheim, President & COO of Weyco Group

Tom Florsheim, Chairman & CEO of Weyco Group

John Kissinger, President & CEO of GRAEF

Matthew S. Levatich, Former President & CEO of Harley-Davidson Motor Company

David Lubar, President & CEO of Lubar & Co.

Barry R. Mandel, Chair & CEO of Mandel Group

Greg Marcus

John W. Miller, Principal of Arenberg Holdings

Paul Miller, Partner of Colectivo Coffee Roaster

Ronald D. Miller

Mark Mone, Chancellor of University of Wisconsin Milwaukee

Cory Nettles, Founder & Managing Director of Generation Growth Capital

Anoop Prakash, Division President of REV Group

Jeff Rusinow, Chairman of MediCardia Health

Austin Ramirez, CEO of Husco

Sachin M. Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry

Paul Sweeney, Partner of PS Capital Partners

Letter in Support of Wisconsin Local Election Officials

Dear <Official To Be Named> and staff,

We, the undersigned, represent business leaders from industries across Wisconsin. We would like to thank you for running successful and safe elections. We want to recognize your hard work and dedication under difficult conditions - such as the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing public scrutiny and harassment - and offer our sincere gratitude.

In 2020, you and your colleagues enabled over 3.2 million voices from Wisconsin to be heard in the midst of a global health crisis. We write to voice our support for the nonpartisan, expert administration you provided.

We are aware that attempts of legal action and even threats of violence make the job of administering our elections more difficult than ever. As an election official, your work is the glue that bonds our processes and upholds our democracy. We are lucky to have your talent and expertise here in Wisconsin as we head into the 2022 elections. You continue to ensure the voices of voters are heard through an impartial process that allows for accessible and fair elections.

We also want you to know that we will continue to call upon our colleagues and peers to stand with us, support election officials across the state, and commit to efforts that defend our democracy from further attack.