LETTER TO CANDIDATES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Falk campaign name and address

Van Hollen campaign name and address

            Re:       WSAA Candidate Survey

Dear ______________:

            The Wisconsin State Attorneys Association (“WSAA”) is made up of nearly 300 lawyers who provide professional legal services to or on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, its agencies, officials and employees.  Over 80 of our members currently serve as Assistant Attorneys General (“AAGs”) in the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  In that capacity, these members provide legal advice on a wide range of issues that affect the daily lives of our citizens.  These members also vigorously enforce state laws and defend the state’s interests in state and federal courts.  AAGs work closely with our member colleagues in the executive state agencies and defend the decisions of our administrative law judge members.

            On behalf of all of our members, the WSAA Board of Directors is conducting a survey of the candidates for Wisconsin Attorney General.  The survey seeks to ascertain the position of the candidates on two issues of critical importance to the WSAA’s members: attorney consolidation and pay progression.

            While it is the policy of WSAA  not to make public endorsements of candidates in political elections, the responses to our survey will be distributed to our members for their information prior to Election Day. We believe this is an excellent opportunity for the Attorney General candidates to speak to our members on matters that will directly or indirectly affect each of them over the next several years.

            In order to provide timely information to our members, we would appreciate receiving your response to our survey via U.S. Mail no later than October 31, 2006.  We have also enclosed a pre-addressed postage prepaid envelope for your convenience in returning your response to us.

            Thank you for your interest and attention.  We look forward to hearing from you.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                                            WISCONSIN STATE ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION

WISCONSIN STATE ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION

SURVEY OF CANDIDATES FOR

WISCONSIN ATTORNEY GENERAL

            The members of the WSAA appreciate your attention and response to the following questions of interest to our members:

            1.         What is your current position on any proposal to consolidate Wisconsin state agency legal counsel into the Department of Administration?  What is your current position on any proposal to make agency chief legal counsel gubernatorial appointees and expanding the Governor’s authority to appoint special counsel in litigation and other matters affecting the State’s interests.  Please explain the reasons for your position

            2.         During the 1990s, State-WSAA labor contracts provided for movement within the range between entry level salary and the top of the pay plan.  More recently, the State has been opposed to this kind of arrangement.  A substantial number of WSAA’s members are or, in the next few years, will become retirement eligible, meaning that the State will have to replace highly experienced and accomplished lawyers with less experienced or new lawyers.  Also, a number of WSAA members with between five and 15 years of experience have recently left state service.  WSAA believes that adoption of a pay progression plan, which provides for regular and predictable wage increases, will promote the State’s interests by ensuring the retention of highly skilled and dedicated lawyers who wish a career in public service.

            What is your position on adopting a pay progression plan for the lawyers for the State of Wisconsin?  Please explain the reasons for supporting or opposing such a plan.

LETTER TO CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR

Doyle Campaign name and address

Green campaign name and address

Eisman campaign name and address

            Re:       WSAA Candidate Survey

Dear ______________:

            The Wisconsin State Attorneys Association (“WSAA”) is made up of nearly 300 lawyers who provide professional legal services to or on behalf of the State of Wisconsin, its agencies, officials and employees.  Our members advise top executives throughout state government on a wide range of programmatic, policy-based and personnel issues, vigorously enforce state laws, defend the state’s interests in administrative and judicial proceedings and the courts and serve as neutral judges in administrative proceedings involving the most basic services and benefits provided to Wisconsin citizens.

            On behalf of our members, the WSAA Board of Directors is conducting a survey of the candidates for Wisconsin Governor.  The survey seeks to ascertain the position of the candidates on two issues of critical importance to the WSAA’s members: attorney consolidation and pay progression.

            While it is the policy of WSAA  not to make public endorsements of candidates in political elections, the responses to our survey will be distributed to our members for their information prior to Election Day. We believe this is an excellent opportunity for the gubernatorial candidates to speak to our members on matters that will directly or indirectly affect each of them over the next several years.

            In order to provide timely information to our members, we would appreciate receiving your response to our survey via U.S. Mail no later than October 31, 2006.  We have also enclosed a pre-addressed postage prepaid envelope for your convenience in returning your response to us.

            Thank you for your interest and attention.  We look forward to hearing from you.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                                            WISCONSIN STATE ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION