MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) – He was hoping to be Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) secretary, but got fired instead.
Brad Pfaff called out lawmakers publicly last year for removing mental health funding for farmers from Gov. Evers' budget, which did get added back in later.
Now, those lawmakers could be seeing a lot more of Pfaff who says he's running for state Senate.
“Well, I will say this, this is about the future,” Pfaff said when asked why he wants to work with the lawmakers who rejected his confirmation in November. “This is making sure that we go forward as an area and as a community.”
After being encouraged by neighbors and community members, Pfaff is running for a Senate seat in the La Crosse area.
Last month, former Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) announced she will retire, opening the seat for November.
“We need to get back to what I call Western Wisconsin values,” Pfaff said. “Those that are based on respect for one another, honesty, working hard, taking care of one another, building each other up, not tearing each other down.”
Pfaff says though he's personally disappointed by what happened last fall, he can still get along with anyone.
“I myself am willing to rise above that because I recognize the fact that, quite frankly, what took place last fall was not about me,” Pfaff said. “That was, quite frankly, about family farmers, rural residents, and small business owners that are experiencing very difficult, emotional, and financial times.”
As a reemerging political candidate, campaigning amid the coronavirus pandemic has been challenging.
“I'm on the phone an awful lot and I am calling community leaders, I'm calling local elected officials, I'm calling a lot of friends, a lot of neighbors, just reaching out and saying 'hello,'” Pfaff said.
Pfaff knows he has a long road ahead but hopes this November goes better than the last.
“Make hay while the sun is shining,” Pfaff said. “The sun is shining right now and, as someone from the farm, I want to do everything I can to make hay right now.”
Former Republican State Sen. Dan Kapanke and Democrat Paul Michael Weber are also running for the seat.