Gordon Hintz's Opening Statement

I am running for the State Assembly because I believe that I have the vision, experience, energy, and leadership skills to represent Oshkosh in the Capitol. It is time for a change!

Here is my vision for Wisconsin. This is what I want for Wisconsin.

• All people will have access to quality health care at a reasonable price.
• All people will be able to work in a vibrant, growing economy at a living wage to support a family.
• All students will leave secondary school with the knowledge and skills to compete fully in a knowledge-based economy or to continue their education.
• All students who are qualified can get a post-secondary education regardless of their financial status.
• Senior citizens will have adequate health, housing, and support services.
• All people will enjoy clean air and water and a healthy natural environment.
• All people will benefit from a good transportation system.
• Government will use the peoples’ money wisely and play a positive role in the lives of individuals and communities.
  

As a legislator, I will be guided by this vision. But I am not so naive as to suggest that this vision can be achieved overnight. It will be achieved by very hard work, cooperation, compromise, moving step-by-step in the legislative process, and working within a legislative caucus and across the aisle. It takes 50 votes to get an Assembly bill passed and any legislator working outside of the caucus structure, quite honestly, cannot be effective.

Here is my education and experience.

I was born in Oshkosh and attended the Oshkosh Public Schools. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hamline University (St. Paul, MN). After college I worked on the 1996 campaign of the late U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota. Later in Washington DC, I worked on the legislative staffs of Congressman Jay Johnson and Senator Herb Kohl where I was directly exposed to the legislative process. I then entered graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where I received a master's degree in public policy and administration.

During graduate school, I served as a staff member to the Governor's Commission on State-Local Partnerships (Kettl Commission) and a Department of Transportation employee. I then worked as a management assistant and, later, as a budget analyst for the City of Long Beach, California where I served on the deficit reduction team. I know how to analyze budgets. Currently, I am an associate with the municipal consulting partnership of Public Administration Associates, LLC in Oshkosh.

Here is my position on leadership.

I believe that public officials have an obligation to tell the truth, even if the message is unpopular. They are elected to make hard choices, not to hide behind gimmicks such as the so-called Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, which could be better titled the Legislators' Protection Act. Finally, I believe that serving in the state legislature is a civic obligation and not a career. Seventeen years in office is long enough.

Oshkosh deserves better leadership in the State Assembly!


Gordon Hintz
9/14/04