The look of power in the state Assembly received a facelift Tuesday as both the majority holding Republicans and minority Democrats elected their leaders.
State Rep. John Gard, R-Peshtigo, received the role of speaker, vacated by state Rep. Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, after he was involved in the caucus investigation for using state employees for campaign work. Jensen will continue to serve in the role until Gard is sworn in in January.
However, state Rep. Steve Foti, R-Oconomowoc, who was also indicted in the same investigation, retained his position as the Republican's majority leader. State. Rep. Jean Hundertmark, R-Clintonville, was also picked to be assistant majority leader.
\Sixty percent of the people in my district re-elected me. This caucus concurred that you're innocent until proven guilty, just like the Constitution says"" Foti said.
Gard surprised his fellow GOP members by inviting governor-elect, Democratic state Attorney General, Jim Doyle, to the republican caucus.
""My key message today, however, is about sharing,"" Gard said. ""We need to work together in the Assembly and Senate with the governor-elect to make the changes and reforms that the people who elected us, expect to make.""
Assembly Democrats also had to elect a new majority leader after state Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, stepped down from that role for personal reasons. In his place the Democrats elected state Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, and state Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, as assistant minority leader.
