Dale Schultz Announces Retirement from the Wisconsin State Senate

By Kyle Maichle, Editor of Wisconsin Election Watch,

RICHLAND CENTER – State Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center, 17th District) announced that he will retire from the Wisconsin State Senate at the end of the 2014 session.

WISC-TV in Madison first reported late Sunday evening that Senator Schultz would retire in an exclusive interview with the television station.   During the interview, the Senator took aim at fellow Republicans over legislation requiring voters to show identification at the polls.  He said: “While I certainly believe we need to safeguard the integrity of the ballot box I think we have crossed the line on a couple of occasions.  It’s been a very uncomfortable situation for me having to vote along with the caucus because I’ve tried to be a good Republican.”

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The Senator later said in a statement: “I want everyone to know, I listened and was deeply touched by their kind words.  After much soul searching, prayer, and talking with family and close friends, I realized something. As wonderful and rewarding as the journey has been, there’s simply more to life than being senator.”

The Senator also made clear that he would not endorse Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) who is running for the Republican nomination in the 17th Senate District.  “Howard made it clear in his announcement challenging me that his top two reasons for doing so were my votes on Act 10 and mining.  It’s pretty difficult to support someone who’s so out of step with the views of my constituents on major issues they care deeply about,” said the Senator.

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Schultz was first elected into Legislative office in 1982 when he was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly.  He won re-election to the lower house of the Legislature four times before being elected to the Wisconsin State Senate in 1991 via a special election.  Schultz won re-election to the Senate five times.   In 2010, he defeated Carol Beals (D-Platteville) 62.6 to 37.4 percent.  The 17th Senate District is located in Southwest Wisconsin and includes Green, Grant, Iowa, Juneau, Lafayette, Monroe, Sauk, and Richland Counties along with the UW-Platteville campus.