Reynolds criticizes Milwaukee legislators
North side families barely exist, he says

Oct. 5 -- State legislators from Milwaukee's north side "were more concerned with preserving" social services than they were with restoring strong families, State Sen. Tom Reynolds (R-West Allis) said Wednesday evening.

Reynolds, responding to a question about safety in the city, said he met with north side legislators, but they resisted his attempts to engage them in his ideas for improving their constituents' family situations.

"You go on the north side of the city of Milwaukee," he said during a debate with Democratic challenger Jim Sullivan. "You find that families barely...even exist."

The debate, held at Grace Community Church in West Allis, drew about 75 people. Reynolds attends the church, and the debate was governed by ground rules developed by the incumbent.

There were few fireworks during the event, though the candidates clearly differed on the issues. The two are vying for the 5th District Senate seat. The 5th District includes Story Hill.

Sullivan, for example, said the state needed to invest in a broad variety of energy alternatives, including biomass, wind energy, and clean coal plants, while Reynolds touted just one energy alternative: nuclear power.

Reynolds said he would push legislation to site nuclear energy in the state. Reynolds said he had not fully researched the issue of how to dispose of nuclear waste, adding that researchers are "coming up with waste that is less and less detrimental."

Sullivan, a Wauwatosa alderman, said he supported exploring the possibilities of nuclear energy. The waste disposal issue "is a critical limit to that particular technology," he said.

The two candidates also took opposite stands on amending the state constitution to limit local property tax increases.

Reynolds cited a list of what he said were state legislators convicted of crimes.

"In Madison, there are people without internal constraints," he said.

Sullivan said that Reynolds' argument was a good reason for not enacting local tax limits -- local governments manage budgets better than the state does.

Sullivan took a few shot at some of Reynolds' past proposals, such as building an autobahn between Madison and Milwaukee.

"That shows a disconnect, particularly with road building and public works budgets," Sullivan said.

Reynolds, for his part, said he wanted to strengthen the Transportation Projects Commission, which is supposed to review and approve major highway projects, but that is often side-stepped by state legislators.

"This is a commission that has never been fully utilized because of the pressure of the road builders," Reynolds said.

On another topic, Sullivan said he opposed the "marriage amendment" that will be on the Nov. 7 ballot. The proposed amendment that residents will vote on reads:

Sullivan said he opposed the measure, in part, because it would have a "disproportionate impact on seniors" and would affect things like hospital visitation.

He also said he was concerned the amendment was an effort to drive up the conservative vote by people who would "try and find something out there to appeal to sort of the worst angels of our nature."

Reynolds, focusing on same-sex relationships, said it is "a crazy day trying to call that type of relationship a marriage. It's just not right."

Sullivan said he opposed proposals that would allow residents to carry concealed weapons, but that he believes they have the right to own guns for sport, hunting, and to protect their homes.

Reynolds did not directly address the topic, but has supported such proposals in the Legislature. Reynolds also has accepted $500 in donations from the Wisconsin Concealed Carry Movement from Jan. 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006.

While Sullivan said he wanted the district to return to the "responsible moderation," Reynolds said he would continue to represent the "conservative values" of the district