Incumbent Republican 12th State Senator Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst has announced he is seeking another term. Tiffany says when he went to Madison to change the state's finances.. .
".....one of the main reasons I went to Madison is we could not continue deficit spending. We've ended that over the last three budgets where we've had balanced budgets, that's very important. That way we don't have to raise taxes, we can leave more money in people's pockets. . We have a balanced budget, third consecutive balanced budget so we don't have to raise taxes. Property taxes are not going up for most people. College tuition is frozen. We have the lowest level of bonding since the 1989 budget so that we're not putting this borrowing on our kids backs.The other thing we'll be working on natural resources issues"
He also authored a bill changing the state's Managed Forest Law which Governor Walker signed in Rhinelander Thursday.
Tiffany has drawn criticism for his authoring of the state mining bill that led to an unsuccessful attempt by Geogebic Mining to open a mine in Iron and Ashland counties, and for inserting a change in shoreland regulations late in the budget process that angered some local governments.
In 2004 and 2008 he ran for the Senate seat, first against Democrats Roger Breske, and later Jim Holperin, losing both times in close races. In 2010, he ran for the Assembly after the position was vacated by Donald Friske. Tiffany won the seat by defeating Democrat Jay Schmelling. In 2012, Tiffany chose not to seek re-election to the Assembly and ran for the State Senate after incumbent Jim Holperin announced he would not seek reelection. He defeated Democrat Susan Sommer in November, 2012.
Democrat David Polashek of Oconto Falls has announced he is also seeking the seat.
