The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Wisconsin River Cruises owner Tom Tiffany formally announced his candidacy for Wisconsin's 12th Senate District seat Tuesday.

The office is currently occupied by Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland).

Tiffany ran unsuccessfully against Breske in 2004, with Breske ultimately earning his fifth term.

This time around, Tiffany thinks he's better prepared and has a stronger core of support. He promised a positive, issues-oriented campaign that picks up where he left off in 2004.

In his announcement speech at Bucketheads in Rhinelander on Tuesday, Tiffany said he's eager to bring fresh ideas to the race and focus the 12th district's representation back on the people of the north.

“We need a senator who understands that a strong state government assists us in our daily lives, but a bloated state government squashes individual creativity and ingenuity,” Tiffany said. “With that in mind, job number one will be repairing our fiscal condition in Madison. I will treat the state's budget - your hard-earned money - just like my family's budget. There is no reason that the state budget should increase faster than our ability to pay.”

Taxes and the state budget are Tiffany's top concerns. He contends Breske has been fiscally irresponsible, voting for tax increases that have caused unfair strain on business and property owners in the northern part of the state. Ever-increasing taxes are hindering the growth of business and employment.

He also said Breske's vote against a property tax freeze shows his disconnect with the district's constituents, many of whom struggle to pay steadily rising property taxes.

Another of Tiffany's top priorities is making health care more affordable and accessible. He said people need to be involved with and in control of their healthcare options so they can understand it and make informed choices on care. It is not a role for the government, he said. Many states have attempted government-run health care and all have failed.

“Turning our health care system over to the state government, the very same government that cannot implement an IT system in the Department of Revenue, is not a solution,” he said.

Tiffany said he'll use good Northwoods common sense in dealing with the issues of the day. Unseating Breske will be a challenge, but Tiffany said he confident he can better represent the district.

“I view the 2008 campaign as a continuation of 2004,” he said. “We didn't lose the election in ‘04 so much as time just ran out,” he said.

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Comments »

mgp8k3t wrote on Apr 18, 2008 8:39 PM:

" Roger Breske is so out of touch even allot of his relatives in Birnamwood are going to vote against him because of broking promises.

Roger Breske said if I tax you Dave Obey will give us more money from Washington! Where dose the money coming from Washington come from? Wisconsin, you and I. Lets keep it here in the first place.
I do not make my living working for the government!!!! "

Robert & Elizabeth Putnam wrote on Nov 8, 2007 7:44 AM:

" Sorry Tom Tiffany but you will lose again, Mr. Breske is the man for the job sir. We certainly don't need more Republicans in office look at Washington the folks threw them out last November all the corruption and graft is disgusting. As for health care sir if the rest of the world cann afford health care for thier citizens then this country certainly do so, if it wasn'tg for the drug companis fighting against it we would have it b ut they have thier cronies up there keeping the citizens of this country getting care no one should have to be ill and can't afford care. That's my opinion. "

JIC wrote on Nov 7, 2007 3:00 PM:

" Senator Breske was re-elected to a fifth term in 2004 because he has been a great senator for the Northwoods, and he will undoubtedly continue serving our area in this way if he is re-elected in the future. "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.