Gov. Doyle: Appoints Roger Breske as Commissioner of Railroads

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced the appointment of State Senator Roger Breske as the new Commissioner of Railroads. Breske’s term will begin June 4, 2008 and expire on March 1, 2011.

“Roger Breske has been a fine public servant for the past 18 years serving in the State Senate,” Governor Doyle said. “With his experience as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation, he will continue to serve the residents of Wisconsin well by ensuring the safety of the railroads in this state.”

State Senator Roger Breske was first elected to the State Senate in a special election in 1990. Senator Breske currently serves as the Chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Tourism. In addition, he serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail. Senator Breske also serves on the Governor’s Council on Highway Safety, Governor’s Council on Tourism, and the Rustic Roads Board.

Senator Breske has served his country in the United States Army on both active duty and as a member of the Army Reserve. He is currently an active member of AmVets and the Civil Air Patrol of Wisconsin. Breske and his wife, Karen, live in Eland and have four children and 13 grandchildren.

“I appreciate the faith Governor Doyle has in appointing me as Wisconsin’s Commissioner of Railroads,” Breske said. “For the past 18 years, I have had the privilege to represent the wonderful constituents of the 12th Senate District. I now move forward to serve the public in a different capacity. My gratefulness reaches into the new opportunities I will have to continue to work with the local units of government and people and business in Wisconsin to improve and maintain Wisconsin’s critical rail system.”

Created in 1993 and funded by assessments on railroad companies, the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads (OCR) is the only state agency with statutory responsibility and legal jurisdiction to investigate the safety of roadway/railway crossings in Wisconsin. It has the legal jurisdiction and the responsibility for determining the level of protection and the adequacy of protection needed for each roadway/railway crossing.

In partnership with private rail firms, local governments and citizens, OCR oversees a variety of highway/rail crossing issues including:

· Replacement or enhancement of passive and active warning devices at highway/rail crossings;

· Repair of rough highway/rail crossing surfaces;

· Installation of highway/rail crossings at new locations;

· Alteration of existing highway/rail crossings; and

· Closing or consolidating existing highway/rail crossings.

The State of Wisconsin has jurisdiction over 4,255 public roadway/railway crossings. A large percentage of these crossings are located on roads in the state with lower levels of traffic. The OCR employs five people and the Commissioner is appointed to six-year terms.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=126548

:kick: :kick: This opens up a Senate seat (12) held by a Democrat. :kick: :kick:

Sen. Breske: Statement on appointment by Governor Doyle
5/19/2008

Contact: Senator Breske
608-266-2509

Northwoods Senator Named as Commissioner of Railroads

(MADISON) I have been extremely honored to represent the 12th Senate District as State Senator for the past 18 years. Until this opportunity was presented to me, I had every intention to seek election to my sixth term as Senator. I appreciate the faith Governor Doyle has in appointing me as Wisconsin’s Commissioner of Railroads.

It is so very humbling to have the support of the majority of the voters in my district election after election. I have tried to serve my constituents to the best of my ability by fighting for issues they told me they cared about: good schools, good roads, family supporting jobs and a strong tourism industry. For all my work on issues, I am frankly most proud of my achievements on behalf of the people of the North when they had a problem with a government agency and did not know where to turn.

In addition, I relish my work with the local municipalities in protecting the shared revenues and working to increase the aids to the northwoods in the form of transportation projects, improvements and maintenance of local roads. As Chairman or member of the Senate Transportation Committee for most of my tenure, I came to appreciate and fully understand the importance of a strong, efficient and dependable transportation system – our roads, harbors, airports and rails. Without this lifeline throughout the state, especially rural areas, job creation and recreational opportunities suffer.

In my life, I have worked in my tavern business, driving a bread truck, in road construction, even on the rails for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. All helped put food on the table for my family, but I am most proud of serving as State Senator for the North. I felt like I could and did make a real difference for the people who, like me, chose to live, work and raise their families in the most beautiful spot in the world, northern Wisconsin.

This new position I have been appointed to feels like a natural fit. As Commissioner of Railroads, I will continue to work with towns, villages, cities and counties as I strive to maintain and improve rail lines. Safety at crossings is a high priority for me. Even though transportation systems have been modernized with other forms, rail continues to link raw materials and finished products to our people and industries.

I thank my legislative colleagues for their assistance and guidance over the years. While the Legislature can be too partisan and often harsh place, there are wonderful people there who do their best to serve the common good. I am especially appreciative of my colleague, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, for his friendship over the years. I have had the good fortune of working with highly qualified and caring legislators, and under some very helpful and educational leadership. And, finally, my sincere thanks and appreciation to the people throughout the Northwoods and the 12th Senate District for having the confidence in me these past 18 years. I look forward to my continued public service to the people of Wisconsin.

http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=126550

this seat can be held and it is sounding like maybe a candidate announcement would be coming in a week or so.

http://thewheelerreport.com/releases/May08/may19/0519ssdcbreske.pdf

and that the GOP doesn't. I wouldn't think Doyle would do this without a plan.

Former tourism secretary to seek state Senate seatstate Senate seat
Anita Weier — 5/20/2008 5:33 pm

Former Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Jim Holperin plans to seek election to the state Senate seat being vacated by Roger Breske, Assistant Assembly Minority Leader Jon Richards said Tuesday.

Breske, D-Eland, will leave his Senate seat to become the state's railroad commissioner, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday.

Holperin did not immediately return phone calls for comment Tuesday about his political plans.

Holperin, a Democrat who also formerly served in the Assembly, was Gov. Jim Doyle's tourism secretary from 2003 to January 2007. He resigned because of the travel time required to be with his wife and family at their home in Eagle River in northern Wisconsin.

Holperin took several innovative steps in the tourism office, including redesigning the travelwisconsin.com website and launching a voluntary environmental certification program for tourism businesses called Travel Green Wisconsin.

He is also a former director of Trees for Tomorrow.

Republican Tom Tiffany is also seeking to win Breske's 12th District Senate seat.

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/287372

That the governor's doing this to get one of the more vocal opponents of the proposed smoking ban out of the way.

I'll see Roger soon, and talk to him myself.