Decker: I've got the votes to lead Senate
10:30 AM 10/18/02
Scott Milfred State government reporter

Sen. Russ Decker said Friday he has enough votes to become the next leader of the Democratic-controlled state Senate.

The blue-collar Democrat from central Wisconsin pledged to change the tone at the Capitol and "overhaul the whole campaign financing system" if elected Senate majority leader by his Democratic peers Monday.

Decker, 49, also distanced himself from embattled Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala, D-Madison. Chvala's wife works for Decker as a legislative aide, and the two lawmakers sometimes hunt and fish together.

"I'm my own independent person," Decker said. "I've run my campaigns by myself. I've raised my money myself."

As for the serious charges leveled against Chvala in court, "I have not been involved in that type of activity at all," Decker said.

Decker, who is from Schofield, just outside Wausau, noted that he became the key negotiator on last year's state budget after talks between Chvala and Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, R-Waukesha, broke down.

"I have a lot of good will with both parties," he said. "We have to keep the personal vendettas out of it."

Chvala's wife shouldn't be an issue, he added. She was working for Decker before she married Chvala.

Any idea that Decker will be a spokesman for Chuck Chvala "is ridiculous," said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar. The two are dramatically different people, he said.

"Chuck is totally political," Jauch said. "Russ is less political. He's a problem solver. We're going from a mean-spirited environment to a good-spirited environment."

Sen. Rodney Moen, D-Whitehall, who was considering running for majority leader, could not be reached for comment Friday.