Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Thursday, September 14, 2006

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Paul Bucher

PARTY — Republican

AGE — 51

RESIDES — Town of Merton

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1977; law, Marquette University, 1981.

CAREER — Appointed Waukesha County district attorney in 1988, re-elected since; Waukesha County assistant district attorney; legislative aide; past president of the Wisconsin District Attorneys Association.

PERSONAL — Married, five children.

J.B. Van Hollen

PARTY — Republican

AGE — 40

RESIDES — Waunakee

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., 1988; law, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1990.

CAREER — Appointed U.S.

attorney, Western District of Wisconsin 2002, resigned 2005; served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee subcommittees on Native American Issues, Controlled Substances, and Firearms and Violent Crime; assistant U.S. attorney, 1991-1993; Ashland County district attorney, 1993-1999; Bayfield County district attorney, 1999-2002; volunteer firefighter, Iron River Fire Department; volunteer first responder, Iron River Ambulance Department.

PERSONAL — Married, two children.

Kathleen Falk

PARTY — Democrat

AGE — 55

RESIDES — Madison

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Stanford, 1973; law, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1976.

CAREER — Elected Dane County executive, 1997, re-elected 2001, 2005; co-director and legal counsel, Wisconsin Environmental Decade, 1977-1983; assistant attorney general, including, serving as public intervenor for 12 years, 1983-1997.

PERSONAL — Married, one son.

Peg Lautenschlager

PARTY — Democrat

AGE — 50

RESIDES — Fond Du Lac.

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Lake Forest College, 1977; law, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1980.

CAREER — Elected attorney general 2002; former U.S. attorney, Western District of Wisconsin, 1993-2001; Winnebago County district attorney, 1985-1988; interim Winnebago County court commissioner; elected to state Assembly 1988, re-elected 1990; member, Legal Association for Women, Law Enforcement Training Officers Association, Wisconsin Association of Women Police.

PERSONAL — Married, three children, two stepchildren.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Doug LaFollette

PARTY — Democrat

AGE — 66

RESIDES — Madison

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Marietta College, 1963; master’s degree, Stanford, 1964; Ph.D., Columbia, 1967

CAREER — Elected secretary of state, 1974 and 1982, re-elected since 1986; professor, state senator; small business owner; public affairs director for Union of Concerned Scientists; deputy director of Mid-America Solar Energy Complex.

PERSONAL — Single.

Scot Ross

PARTY — Democrat

AGE — 37

RESIDES — Madison

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, University of Pittsburgh, 1993; master’s degree, George Washington, 1997.

CAREER — Reporter; communications director for Kathleen Falk’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign; communications director, Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s 2002 campaign; communications director, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis.; communications director, state Department of Justice; Wisconsin legislative staffer; research director, America Coming Together; director of research and message development, Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

PERSONAL — Single.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Jean Hundertmark

PARTY — Republican

AGE — 52

RESIDES — Clintonville

EDUCATION — Diploma, business administration, Bryant and Stratton College, Milwaukee, 1973; graduate, Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development, 2002.

CAREER — Elected to state Assembly 1998, re-elected since 2000; restaurant owner; member, Waupaca County Farm Bureau, Clintonville Area Historical Society.

PERSONAL — Married, two daughters.

Nick Voegeli

PARTY — Republican

AGE — 44

RESIDES — Sun Prairie

EDUCATION — Bachelor’s degree, Marquette University, 1983; Master of Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992; graduate, U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, 1996.

CAREER — Certified public accountant; U.S. Navy intelligence officer; deputy state treasurer; member, Sun Prairie Common Council; chairman, City of Sun Prairie Finance Committee; secretary/treasurer, City of Sun Prairie Water & Light Commission; treasurer, member board of directors, Colonial Club Senior Activity Center, Sun Prairie.

PERSONAL — Married, five children.

Source: Candidates