Wisconsin Builder | Job Satisfaction

Office politics

Candace Doyle

Wisconsin construction executive Tim Michels announced in August that he will be a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, joining GOP state Sen. Bob Welch in the battle to take on Sen. Russ Feingold next year.

Michels is a vice president of Michels Corp., Brownsville, and his run for office is his second: He lost a state Senate bid five years ago.

But it's not unprecedented — others with connections to the industry in Wisconsin have entered politics on the local, state and national levels.

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, is among them. Ryan's great-grandfather founded Ryan Inc. Central, an earth-moving business in Janesville.

And state Sen. Cathy Stepp, a Racine Republican, runs a home-building business in Racine, First Stepp Builders Inc., with her husband.

But before either of them entered the fray, there was Julius Heil.

In 1901, Heil founded the Heil Rail Joint Company in Milwaukee. The company evolved into The Heil Company, and Heil, the man, evolved into Wisconsin's governor, a post he held from 1938 until 1942. He was pictured on the Jan. 16, 1939, cover of Time magazine.

So the leap from construction to politics is really not that big. Some, like Jeff Shoaf, say it's only natural.

"We do have some of our members who are active in political life around the country," said Shoaf, the senior executive director for government and political affairs for the Associated General Contractors of America. "I encourage all our members to be active in politics and run for office if they're willing to."

Why? He thinks their wins are industry wins.

"I think anyone brings a little bit of his background with him," he said. "There's a familiarity with how a contractor or developer works. When you go to talk to him about how procurement works, he knows what you're talking about."

John McAdams, associate professor of political science at Marquette University, agreed.

"Certainly, he'll understand the problems of the construction industry and will likely vote with industry and pro-business generally. I think that's likely."

That's all good, right?

Sure, except that McAdams pointed out that the West Wing isn't reality TV.

"One person in the Senate is not going to make a difference. It's one senator out of 100. The number of issues that come up where it'll make a difference is significant but not going to make a difference.

"Let's just say it matters, but it doesn't matter a lot," said McAdams, sounding more politician than professor.

It's sad but true. Yet there is that feel-good quality about having your horse win or at least valiantly try.

Whether Michels gives it all he's got (it's crass, but this means cash), remains to be seen.

"If he is willing to use several million of his own money... I'd say he has a chance," McAdams said. "Business executives who have a ton of money do tolerably well. He sounds as possible a candidate as any."

That's more sad but true commentary on our political process. But it could be worse. Just look at California.