Walker, Barrett meet for first debate Friday

Posted:

MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- There were no big surprises in Friday night's debate in Milwaukee, but there was definitely a serious edge to the evening between Tom Barrett and Gov. Scott Walker.

Barrett went on the attack almost immediately, accusing walker of starting a civil war in Wisconsin with his law virtually ending public employee unions.

Walker insisted his reforms are working, but admitted he would go about things differently if given the chance.

Barrett also challenged walker to tell voters, before the election, exactly what he knew about illegal work that was done in his office as Milwaukee County executive. The case is under secret investigation.

Walker tried to keep the conversation focused on what he says are the successes of his first year as governor, while pointing to what he described as Barrett's failures as mayor of Milwaukee.

Barrett said he would focus on jobs and bringing unity and civility back to Wisconsin.

The two men will debate again on Thursday, May 31 from 9 to 10 p.m. on WKOW.

********

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker says he's shown high integrity his entire life and he will continue to show that in the face of an ongoing secret criminal probe that's already ensnared some of his former top aides and associates.

Walker was asked about the ongoing investigation during Friday's recall election debate in Milwaukee.

Walker says his opponent Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett continues to bring up the investigation because he is desperate and wants to distract from his record.

Barrett in the debate renewed his call on Walker to release emails related to the probe and reveal who is funding a criminal defense fund he has established.

Walker says he's been told by investigators he is not the focus of the investigation.

********

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is going after Gov. Scott Walker in the opening minutes of the first debate before the June 5 recall election.

Barrett said in opening statements of Friday's debate in Milwaukee that the election is not a rematch or a do-over because Walker has torn apart the state and that can't be undone.

Both Barrett and Walker say the election is about the future of the state. Walker says people want to move on from the turmoil of the past year.

The recall was spurred over anger related to Walker's proposal effectively ending collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

Walker and Barrett will meet for a second and final debate on Thursday.

********

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Gov. Scott Walker says in a message on Twitter that the first debate against his recall opponent Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett "should be simple."

Walker says in the tweet sent about two hours before the start of Friday's debate that it should come down to Barrett's record versus his.

Walker says unemployment and taxes are down under his watch as governor, while they are both up in Milwaukee under Barrett.

Both candidates have been battling a numbers game for weeks, pointing to different statistics to make their points about the other candidate. How well they have done with the economy has been a major focus of the campaign and was expected to be highlighted during the debate as well.

The recall election is June 5.

********

MADISON (WKOW) -- The first of two gubernatorial, recall debates will take place Friday night.

Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are scheduled to square off at 8 p.m. in Milwaukee in advance of the June 5 recall election.

Walker and Barrett will meet for a second and final debate Thursday night, also in Milwaukee.

The two candidates ran against each other in 2010. Walker's time as Milwaukee County executive also overlapped with Barrett's time as mayor from 2004 until 2010.

Recent polls show Walker with a narrow lead heading into the election. This election has attracted national attention, given the high profile fight over union rights that triggered the recall effort.

The debate, sponsored by the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, is being broadcast live statewide. You can watch it live on WKOW and at www.wkow.com.