Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 1

Wisconsin State Journal City Editor: David Stoeffler, 252-6130 WISCONSIN 3D 1D LOCAL Death notices 4D Classifieds 5D Friday, February 17, 1995 Helbach resigns from Senate Head Start workers OK union pact bach leaves. The abrupt announcement from the Stevens Point lawmaker didn't say why Helbach was leaving. But it said he "was in conversation with a Wisconsin- Helbach was the Senate Democratic leader from 1991 to mid-1993. Until April 20, 1993, he was the Senate majority leader the top political job in the Senate. After Republicans gained control in three special Senate elections in April 1993, he served as minority leader until he resigned that post, in his words, "to get back to issues." He led a study committee on campaign finance reform and became an outspoken critic of a system that eats up hundreds of thousands of dollars every campaign cycle.

Some speculated Helbach would take a lobbying job. State law generally bans public officials from lobbying for 12 months after leaving office, but lawmakers are exempt from that law. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Announcement hints at new job in private sector By Jeff Mayers State government reporter Sen. David Helbach, a state lawmaker since 1979, surprised the Capitol on Thursday by announcing his resignation.

Helbach's departure for a job in the private sector, effective today, will spur a political battle over his 24th Senate seat The seat is considered a relatively safe Democratic seat, but Republicans have a good record in special elections. It also will leave minority Democrats with one fewer member. The GOP will control the 33-member Senate 17-15 after Hel too good to pass up. "We don't own legislators. I think we have to respect that," Jauch said.

"Clearly I'd rather be battling the budget than a special election." Jauch said he hoped the governor would call a special primary election to coincide with the statewide April election. That would allow a May general election to decide who takes the seat. Jauch offered several possible Democratic candidates, including former state Rep. Stan Grus-zynski, a Stevens Point representative who left the Assembly last year in an unsuccessful run for Congress. Helbach was elected to the Assembly in 1978 and took office in January 1979.

He was elected to the Senate in an August 1983 special election to succeed William Bablitch, now a state Supreme Court justice. defender of the UW System and its UW-Stevens Point campus. In recent years, he concentrated on changing a campaign finance system he said was out of control. Earlier this year, he became a member of the state Building Commission. "Dave Helbach was an excellent legislator and a good friend.

What I admired most about him is he never put partisanship ahead of good public policy," GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson said in a statement "He's a gentleman and I will miss him." "Dave is steady," said Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, who succeeded Helbach as Democrats' minority leader. He said Helbach will be remembered for his common-sense approach to politics and lawmaking. But he said Helbach's new private sector job apparently was Helbach based company." Because of Wisconsin's strict conflict of interest laws, Helbach said he thought best to resign before those talks continued.

"It's time for me to seek a new challenge," he said. Helbach is a well-known and well-liked figure at the Capitol, a moderate Democrat who could sit down and work out a problem with Republicans. He was a big State Journal staff Dane County Head Start workers will receive higher wages, improved health insurance and other benefits as part of their new union contract. Employees voted Wednesday to ratify their first union contract with Dane County Parent Council ending a one-year labor contract dispute. "It took well over a year to win this, but it was well worth the effort of our people and our many supporters in the Madison community," said Head Start spokeswoman Kim Genich.

Most workers currently make less than $7 an hour. Under the new contract, wages will increase between 37.5 cents an hour and $1.10 an hour. The contract will also improve health insurance, and vacation and sick leave provisions. About 90 Head Start employees, including teachers assistants and social workers, will be covered by the contract. Raffle to boost athletics atUW $50 tickets set up $1 million prize Soglin doesn't fret over Poles Madison Mayor Paul Soglin couldn't help revealing to those attending his upscale fund-raiser Thursday night the contents of a support letter sent to him by Concourse Hotel Manager Cal Worrell.

The letter concluded, "I really don't know why you are worried about the (sic) poles." After the laughter ebbed, Soglin added, "I told him we were no more worried about the Poles than we were worried about the Slavs or the Czechs or any of the rest of them." COMMENTARY New look: By the way, Soglin sported a more dignified hairstyle Thursday night. He said his wife, Sara, recommended that he put something on his hair in the morning to control the static during the winter months. Soglin re iiiw PAT SIMMS State Journal photoJOSEPH JACKSON I By Phil McDade Wisconsin State Journal If you've got a spare $50 bill sitting around, backers of UW-Madison athletics want to hear from you. The National Club, the UW's main athletic booster club, announced plans Thursday to hold a raffle on behalf of the UW athletic department. Raffle tickets will cost $50, and the winner of the raffle will get $1 million.

"Fifty dollars doesn't do much today anymore," said raffle organizer Don Lyons in justifying the raffle tickets as affordable. Dubbed "Sittin' on a Million," the raffle will conclude when a winner is drawn at Butch's Bologna Bash April 22. That's the annual athletic department fundraiser held at the Field House and sponsored by the National Club. Fourteen smaller cash prizes will also be awarded at the fund-raiser. Raffle sponsors hope to sell 100,000 raffle tickets.

If fewer than 100,000 tickets are sold, the prize money will be reduced, organizers said. The raffle will work this way: People who hold season tickets for UW football, basketball and hockey games will be given first crack at the raffle tickets. They'll have two weeks from today to buy one raffle ticket for each season ticket they hold. Organizers said about 65,000 people hold season tickets. On 'We look at this as a tremendous opportunity for completing out some facilities that are badly Pat Rlchter UW athletic director Offering their support Wednesday's freezing rain provided perfect learning-to-skate weather for Ariana Karp, 6, who was out at Tenney Park with her mom, Katrin Talbot, left, and friend Scott Lesh, who provided the hockey stick for support.

The ice might get a little slushy this weekend. The high today should hit 38 degrees with highs expected in the mid-to-upper 40s through early next week. Constitution losing its gender hand," said Rep. Sheila Hars-dorf, R-River Falls. "When I call someone the chairman, it is obvious I'm referring to the position, not the person.

I've had a lot of members coming up to me telling they would have liked to have voted against this too, but they felt they couldn't" "If this were introduced by a modestly after the vote. For example, he said, the constitution refers to the state's clerks of courts as "he" and "him" but most of the clerks in the state are women. Johnsrud said he was involved in an informal group of legislators charged with rewriting the state's laws for gender neutrality. He said he thought the same principle should apply to the constitution. Ironically, one of the three to vote against the measure was one of the Assembly's 21 women.

"I think it's just getting out of Assembly votes out sex references By Mike Flaherty Legislative reporter The Assembly decided Thursday that the Wisconsin Constitution should be "gender neutral" no longer referring only to men when spelling out the rights of state citizens. The measure passed 96-3 and will likely pass next week in the Senate, where it is sponsored by the body's president Sen. Brian Rude, R-Coon Valley. The overwhelming vote masked some of the more unique divisions and alliances created by the bill. Co-sponsors of the bill are Rep.

DuWayne Johnsrud, a self-described conservative Republican and a hog and cattle farmer from Eastman in the southwest corner of the state, and Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a self-described liberal Madison Democrat and the only openly lesbian member of the Legislature. "I'm not real sure how I got involved in all of this. But it's the right thing to do," Johnsrud said fused to name the product. "But its more expensive than Dippety Doo," he said.

Tough times: By the way, Gov. Tommy Thompson's budget speech Tuesday seemed particularly hard on Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Rod Moen walked up to Sen. David Helbach on the Assembly floor after the speech.

The pair eyed the clutch of reporters pressing Senate Majority Leader Mike Ellis, Assembly Majority Leader Scott Jensen, Joint Finance co-chair Joe Leean and other GOP bigwigs. "Remember," asked Moen, "when they tried to crowd around you?" Broad support: Demonstrators outside the Assembly chambers Tuesday protested Thompson's budget "Leave D.P.I, alone," said one sign. The sign-carrier? David Knipfel. a banquet worker at the Concourse Hotel who felt the governor was trying to grab too much power. Not yet: By the way, State Journal Associate Editor Tom Still, in a session with Thompson on Tuesday, expressed concern over expanded gubernatorial powers.

"What if," Still asked, "we have a marshmallow governor?" Retorted Thompson, "John Benson is running for that?" No, added Administration Secretary Jim Klauser "I think he meant Joe Wineke." On behalf of the state schools superintendent and the state senator from Verona: ouch. Not steak: Weather Central President Terry Kelly won a can of Spam at the Riders in the Sky concert last Friday night at the Madison Civic Center. He stumped the band with a question best described as equine double-entendre. Simms' Snoop column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Phone: 252-6126.

woman, it probably wouldn't have passed," Johnsrud reflected. "But I'm a conservative rural Republican," he protested good-naturedly. "How can anyone doubt my motives?" Gun laws spur firefighter candidacy defend themselves. "This city just amazes me," Turnquist said. "We are supposed to be so liberal, but each year we seem March 4, any raffle tickets not bought by season ticket holders, as well as the remaining raffle tickets, will go on sale to the public.

Season ticket holders can buy additional raffle tickets once they go on sale to the public, organizers said. Call 262-1440 or (800) 462-2343 for more information about the raffle. Organizers expect the raffle to net about $3.5 million, after prizes and expenses. They have a state license. UW athletic department officials said money raised from the raffle will pay for $2 million worth of projects.

They include: a student academic support center a new wrestling practice and training room; and restrooms and permanent stands at the McClimon Track and Soccer Field. "We look at this as a tremendous opportunity for completing out some facilities that are badly needed," said Athletic Director Pat Richter. Any additional raffle money left after those projects could fund other needs of the athletic department Richter said. That could include a new basketball arena, he said. to lose more of Turnquist our individual rights." "If (bus riders) were going to drive, they would not get parking for $2 a day anywhere in the city of Madison," Turnquist said.

Turnquist says he's concerned about the large number of poor people moving to Madison, and says the city should try to attract more industry to help those people get jobs. Turnquist opposes the city's residency requirement, which dictates that many city employees live in Madison, and would try to eliminate the requirement if elected. If city officials want to keep the requirement, then they should accept job applications for workers and managers only from people who live in Madison, Turnquist said. Other candidates 2D The same goes for the $67.1 million Monona Terrace Convention Center, which is under construction Downtown. Turnquist wouldn't halt construction but would consider other uses for the building if the center loses money for five years, he said.

Turnquist, a hunter and stock car driver, also slams the environmentalists who have opposed the center. "Some of the environmental groups that have opposed (Monona Terrace) have stolen more public land from the people than 1,000 convention centers would." In general, Turnquist said city residents should pay for services they use and he favors increasing user fees including Madison Metro bus fares to accomplish that Last in a series of profiles of the candidates in Tuesday's primary for Madison mayor. By Joel Broadway City government reporter Terry Turnquist has lived in Madison since 1942 and worked as a city firefighter since 1965. Turnquist 52, of 10 Meadow Vale Court, says he's occasionally considered running for mayor but decided to do it in early December. That's when incumbent Mayor Paul Soglin and the City Council adopted four local gun controls, including a ban on short-barrelled pistols.

Turnquist, a member of the National Rifle Association, says the controls are ridiculous and will not reduce crime or gun accidents. And he believes they infringe on people's rights to Turnquist said city officials are doing some things right, but they need to focus on basic services: police, fire and public works. Congress is expected to cut federal aid to cities soon, and Madison possibly can't afford some services, such as the $1.5 million South Madison Health and Family Center, Turnquist said. WISCONSIN Thu. Supercash: 4-15-22-31-35-36 Odds of matching all six numbers tor $150,000: 1 tn 973,896 Thu.

Pick Three: 3-0-8. Odds of matching ail three numbers for $500: 1 in 1,000 PowarbaH and Meoabucks numbers are drawn Wednesday and Saturday nights "fne estimated Powerbatl jackpot tor the next drawing is $38 million. The estimated Megabucks lackpotis $21 million. For the last drawing's numbers, dial (608) 266-7777. ILLINOIS Thu.

Pick Three Midday: 9-9-2; Pick Three Evening: 27; Pk Four Midday: 4-8-4); Pick Four Evening: 4-9-8-6; Est Lotto jackpot: $4 million I 4i.