Tony is a Wisconsin success story, having served communities from Tomah to Oakfield. He knows the challenges that rural Wisconsin faces says Obey.

MADISON – Tony Evers, State Superintendent and Democratic candidate for governor, is proud to announce the endorsement of Congressman Dave Obey. Obey’s endorsement comes fresh off last week’s Marquette Law School Poll showing Evers with an 18-point lead over the rest of the Democratic primary field. On Friday, State Rep. Dana Wachs suspended his campaign and also endorsed Evers for governor.

“I want to thank Dana Wachs for his campaign, and now that he’s made the difficult decision to suspend his campaign, I applaud him for his support of Tony Evers, another candidate who will work to put Wisconsin back on the right track and focus on the entire state,” Obey said. “Tony is a Wisconsin success story, having served communities from Tomah to Oakfield. He knows the challenges that rural Wisconsin faces, because rural Wisconsin is where Tony spent almost half his life. Tony can unite Wisconsin, restore respect to education, put a focus on statewide job growth, make BadgerCare stronger, and protect our environment.”

Evers has run statewide three times, most recently winning 70 percent of the vote and 70 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, just over one year ago. As State Superintendent, Tony has never lost a county north of Highway 29.

“I am truly honored to receive the support of Congressman Obey. He dedicated his career to fighting for northern Wisconsin and the impact of his public service continues to be felt today,” said Evers. “Sadly, today, too many Wisconsin communities feel like they’ve been left behind and continue to wonder, ‘what about us?’ As State Superintendent, I’ve been a fierce advocate for our rural schools and as Governor, I can promise rural Wisconsin will have an ally and friend.”

Since 2011, over 1+ million Wisconsinites have voted to increase property taxes on themselves because Scott Walker hasn’t adequately funded Wisconsin’s schools. Heading into a tough re-election after years of cuts to public education, Walker accepted Evers’ budget recommendations for the first-time last year. Just last week, Walker released a fourth campaign ad, proclaiming to be a “pro-education governor.”

“Too many of our students and educators have been forgotten or neglected by Scott Walker. It’s been a few years since I first described this governor as “Public Education Enemy Number One,” but the label fits tighter than ever. For him to try to call himself a “pro-education governor” is so full of baloney that it begs an examination of what’s really in all those sandwiches of his,” Obey concluded.