State representative hints at successor
By KEN MERRILL Daily News
State Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Erin) announced his retirement from the state Assembly representing the 22nd District on Wednesday.
By KEN MERRILL Daily News
State Rep. Don Pridemore (R-Erin) announced his retirement from the state Assembly representing the 22nd District on Wednesday.
“I’ve been in the Legislature for 10 years now and I think the people that have run and are anticipating running in the next election are good, solid business- oriented, conservative and principled people,” he said. “I don’t think we’re where we need to be yet, but I think we’re headed in the right direction. I guess that’s the reason why I thought it’d be my time to retire.”
Pridemore, 67, lost a challenge to incumbent Tony Evers for state superintendent of schools in 2013.
He evoked the late President Ronald Reagan when asked about his legacy.
“I hope they will treat me in a similar fashion as they did Ronald Reagan,” Pridemore said. “‘He went to Madison and he did what he said he was going to do.’ “I held principled positions,” he said. “I voted against the party when I had to, when I thought it was the best for my constituents, but I was there most of the time, a team player.”
Pridemore also hinted at a possible successor.
“I’ll eliminate half of the potential candidates and I’ll say ‘her,’” he said. “I haven’t talked to her since I sent out the press release but she did tell me she was interested in running for my seat when I do decide to retire, whether it’s now or sometime in the future.
“She has helped me out during campaign season and she is an elected official already so she has a good track record to run on,” Pridemore said. “I’m sure she’ll be taking out candidate paperwork in the very near future, so at that point the cat will be out of the bag.”
And his plans for retirement?
“I haven’t got any solid plans that will take up a lot of my time, but I’ve got a lot of little things,” Pridemore said. “I’m hopefully going to be a grandfather within a couple of years — both of my older boys are married now and settled in the area. I just have to get my last son off to college and headed in the right direction and I guess we’ll be empty nesters.”
Pridemore was elected to the Assembly in 2004. The 22nd District covers portions of Washington, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
Pridemore, 67, lost a challenge to incumbent Tony Evers for state superintendent of schools in 2013.
He evoked the late President Ronald Reagan when asked about his legacy.
“I hope they will treat me in a similar fashion as they did Ronald Reagan,” Pridemore said. “‘He went to Madison and he did what he said he was going to do.’ “I held principled positions,” he said. “I voted against the party when I had to, when I thought it was the best for my constituents, but I was there most of the time, a team player.”
Pridemore also hinted at a possible successor.
“I’ll eliminate half of the potential candidates and I’ll say ‘her,’” he said. “I haven’t talked to her since I sent out the press release but she did tell me she was interested in running for my seat when I do decide to retire, whether it’s now or sometime in the future.
“She has helped me out during campaign season and she is an elected official already so she has a good track record to run on,” Pridemore said. “I’m sure she’ll be taking out candidate paperwork in the very near future, so at that point the cat will be out of the bag.”
And his plans for retirement?
“I haven’t got any solid plans that will take up a lot of my time, but I’ve got a lot of little things,” Pridemore said. “I’m hopefully going to be a grandfather within a couple of years — both of my older boys are married now and settled in the area. I just have to get my last son off to college and headed in the right direction and I guess we’ll be empty nesters.”
Pridemore was elected to the Assembly in 2004. The 22nd District covers portions of Washington, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
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