Democratic lawmakers call for Flynn to drop out

Listen to this article

By SCOTT BAUER
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Matt Flynn rejected calls on Tuesday from two fellow Democrats to drop out of the race for governor because he had worked to defend the Archdiocese of Milwaukee against claims of sexual abuse by priests.

Flynn, the former state Democratic Party chairman, told The Associated Press by telephone that he was “pumped” about continuing his campaign and it was time to “move on.” Flynn planned to launch his first television advertising in July.

“We’re going to win this,” he said. “I’m working very hard, harder than anybody.”

Flynn is one of eight Democrats seeking the nomination in the primary election on Aug. 14 for a chance to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker in November.

State Reps. Chris Taylor and Melissa Sargent, both of Madison, called for him to end his candidacy, saying that his past work for the archdiocese made him unfit to run.

The two lawmakers said that Flynn “participated in keeping parishes and the public in the dark about dozens of these pedophile priests, placing children at risk of being sexually abused.”

Both the Women’s March Wisconsin and the National Organization for Women in May called for Flynn to end his candidacy, leading Flynn to say critics of his past legal work can “jump in the lake.”

Taylor and Sargent said that response demonstrates a lack of compassion and lack of understanding of how big the abuse scandal was.

Flynn, 70, worked as the attorney for the archdiocese from 1989 to 2004. Flynn has said he worked hard to settle the priest abuse cases and treat victims with dignity and respect. He said he put in place safeguards before he stopped representing the archdiocese in 2004 to make sure no priest accused of wrongdoing could be shuffled to another church.

Flynn said those trying to force him to leave the race want him out because they seem him as a threat to state Superintendent Tony Evers, who led the field in last week’s Marquette University Law School poll. Evers had a double-digit lead over Flynn and the other Democratic candidates, but Flynn said his fundraising remains strong and the attacks show that he’s seen as a threat.

The increasing pressure on Flynn to drop out comes after two other Democrats — Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik and state Rep. Dana Wachs — ended their campaigns last week.