Race for lieutenant governor beginning to heat up

MILWAUKEE -- The race for lieutenant governor in Wisconsin is beginning to heat up. This, after Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin President Mahlon Mitchell announced Monday that he's running for the post as a Democrat.

"I'm running because Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch have destroyed and divided Wisconsin by catering to corporate special interests instead of working for men and women of this state," said Mitchell.

Mitchell announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor in Milwaukee's Sherman Park, a few blocks from where he was born at St. Joseph Hospital.

Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch disagrees with Mitchell's characterization of the state's leadership. During a Milwaukee visit, Kleefisch said, "It was our administration that solved the 3.6 billion dollar deficit without raising taxes. We have the private sector creating 15,700 new jobs in the month of January alone and 94% of our job creators in the state say that Wisconsin is moving in the right direction."

Mitchell has been active in the effort to recall Gov. Walker and Lt. Gov. Kleefisch. He is a lieutenant on the Madison Fire Department, where he has served for nearly 15 years.

Once election officials determine whether enough signatures were gathered to trigger a recall, any primary would be May 8, with the general election June 5. Kleefisch and Walker would appear separately on the ballot.

Milwaukee private investigator Ira Robins has also said he plans on running for the Democratic Party's nomination.