State Senate committee advances ban on county executives

MADISON — A Senate committee has advanced a bill that would ban county executives from serving concurrently in the Wisconsin Legislature.

The Republican bill comes as Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris, a Democrat, vies for an open Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Rick Gudex. The bill would mean that Harris, if he's elected, would have to quit his job making $102,834 as a county executive, instead making $50,950 per year as a senator.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, has said the bill was prompted by Harris' candidacy.

The Senate Committee on Government Operations and Consumer Protection passed the bill 3-2 Friday on a party-line vote. That clears the way for a vote on the Senate floor in coming weeks.