Wisconsin’s appointed ag secretary was rejected by the State Senate Republican Majority with a 14-19 vote on Tuesday.
Brad Pfaff was appointed by Governor Tony Evers to run the Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Pfaff is a former farmer, FSA administrator, and Congressional staffer. Evers told reporters he does not have another nominee in mind, saying “I don’t know. I can’t even speak about that now, I’m so P-O’d about the fact of what happened today. We’ll deal with that as we go forward.”
Bobbi Wilson with the Wisconsin Farmers Union spoke to Brownfield Ag News saying they were “disappointed” in the Senate’s decision. “Brad Pfaff was certainly qualified to head the department. He had the support of the ag community, and we also recognize that just a few months ago, several Senators that denied his nomination supported him in the committee vote.”
Pfaff issued a statement after the vote, saying “Since Governor Evers appointed me to this position, it’s been a privilege to serve the people of Wisconsin. As Secretary-designee, I’ve been honored to travel the state to speak with farmers, listen to their concerns, and be their voice. I’ve been humbled by the many individuals and groups who have supported my appointment. I’m thankful for their partnership and collaboration. I have gladly told the story of Wisconsin agriculture and DATCP as Secretary-designee, and I will continue to proudly serve as an advocate for rural communities.”
