Jared Christiansen

Wisconsin’ Democrats are waiting breathlessly for the white smoke to come from Tom Barrett’s chimney, hoping that Milwaukee’s mayor will decide to head west and lead the state into a liberal nirvana. But as they follow Barrett’s every move, there already is a declared Democrat candidate: Jared Christiansen.

Christiansen is an 18-year-old from Ellsworth.  He has worked for McDonald’s for the past three years and is on track to become the second-assistant manager at his location. He is a Deputy Cadet Commander in the Civil Air Patrol and he volunteers in his hometown. Christiansen attends a virtual high school and takes care of himself and the family home for two weeks each month, while his parents work as OTR truck drivers.

In short, he just might be as qualified to be governor as Barrett. Maybe more so, in fact, given his long record of continuous employment in the private sector. In addition to his three years at McDonald’s, Christiansen held down his first job while a middle schooler, washing dishes and serving food in the school cafeteria. His experience at both jobs taught him the importance of customer service, being fiscally responsible, managing people and dealing with crisis on the spot.

Don’t laugh. This might be better preparation for the governor’s office than the 25 years Tom Barrett has served as Milwaukee’s mayor, congressional representative and state assemblyman.

What Christiansen has that Barrett doesn’t is ongoing day-to-day dealings with the taxpayer. He has seen the effects of the recession first hand, as people move from designer dinners to dollar menu meals. Christiansen is actively assisting his neighbors and family, who have seen their wallets lighten from job layoffs and high taxes, by raking the leaves, carrying their groceries and getting a job to help pay the bills. And Christiansen knows what he wants, without waffling or stringing people along.

On his website, Christiansen cites listening, patience, respect and morals as tantamount to being a good governor. He has a D behind his name, but his political influence is John F. Kennedy, probably the most conservative Democrat of the modern age. Christiansen is more moderate than the Wisconsin Democratic Party probably desires, claiming he will comb ideas from both parties to ensure bi-partisanship and smooth-running government.

I don’t agree with all of Christiansen’s policy statements, but some of his more conservative ideas appealed to me as a Republican. He would increase the payment rate from Indian casinos from 7.9% to 10% and build a budget from zero up each year, based on the state’s needs at the time. In an effort to save and bring more jobs to Wisconsin, Christiansen proposes a freeze on corporate income taxes and to hold tuition increases at UW down by freezing or even cutting the number of non-classroom personnel hired. And as a virtual high school student, Christiansen is open to non-traditional options in public education.

However, Christiansen also wants to see more extensive use of alternative energy; to reduce prison terms through allowing qualified convicted felons to complete their sentences in half-way houses and rehabilitation centers; to raise income tax rates on the richest taxpayers; and to extend BadgerCare to everyone.

Alas, Christiansen is not a party insider and has no name recognition, Barrett’s chief advantages. But if the Dems would simply welcome him into the fold, invest some money into his effort and campaign for him, Christiansen might bring weary Democrats to the party in 2010.

Whether he could dance with Walker or Neumann, of course, is a whole other question.