Governor-elect Evers talks transition during stop in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - Governor-elect Tony Evers made a stop in Milwaukee Wednesday.

Evers has been busy with the transition, at a time when Republican lawmakers have been busy talking about ways to limit his power.

“It’s going very well,” Governor-elect Evers said when asked how the transition was going.

The Governor-elect was visiting the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center.

“We’re busy making sure that we’re getting the right people in place, making sure our budget will be there,” said the Governor-elect.

“This transition has been extraordinarily quiet,” said political professor Mordecai Lee.

Political Lee says winning candidates usually spend more time in the limelight during the transition, but so far that hasn’t been Evers’ style.

“It looks like his personality, his temperament is that he doesn’t have to be in the media every day and he understands that Wisconsin can only have one governor at a time,” said Lee.

It’s even more surprising given the headlines coming from Republicans.

They have threatened a special session to limit Evers’ power before he even takes office, and to move the presidential primary to benefit a State Supreme Court race.

It’s something the Governor-elect didn’t want spend much time talking about Wednesday.

“You hear talk but we haven’t seen anything so it’s hard for me to respond,” said the Governor-elect, “ I just think at the end of the day, if there’s going to be a special session it should be something productive rather than pitting people against each other.”

“One can pick up from his modest rhetoric that he doesn’t think this is a good idea,” said Lee.

But Lee expects Evers won’t stay quiet forever.

“I think sooner or later the Governor-elect is going to put his foot down and say, this is a double standard,” said Lee.

Evers does say that Governor Walker is being helpful in the transition, and he thinks that in the end, Governor Walker would think of his legacy before signing off on any big changes before he leaves office.

“I’m always one that believes, I’m a glass half full type of person,” said Governor-elect Evers.

The Governor-elect says he hopes to make staffing announcements in the next couple of weeks.

As for goals for his first 100 days, Evers says he’ll make that announcement closer to Inauguration day.