Mark Radcliffe is running for state Legislature as a Democrat, but he doesn’t emphasize his party label. Instead, he’s running as a problem-solver who can work with a wide variety of people.

“It takes good people in Madison to get good things done,” Radcliffe said. “People want us to go down to Madison, put aside our partisan differences and do what’s best for the state. There’s always a middle ground.”

Radcliffe, a Black River Falls attorney, is running for the open 92nd Assembly seat. Republican Terry Musser of Black River Falls decided not to seek re-election after 11 terms. Radcliffe is opposed by Democrat Curtis Miller in the Sept. 9 primary; Dan Hellman is the lone Republican seeking the seat.

Radcliffe said his ability as a problem solver dates back 12 years ago, when he was a single father raising his two-year-old son and launching his law practice.

He described the state Legislature as a dysfunctional body paralyzed by partisan differences.

“If you go out and talk to people, one of the things you hear about is how people in the Legislature don’t work together,” Radcliffe said. “Anyone who says they’re going to go down to Madison and not work with people shouldn’t be running. I firmly believe that (lawmakers) drawing lines in the sand is something that people are sick of.”

Health care is one area where Radcliffe believes partisan gridlock is blocking a solution. He said lawmakers shouldn’t receive health insurance paid for by the state until they produce a plan that covers everyone. He promised not to accept state-paid health insurance until the Legislature passes a workable plan.

“I believe every hard-working citizen should have access to a reasonable (health care) plan,” he said. “How can (state Legislators) make a good decision when they don’t have to worry about it themselves.”

He declined to endorse Healthy Wisconsin, a health care plan that passed the Democratic-controlled state Senate last fall but died in the Republican-controlled Assembly. He said some changes would be necessary to protect small business.

“Small business struggles with their budgets, and one of the things that gets cut back is health insurance,” he said. “How are we going to work it so it doesn’t get put on the back of small business?”

On taxes, Radcliffe said “they can’t continue to go up,” and believes a more functional Legislature could pursue efficiencies and eliminate waste. He said the state government can look to cities like Black River Falls for examples on how to save money. In Black River Falls, the city replaced a gas-powered truck with an electric utility vehicle that costs a penny a mile to operate.

One area where Radcliffe wouldn’t cut is salaries and benefits for public employees.

“Taking benefits from hard-working people isn’t the answer,” Radcliffe said.

Radcliffe believes his theme of working together can be applied to education. He said schools can accept volunteers “who want to make our schools better and give of themselves.”

Radcliffe said there’s a growing interest in politics and government, and he believes that’s very healthy.

“People want to get involved,” he said. “They want to know who their Assemblyman is. They want to do something.”

Radcliffe married his wife, Becky, last year. He has provided pro bono legal services to several local non-profit organizations, including the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County and a domestic abuse shelter.

The 92nd Assembly District includes most of northern Monroe County, including the cities of Tomah and Sparta and the villages of Oakdale, Warrens and Wyeville.