Who will be our next governor?

MADISON - With Governor Doyle not seeking re-election, his Lieutenant Governor says she plans to run.

"She has said in the past that she intends to run for governor should he not seek a third term, her intention is to run for governor and you'll be hearing more from her in the near future," said Ben Nuckels, chief of staff for Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton.

Green Bay native Lawton took office by Doyle's side in 2003 and was re-elected in 2006. Lawton and Doyle have taken different sides on many issues, including a film incentives program to lure movie shoots into the state.

There are two other democrats that are said to be considering a run for office. They are Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and U.S. Representative Ron Kind.

Milwaukee native Barrett was first elected mayor in 2004 and won re-election in 2008 with 79-percent of the vote. That is the largest percentage a Mayoral candidate has received in 40 years.

While, La Crosse native, Kind has represented western Wisconsin's 3rd district for around 13 years. Kind is a member of the Ways and Means Committee in the house which has control over tax policy, Medicare and Social Security.

Meanwhile on the Republican side, three candidates have already announced they are running.

"I'm running for governor because I believe in Wisconsin," said Scott Walker when he announced earlier this year.

Republican candidates include Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, former Congressman Mark Neumann and Appleton businessman Mark Todd.

Colorado native Walker was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1993 and was re-elected to that post four times. That was before becoming Milwaukee County executive in 2002.

Fellow candidate Neumann is an East Troy native. Neumann left the business world in 1991 to run for Congress, but he wasn't elected to the post until 1994, serving Wisconsin's 1st district.

Then there is Pewaukee native Mark Todd. Todd owns three businesses in the Appleton area and is new to the political scene.