Welcome to Isthmus issue 3601. That designates it as the first issue of the 36th year in which we are publishing. We will complete our 35th year of publishing at our anniversary in April. That 36 is great, but the 01 is significant this week, as it denotes a new beginning.
This is the week of new beginnings, of course; we witnessed the inauguration hoopla on Monday at the Capitol, across the street from our offices. The Republicans claimed the spoils of victory, and it did not go unnoticed at 101 King St. Vic Feuerherd, who profiled coach Bret Bielema in our preseason story from what seems like a long, long time ago, bookends the football season with a story of hardball-playing brothers Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald, state Senate and Assembly leaders, respectively.
Feuerherd gives us an inkling of the change coming to state government, but nobody really knows what the final shakeout will look like. It is just beginning, after all. But some unlikely folk find some reason for optimism in unlikely places.
Former Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton notes new Gov. Walker's kind words during the campaign for revitalizing Wisconsin's film incentive, something she admits was neglected during the Doyle administration. That's revealed in Jay Rath's arts feature on the future of film production in the state. You mean there's life after Johnny Depp?
There will be new beginnings for a lot of politicians after the spring elections, the campaign season for which starts now. Watchdog this week gives us the early mayoral primary outlook, the highlight of which is, of course, the race between incumbent Dave Cieslewicz and former serial mayor Paul Soglin. And there will be plenty of other folks running for other things, as we will inform you in the coming weeks.
To help you sort it out, the League of Women Voters will be issuing its Candidates' Answers voting aid again this election. Look for it in Isthmus.