THE CAPITAL TIMES: Another reason to support Manski

We are proud of all our endorsements.

But we are especially proud of our endorsement of Ben Manski, who is seeking the 77th District Assembly seat.

Manski earned our endorsement by making an impressive case for his insurgent candidacy -- a case that also impressed unions representing Madison teachers and firefighters, current and former school board presidents in Middleton and Madison, and prominent Democrats such as former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager and former gubernatorial candidate Ed Garvey. Those Democratic endorsements are especially impressive because Manski is running as a Green.

The Democratic nominee, Brett Hulsey, has some endorsements from fellow Democrats.

But Hulsey has embarrassed himself in the closing days of the campaign by claiming an endorsement he does not have -- from Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin -- and by making up an endorsement quote from the popular state representative who is retiring from the 77th District seat, Spencer Black.

Black issued a statement Saturday, in which he wrote: "Voters in the 77th Assembly District received a mailing from the Brett Hulsey campaign on Friday. That mailing contains a prominent quote attributed to me. The quote attributed to me in that mailing is not my quote. In fact, when Brett Hulsey asked if he could attribute that quote to me (one that I had never written or said) I made it clear he could not since it is not my words. I am very disappointed that this made-up quote was used despite my disapproval."

Black also said: "I had previously indicated that I was intending to vote for the entire Democratic ticket. At this point, I am rethinking how I intend to vote in the Assembly race."

Were Black running this year, he would have our endorsement. But Black is not running. We endorsed Manski as the contender most likely to carry on where Black is leaving off.

This latest controversy has confirmed our sense that this is exactly the case.