Assembly education chair won’t seek re-election

Steve Kestell has served in Assembly since 1998

MADISON, Wis. — The chairman of the state Assembly’s education committee says he won’t seek re-election this fall.

Rep. Steve Kestell, an Elkhart Lake Republican, has served in the Assembly since 1998. He said in a statement Tuesday he decided not to run again after discussions with his family. He did not elaborate further on his reasons and didn’t immediately return a message left at his home.

Kestell was on the forefront of the push this winter against a Republican bill that would have created sanctions for poorly performing public schools and private schools that accept taxpayer-subsidized students.

Republicans ultimately dropped the plan and instead adopted a bill that would require all schools that accept public dollars to include performance data on report cards the public can view.