MIKE MCCABE
Mike McCabe, the founder of a nonpartisan group, Blue Jean Nation, will visit Shawano County next week.
McCabe will speak at the historic rail depot in Eland at 5:30 p.m. and at the Shawano Civic Center at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. A potluck at 5 p.m. will precede the Civic Center presentation.
McCabe is the author of “Blue Jeans in High Places: The Coming Makeover of American Politics.”
Blue Jean Nation promotes itself as “working to promote the transformation of democratic institutions that are failing America.” The organization says that political professionals from both major parties have a grip on U.S. democracy, and that party establishments need to allow ordinary people to have more power in government.
McCabe is considering running for governor in 2018 but is unsure whether he would run as a Democrat or independent.
McCabe, 56, was the founding member and leader of the political watchdog group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign from 2000 to 2015. He lobbied the Legislature on campaign finance and ethics issues. He left the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign two years ago to create Blue Jean Nation.