Special election will decide fate of tied Wisconsin Senate.

• Position: On First Reading

Business as usual or political upheaval? The answer to that question will be decided in a special election April 6 for three vacant seats in the now tied (15 to 15) Wisconsin Senate where the former majority and minority leaders are now Democratic Leader and Republican Leader.

The vacancies occurred when two Democratic senators were elected to Congress, and Republican Governor Tommy Thompson appointed a Democrat to the state Labor Department.

Republicans, who say they have traditionally done better in special elections, have hopes of taking at least two of the seats where candidates are Assembly members--Peggy Rosenzweig and David Zien.

Democrats have held the leadership in the Senate since 1974 and are fielding 11-year Assembly veteran Joseph Wineke and Assemblyman David Cullen in two of the races.

"I'd say it's at least a 50/50 chance," comments GOP Leader Senator Michael Ellis. "The three districts were held by Democrats, but two of the three have a marginal track record of being Democratic."

Democratic Leader Senator David Helbach agrees. "Because of the nature of the candidates--we have three very, very tight and very, very expensive races."

Whatever the elections bring, the two Senate leaders are pleased with some of the outcomes of the tied Senate.

The Senate was organized in early January the day before two Democratic members went off to Congress. Because of the majority that vanished the next day, Democrats were able to establish leadership and make the committee assignments. Republicans, however, negotiated a rules change.

Facing an evenly divided Senate and the possibility of a Republican win in...