Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke wants politically unattached voters to think she’s different from your typical Democrat, because she has business experience.

Except that she isn’t. The Stevens Point City-Times reports:

One way she’d reinvigorate the state’s workforce is by reinstating collective bargaining.

“I just believe Act 10 divided our state and left us weakened. As governor, I would certainly be a firm but fair negotiator; make sure we do the things we have to do to balance the budget but do it in a way that left us stronger and united. I think we’ve seen the impact on our state’s economy by our state’s divisiveness. I believe we have to make sure we have a public sector workforce that is committed and qualified and engaged, and I think that can be done by collective bargaining.”

Burke said unions have the right to collectively bargain, and said it’s the only way to attract the best employees in the public sector.

“We need make sure we’re attracting great people, that they’re thriving and we have an effective and accountable public sector. I’m on the school board in Madison and I see that; we have to make sure we attract great people to the teaching profession, that we’re able to keep them, that they’re getting the support and the development because you can’t have thriving schools without thriving teachers.” …

Burke said she plans to work “very closely” with the Department of Public Instruction if she’s elected.

Someone should (and perhaps already has) create an ad in which a photo of Burke morphs into a photo of former Gov. James Doyle … though that would be hideous.

Read the story, by the way, and you’ll notice she touts her work at Trek Bicycles, but doesn’t mention her working with Trek’s unions. That’s because Trek doesn’t have unions. Screwing the taxpayer is OK, but messing with the family business? Can’t have that.