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Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald introduced a bill Monday that would bar county executives from serving simultaneously in the Legislature, a move that could force a Democrat to decide between his lucrative executive position or a Senate seat.

Third-term Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris is running for Sen. Rick Gudex’s seat in the 18th Senate District. Gudex, a Fond du Lac Republican, announced in November he wouldn’t seek re-election, saying he got a job offer in the private sector.

If Fitzgerald’s bill passes and Harris wins the Senate seat, Harris would have to quit his $102,834-per-year job as county executive. He would make $50,950 plus an $88 per diem for each day spent in Madison as a senator.

Fitzgerald, a Juneau Republican, said Harris’ candidacy was the impetus for the bill. He said Harris’ decision to run raises questions about whether someone making six figures also should be allowed to collect an additional $50,000 from taxpayers every year.

“We’re definitely concerned about the double-dipping and want to address it directly,” Fitzgerald said. “I think people are getting tired of the idea of having an elected official with two different goals and the only reason they’re doing it is so they can draw two salaries.”