23 elected officials from Northwest Wisconsin signed a letter Tuesday to Governor Scott Walker asking that he take more time to listen to the public on the controversial budget repair bill.

Representative Nick Milroy of Superior asked all elected officials at Superior Days, including University of Wisconsin-Superior student body president Jessica Duffy, to come to his office Tuesday to have a talk. Behind closed doors, Milroy says nearly everyone in the room agreed to sign the letter asking that Governor Walker spend more time listening to the public.

“Elected officials that represent tens of thousands of people across northern Wisconsin and they want the Governor to sit down, to compromise, to let people’s voices be heard,” Milroy said. “We’ve had well over 100,000 people from all around the state come to the capitol. It’s been an unprecedented rally for rights here in Madison. And people are very frustrated that the Governor has not shown the leadership to come to the bargaining table.”

Beth Meyers of the Bayfield County Board says she’s proud to sign the letter. She praised Senator Bob Jauch, one of the so-called “Fab 14.”

“I’m glad he’s not here,” Meyers said. “What he has done by leaving the state is has the given the citizens of this state the opportunity and the time to get to Madison and to talk to their representatives or to the staff members that are here and to express their concerns about this bill. It is a very important time in history.”

Douglas County Board Chair Doug Finn says this is a non-partisan letter because it’s a non-partisan issue.

“It can be difficult for counties and cities for collective bargaining but in the end we have worked well together,” said Finn. “There needs to be collective bargaining. We’re just asking the Governor to look at some way of building some middle ground and do something. So I think it’s important as just like Superior Days has been bringing together people, this is an issue that brings people together.”

Milroy says the protests are comparable to the civil rights movement of the 21st century. He plans to send the letter to Governor Walker this week.