Gov. Jim Doyle says it is time for state Rep. Jeff Wood to quit the Assembly.

And few will argue the point. Wood, an independent representative from Chippewa Falls who usually votes with Assembly Democrats, has been arrested five times on charges of driving under the influence of intoxicants - with two of the arrests coming in the past month.

The governor's counsel is wise, but it should always be understood that what he offers is just that: counsel. The executive and legislative branches of state government are, and must remain, separate and equal entities. As such, while the governor has every right to his opinion, he has no constitutional authority to pressure an individual legislator to resign - or to pressure the Assembly to force Wood out.

The Assembly has the capacity to expel Wood. But that is an option members would be wise to avoid, as it puts legislators in the unhealthy position of canceling the choice of the voters.

Wood should be encouraged to quit, for his own good and that of his constituents. If he fails to do so, it would be appropriate for his fellow legislators to censure him.

If Wood were to cling to his seat after a censure motion was approved, then the best response would be for his constituents to use the recall process to force a new election and to vote him out of office.

The recall power was constructed for just this purpose - as a tool that allows voters to remove officials whose actions are so inappropriate that the matter of their removal cannot wait until the next scheduled election. Unlike a vote by legislators to expel Wood, or any other member, a vote by constituents to recall their representative respects democracy and the will of the people.

John Nichols is the associate editor of The Capital Times. jnichols@madison.com