Wisconsin counties prepare for recalls
This article covering 2011 recall elections was written outside the scope of Ballotpedia's encyclopedic coverage and does not fall under our neutrality policy or style guidelines. It is preserved as it was originally written.
June 30, 2011
By Geoff Pallay and Greg Janetka
MADISON, Wisconsin: Clerks in the various counties holding recalls are preparing ballots for the July 12 and July 19 elections. With the impending legal challenge by John Nygren, Oconto County is printing about 2,000 paper ballots.
The GAB has informed counties to proceed as if Nygren will not be on the ballot. However, County Clerk Kim Pytleski said if any changes do occur, she does not anticipate any problems re-printing new ballots.[1]
One county -- Brown County -- is covered by both the 2nd and 30th districts. That means, the clerk has had to prepare ballots for primaries in both races on separate dates -- a more burdensome task than a standard election. Sandy Juno, chief deputy county clerk, said Brown County voters have started calling already with questions about when to vote.[1]
Counties had until Tuesday to make absentee ballots available to voters.[1]
Timeline following an election
According to spokesman Reid Magney, by law, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is required to certify election results within 18 days of any special election. When that is completed a certificate of election is issued, allowing the winner to be sworn in. If a challenger defeats the incumbent, the incumbent remains in office until the winner is sworn in.[2]
Thus, if an incumbent loses the August 9 recall election, the replacement might not be sworn-into office until August 27. Concurrently, if an incumbent loses the August 16 recall, the replacement would be required to be sworn-into office by September 3.
Pasch challenges Darling to debate
On Tuesday, state Assemblywoman Sandy Pasch (D) challenged District 8 Senator Alberta Darling (R) to a series of debates. Pasch has said she would like to have at least three debates. Darling's campaign has not yet responded to the challenge.[3]
Pasch is facing protest candidate Gladys Huber in the Democratic Primary on July 12.
Thus far the only debate of the recall campaigns took place on June 21 in District 12 between Sen. Jim Holperin (D) and challenger Robert Lussow (R). Kim Simac is also running for the seat, but was unable to attend the debate.[4]
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Fundraising efforts
Fundraising efforts continue across Wisconsin as well as across the country. The national organization American Votes sent out a fundraising email to its supporters on Wednesday saying "Wisconsin workers lost their rights today. It’s unacceptable, and we cannot let it stand." It goes on to decry the use of "fake" Democrats in the races, saying "even the State GOP’s own Executive Director, Mark Jefferson is calling the move, 'a nasty, cynical ploy.'"[5]
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the quote from Jefferson was taken out of context. The newspaper reports that Jefferson's statement was made in July 2010, referring to the use of a "fake" candidate by Democrats in the race against Independent state Assemblyman Robert Ziegelbauer.[6]
Meanwhile, within the state, the organization Wisconsin Family Action sent out an email to its supporters last week asking them to donate in order to protect "pro-life, pro-family, pro-liberty legislators in the State Senate recall elections."[7] The group is also planning an ambitious campaign covering the six districts where Republicans are targeted. The campaign seeks to "Secure 2,000 absentee ballots," "Mobilize 500 churches," "Distribute 30,000 effective, well-researched, accurate Voter Guides," and "Turn out 20,000 values voters."[8]
Additionally, Wisconsin Right to Life issued a call for volunteers and donations, stating "No matter what you hear about the nine State Senate recall elections that will take place on August 9 and August 16, it’s really about the rights of the unborn."[9]
Much of the outside funding is a result of the "Citizens United" case, which has drawn criticism from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Mike McCabe, the group's executive director, said that the Citizens United Supreme Court case will have a dramatic impact on the recalls. "The candidates will be bystanders in their own elections," McCabe said.[10]
See also
- Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
- Redistricting in Wisconsin
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Westport News, "Nygren lawsuit could upend election preparations," June 29, 2011
- ↑ [Email from Reid Magney, June 29, 2011]
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Pasch wants debates with Darling," June 28, 2011
- ↑ WAOW "Holperin and Lussow face off in education forum," June 20, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Email from America Votes Action Fund," June 29, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "One group says Senate recalls about 'rights of unborn’; another appears to misquote GOP leader," June 29, 2011
- ↑ '’Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Email from Wisconsin Family Action," June 23, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin Family Action, "Protect Your Values, Protect Your Vote," accessed June 30, 2011
- ↑ Life News, "Wisconsin Pro-Life Group: Recall Elections Could Affect Abortion," June 29, 2011
- ↑ Op-ed News, "Fighting Back Against Citizens United," June 30, 2011
