Recall Group Has Over 300,000 Signatures

     United Wisconsin, the group that is organizing the effort to recall Governor Walker, Lt. Governor Kleefish, and four senators, has announced that it has collected over 300,000 signatures in the first 12 days of its 60-day period in which to gather them. This puts them at approximately 50% of the number that they wanted to collect.  Executive Director Megan Mahaffey stated that even though they might have the required number of signatures earlier than required, they still plan to turn them in to the Government Accountability Board on January 17th, the last day before the deadline.  If you are interested in signing the recall petitions contact your friendly local union representative and they can direct you to whomever is circulating the petition.

Reminder: Recall Petitions Available

     The drive to collect the over 540,000 signatures required to force a recall election of Governor Walker and Lieutenant Governor Kleefish is under way.  If you wish to sign the petition, please see your Union representative and they will either have a petition or will be able to direct you to someone else who is.  They will also have information as to how you can become a circulator yourself.  Please also encourage your friends, family, or anyone else to sign.  Signers need only to have lived in Wisconsin for at least 28 days, and to be eligible to vote.  THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE CURRENTLY REGISTERED TO SIGN THE PETITION, as Wisconsin allows voter registration on the day of the election.  Please remember as we go through the next sixty days that just as you have the right to sign the petition, others have the right not to, so be persuasive and polite but not pushy.  Thank you for you support.

Recall Petitions Available

     Check with your Local 474 Executive Council reps if you want to sign the recall petition for Governor Walker and/or Lieutenant Governor Kleefish.  They will either be circulating the petitions or will be able to direct you to people who are.

Walker Recall Effort Begins

United Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin has begun to collect the over 500,000 signatures that it requires in order to recall Governor Scott Walker.  Make sure to find someone who is circulating the petition and sign up today.  Offical circulators will be wearing lanyard to identify themselves, so make sure that the person who is circulting your petition is wearing a lanyard, or is in some other way trustworthy, as there is some concern that fake petitions will be circulated.  When you are done signing, make sure to get three other people to sign as well!

Ohio Rejects New Collective Bargaining Law

   In a statewide referendum yesterday, the people of the state of Ohio rejected recently implemented collective bargaining laws that were more restrictive than those passed in Wisconsin.  It is being considered a huge victory for labor unions in the state, and a defeat of Republican Governor John Kasich.  You can read more about it by clicking here.

October Regular Meeting

     At the October regular meeting new officers were elected, among other business.  The membership received some updates as to possible changes in health insurance rates, pending County Board approval.  Congratulations to our new officers, all of whom were the sole nomination for their position: President David Sadenwasser, Vice President Connie Gengle, Secretary Marge Garsow, Treasurer Russ Szuta, and Chief Steward Constance Valkenaar.  Thank you to everyone who attended and all those named above who stepped up to help lead the unit.

Walker Recall Effort Date Set

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate has announced on the party website that the effort to recall Governor Scott Walker will begin on November 15, 2011.  540,306 valid signatures are required to force a recall election.  Organizers will have 60 days to collect the needed signatures.  You can read more details here.

Nomination Meeting

     Remember, Local 474 will be electing officers at the regular meeting held Monday, October 17, 2011 at 4:05 pm in the Courthouse Conference Rooms.  There are several positions on the executive board that are available to please make sure to attend if you have nominations.  Voting - should elections be needed - will be held in November.

MJS Analyses Election Numbers

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has posted an interesting analysis of the election numbers from the nine recall elections that we held across Wisconsin this summer.  You can read all about it by clicking here.

All Results Are In

     The Vilas County Clerk was reporting between 50 and 55% voter turnout in yesterday's recall election.  Thank you to everyone who voted and made sure that the Northwoods voice was really heard.  With all precincts finally reporting, let's break down some of the results:



Holperin

 Districtwide

Jim Holperin (i) (D - Conover) -  30,321 (55%)
Kim Simac (R- Eagle River) -      24,813 (45%)

Vilas County

Jim Holperin (i) (D - Conover) -  5,242 (53%)
Kim Simac (R- Eagle River) -      4,693 (47%)

Oneida County

Jim Holperin (i) (D - Conover) -  8,945 (58%)
Kim Simac (R-Eagle River)      -  6,506 (42%)


     Each candidate's strongest showing percentagewise was in a small county that was entirely in the district.  Jim Holperin won 77% of the vote in Menominee County, while Simac won 57% of the vote in Florence County.  The 12th Senate District includes parts of eleven counties, including all of Vilas, Oneida, Lincoln, Forest, Florence, Langlade and Menominee Counites; the northern 1/3 of Oconto County, the northern 3/4 of Marinette County, the northwestern 1/4 of Shawano County, and five towns in Marathon County.  Please note that the results reported above are unofficial, and that the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board expects to certify the results and make the offical tallies available next week.
     After the election, Senator Holperin thanked his supporters and constituents, saying "I have never had the kind of support from people like you every single day in every single way across the district."  Meanwhile, Simac was also thankful for her supporters, and stated "I think it's always worth it to stand up for what you believe is right, and I think that's what all of the people did here in this district, and I think you just continue to go on.  It's always worth it."
     With state recall elections finally over, the Democrats were able to pick up two seats in the Senate, with Republicans Dan Kapanke (R-LaCrosse) and Randy Hopper (R - Fond du Lac) losing their seats to Democratic challengers.  This leaves the Republicans in control of Senate with a slim 17-16 majority.  They also control the Assembly, Governor's Mansion, and Supreme Court.  Many are beginning to focus on Senator Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center), who is seen as a center-leaning Republican and who was the only GOP senator to vote against Wisconsin Act 10, which extremely curtailed collective bargaining for public employees.
     One thing, however, is for sure.  No matter which side of this most recent election your were on, we think that everyone will be happy that our televisions, radios, and mailboxes will be rid of these political ads for at least a little while.

Holperin Victorious

WJFW is reporting that Jim Holperin has made his victory speech as well, and with 79% of districts reporting all major media outlets are reporting that Holperin has retained his seat.

Simac Concedes

WAOW.com is reporting that Republican challenger Kim Simac is currently giving her concession speech.

Wirch Retains Seat in 22nd

Senator Robert Wirch (D - Pleasant Prairie) has retained his seat in Wisconsin's 22nd Senate District.  With all precincts reporting, he has won with 58% of the vote to Republican challenger Jonathan Seitz's 42%.

Journal Sentinel Proclaims Holperin Winner

With 130 of 166 (78%) precincts reporting, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that Senator Jim Holperin has retained his seat in Wisconsin's 12th Senate District.  He currently has 23,673 votes to Republican challenger Kim Simac's 20,066.  All of Lincoln County (27 precincts), all of Florence County (8 precincts) and one precinct in Oneida County are yet to report.  We will bring you more once the results are final.

Vote Now!

Please make sure to vote in today's General Recall Election.  It is very important to the health of your Union and your job.  MAKE SURE TO VOTE TODAY!

Simac Wins Republican Primary

    Kim Simac of Eagle River has won the Republican primary election with 59% of the vote.  She will take on Sen. Jim Holperin in the August 16, 2011 general election.  It is very important for the future of public employees that you vote in that election.  Stay here for details as we get closer to election day.

Recall Primary

Don't forget to get out and vote in today's recall election open Republican Primary.  This election will determine who will take on Sen. Jim Holperin in the August 16, 2011 general recall election.  Polls will be open until 7 pm, so make sure you get out and vote.  ALso, poll workers will be requiring all voters to sign a register, and will be asking for photo identification.  If you do not have a photo ID you will be allowed to vote but will be educated on the new voter ID law that goes into full effect in 2012.  Happy voting!

Fake Democrats Lose

All six fake "Democrats" - who were really Republicans running as Democrats at the urging of the Republican party - running for election in the State Senate lost their primaries on Tuesday, setting the stage for general elections August 6.  Republican primaries in the races for the three recalled Democratic senators will be held on July 19th, 2011.  That includes the race for Sen. Jim Holperin's seat.  Make sure everyone gets out to vote in the Republican primary on the 19th.

Recall Election Set

     The Government Accountability Board has set the recall election for Senator Jim Holperin (D-Conover).  The primary election will be held July 19, 2011 with the general electios to be held August 16, 2011.  Republicans Kim Simac - president of the Northwoods Patriots - and Lincoln County Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Lussow have both announced plans to run for Holperin's seat, which will necessitate at least a Republican primary on the 19th.

GAB Considers Last Three Recalls

     The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) meets this morning at 9:00 AM to consider Democratic challenges against the three recall petitions.  Democrats filed an appeal regarding the petitions to recall Senators Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), Jim Holperin (D-Conover), and Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) alledging several improprieties.  The GAB will see memos from its staff making reccomendations on how to proceed, but the bottom line laid out in the memos is that in each case, even if the GAB decides to throw out the improper signatures, there are still enough legal signatures to force an election for each senator.  The GAB will hear testimony from both sides and from their staff and either throw out each petition or schecule an election date.  GAB spokesman Reid Magney says that the cases on all three petitions should be decided by 6:00 PM.  We will keep you updated as we know more.