Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Top Stories, November 3rd


2010 Election Coverage

11/3/10 - Just two years after Wisconsinites gave Democrats their nearly full support, the voters did a complete about-face yesterday. The Badger State was the only one in the nation where Democrats lost the governor’s office, an entire Legislature, a U-S Senate seat, and a majority in the state’s House delegation.

Governors Race

Governor-elect Scott Walker says he’ll get to work right away to keep his promise to create a quarter-million jobs by 2015. The Milwaukee County executive got 52-percent of the vote yesterday over Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. And Walker became the first Republican to win a governor’s election since Tommy Thompson did it for a fourth time in 1998. Walker said his victory was less about himself, and more about the desires of Wisconsinites who wanted their state government back. He said he would meet with state budget officials today to start addressing an expected three-billion-dollar deficit in next year’s budget. When Barrett conceded, he said he wanted to work together with Walker to help solve the state’s problems.

U.S. Senate Race

Ron Johnson says he’ll work to restore “fiscal sanity” to the nation. The Republican from Oshkosh got 52-percent of the vote yesterday in defeating Democrat Russ Feingold, who held the office for 18 years. Johnson said he’ll look for allies in the Senate who agree with him that the free-market system is what makes the country great. Feingold told his supporters he hopes to work with them in the future and said it was quote, “on to 2012 and our next adventure.” Wisconsin’s other U-S senator, Democrat Herb Kohl, is up for election that year.

Other Statewide Races

Two Republicans and a Democrat won the state’s other constitutional offices. Republican J-B Van Hollen won a second term as attorney general yesterday, easily defeating former D-N-R secretary Scott Hassett 58-to-42 percent. Democratic State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass lost her bid for a second term, as former restaurant manager Kurt Schuller won 53-to-47 percent. And long-time Secretary-of-State Doug La Follette was re-elected to the office he’s held for over three decades. He got 52-percent of the vote over Milwaukee minister David King.

High Voter Turnout in Dodge County

11/3/10 - Voter turnout in Dodge County was well-above statewide projections of 50%. County Clerk Karen Gibson says over 31,000 votes were cast in yesterday’s mid-term election, which is roughly 66% of registered voters. She had projected a 70% turnout. Dodge County voters supported Republican candidates for US Senate, governor and treasurer by a 2 to 1 margin. Over 70% voted for incumbent State Senator Scott Fitzgerald; 71% supported incumbent Attorney General JB Van Hollen and 72% of county voters cast ballots for incumbent Congressman Tom Petri.

Republican Incumbents Retain Dodge County Seats

11/3/10 - Republican incumbents will continue to represent the Dodge County-area in the state Senate and Assembly. In State Senate District 13, Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau secured 68% of the vote to defeat democratic challenger Dwayne Block and Independent candidate Vic Spadaro. In the 38th Assembly District, Joel Kleefisch – the husband of Lt. Governor-elect Rebecca Kleefisch – secured over 72% of the vote to defeat democratic challenger Dick Pas. In the 47th Assembly District – a rematch of a race that was decided by a handful of votes two years ago – Keith Ripp received 56% of the vote to beat out Trish O’Neil.

School Funding Referenda Defeated

11/3/10 - School funding referenda in Randolph and Hartford were defeated last night. In Randolph, a $12.6 million dollar referendum was voted down 698 to 380 (65% to 35%). There was less support for the second question which sought $20.8 million dollars. There were 330 votes in favor and 758 against (30% to 70%). If the second question were to have passed, the school district would have consolidated all of their buildings onto the high school campus. If the first question was approved they would have begun the consolidation process by combining the junior high with the high school. In Hartford, district residents voted against two referenda totaling $8.7 million for renovation and equipment purchases.

Municipal Referenda Defeated

11/3/10 - Voters in Clyman will continue to elect their Town Clerk. A municipal referendum to have the Town Board appoint the position was defeated by a 60% to 40% margin. One-hundred twenty-two (122) voters supported the change while 188 were against it. Similar numbers in Williamstown where voters were asked if the Town Board should appoint both the Clerk and the Treasurer. One-hundred twenty-two (122) voters were in favor of the idea while 196 said they should continue to be elected positions.

BDPFC Discusses New Fee Structure


11/3/10 - The Beaver Dam PFC last night discussed the possibility of charging a fee for various fire and police department services. Most of the fees would be for the fire department. Chief Alan Mannel told the Police and Fire Commission that the new fee structure would not cover their costs but it will help offset expenses. Mannel would like to see a $100 fee for repeat lift assist calls, where there is no transport but responders help an elderly or incapacitated person who has fallen. A $500 fee is being proposed for what Mannel calls “nuisance fire alarms,” where a residence or business has a faulty fire alarm system. In those cases, the fee would be assessed after being called out to the same location multiple times in a calendar year. A fee could also be charged for some fire inspections, tank inspections, water rescues and severe car accidents. The police department, meanwhile, wants to charge $10 for employment-related fingerprinting. The matter is expected to be revisited at future PFC meetings.

Fountain Prairie Blocking Regional Wastewater Project

11/3/10 - The Town of Fountain Prairie has blocked the $8 million dollar Fall River to Columbus waste water project two times in the last two months. Regionalization plans call for the force main to run through the Johnson Road portion of the township as it leaves the Village. After two alternative route proposals from Fountain Prairie, Fall River has taken the case to the State Division of Hearings and Appeals. Formal Township approval of the construction plans is needed to meet funding requirements for the Regionalization project.

Lauth Sentenced In Non-Profit Embezzlement

11/3/10 - A Beaver Dam man, who stole over $16,000 from a non-profit conservation organization, was sentenced Tuesday to 180 days in jail. Leonard V. Lauth pleaded “no contest” to an amended count of felony Embezzlement for taking the money from the Wings of Wisconsin, Beaver Dam Chapter over a period of several years. The 57-year-old acted as treasurer for the chapter since 1994. The organization conducted an audit last fall after hearing that Lauth may have been taking money from two other Beaver Dam non-profits where he also served as treasurer. According to the criminal complaint, Lauth admitted to investigators that he (quote) “may have robbed Peter to pay Paul” over the years and said that he has been living “month to month” and needed the money for medications and other living expenses. The 180 days in jail will be served with Huber privileges and Lauth could have his final 90 days stayed if he successfully complies with the conditions of his probation. Lauth is also prohibited from serving as a treasurer or officer in any group or organization without approval of his parole agent.

Waupun Man Sentenced For OWI Injury


11/3/10 - A Waupun man will spend 150 days in the Dodge County Jail for a drunken driving rollover accident that resulted in injuries to himself and a passenger. Anthony J. Tibbits pleaded “no contest” Tuesday to a charge of OWI Causing Injury and had a second OWI charge dismissed along with a pair of traffic citations. According to the criminal complaint, Tibbits crashed the vehicle May 30 on Milligan Road near Highway 26. The 26-year-old was flighted to a Milwaukee hospital with serious injuries. His passenger sustained non-life threatening injuries and told police that Tibbits was showing-off in his sports car and lost control after hitting a patch of gravel. His blood alcohol level was over the legal limit for driving at point-one-four (.14).






























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