November 3, 2014

Presidential Aspirations Hinge On Gubernatorial

 

11/3/14 – The Wisconsin governor’s race is typical to most others around the country — except that it could have presidential implications for 2016.  The Associated Press says Republican Scott Walker could elevate himself to the top-tier of G-O-P White House candidates with a victory tomorrow — and a loss to Democrat Mary Burke would almost certainly put him out of contention. Otherwise, the A-P says the Wisconsin race is pretty much the same as most others.  Yesterday, both candidates tried to encourage their supporters in southeast Wisconsin to vote.  In general, the 22 Republican governors have touted their post-recession economic gains — while Democrats have portrayed their opponents as too extreme and beholden to corporate interests over the middle class.  Many of the 14 Democratic governors up for re-election are just trying to hang on, as voters continue to be skeptical about the economy.  Wages have either been stagnant or have fallen in many places, while record numbers of workers have temporary jobs.  Both Walker and Burke have not said much about last week’s U-W Milwaukee study showing that virtually all of the state’s net job growth since 2010 was in low-wage positions.  Recent Wisconsin polls have shown Walker and Burke to be about even, but Walker pulled out to a seven-point lead in last week’s Marquette Law School poll.

 

Dodge County Sheriff Race Preview

 

11/3/14 – The sheriff’s race is expected to be the local one that draws the most voters to the polls.  It has been known for nearly three weeks now that there will be two candidates for the position of Dodge County sheriff.  Republican primary winner Dale Schmidt will be the only name on tomorrow’s ballot, but current sheriff Patricia Ninmann is running as a write-in candidate.  Schmidt says that he is the best choice for the voters of Dodge County.  He claims that he brings the guidance and commitment to safety that the area needs.  Ninmann says that she is the top candidate due to the way she has run the department with dedication and integrity.  She says that she will ensure that the interests of the people will be heard.  After weeks of back-and-forth debate, the result of the election will finally be known Tuesday night.

 

State Senate District 13 Race Preview

 

11/3/14 – Republican incumbent Scott Fitzgerald and Democratic challenger Michelle Zahn are the two names that will appear on the ballot in the State Senate District 13 race.  Fitzgerald, who has represented the district in Madison since 1994, says that he seeks re-election to continue to work towards placing Wisconsin in the best possible position economically.  He says that he looks to lower taxation and make the budgeting process more efficient.  Zahn is new to running for office and says she wants the vote of the people so that she can ensure that their representation is made a top priority.  She says that her reason for the running is the voters, not money or power.  Republicans have historically been very successful in this race as they have held the seat for the last thirty-four years.

 

Wisconsin Assembly District 39 Race Preview

 

11/3/14 – Despite there not being a Democratic candidate on the ballot, voters in District 39 do have a choice for state assembly.  Republican incumbent of two years Mark Born is being opposed by independent challenger Richard Bennett.  Born says that he seeks to continue to represent the district’s conservative political views in the state capitol.  He states that the reforms that he has participated in during his first term have brought about what was promised.  The incumbent says that he wants to continue to move the state of Wisconsin in the right direction.  Bennett, on the other hand, says that he is running as an independent candidate to avoid having to give in to the commands of either major party.  The challenger says that neither party would likely want to associate with him based on his collective views.  He says that he looks to bring about a line of new ideas.  The race for the assembly district will be decided on tomorrow’s Election Day.

 

Meanwhile, there are two other contested Assembly Races on Dodge County ballots. In District 37, Republican incumbent John Jagler of Watertown is face a challenge from Democrat Mary Arnold of Columbus. In District 42, Democrat George Ferriter of Doylestown is seeking to unseat Republican Keith Rip of Lodi.

 

Towns of Beaver Dam, Westford Referenda

 

11/3/14 – Voters in the Town of Beaver Dam will be asked Tuesday if the Town Clerk and Town Treasurer positions should be appointed positions. If voters say “yes” to the two questions, the clerk and treasurer will no longer be chosen by voters at election time. The current office holders are up for election again in April. In the Town of Westford, the electorate is being asked if all candidates for elected office should be nominated at a non-partisan primary.

 

Hustisford School District Seeks To Exceed Revenue Limits

 

11/3/14 – Hustisford School District ballots have two referendum questions. The first seeks to exceed state-imposed revenue limits by $240-thousand dollars indefinitely; to maintain current programs, services and staffing.  The second resolution seeks to exceed the revenue cap by $150-thousand dollars for four years; to support instructional technology and expand educational opportunities. Superintendent Doug Keiser says each referendum would help support many projects, which includes expanded offerings for kids, including online learning and the purchase of technology in the district.

 

Town of Addison Man Drowns

 

11/3/14 – An 87-year-old Town of Addison man drowned when he slipped and fell into a pond Saturday afternoon. Washington County sheriff’s officials say they got a call from the man’s wife. She told them she couldn’t find her husband and hadn’t seen him since 1:30pm. She said his tractor and trailer were next to a pond and she feared he had fallen in. Deputies saw something protruding near the middle of the pond and divers were called in. They located the man’s body at 6:23pm.

 

Brandon Fire Believed To Be Electrical

 

11/3/14 – The cause of a house fire in Brandon that resulted in significant damage Saturday morning is said to be electrical in nature That is according to a press release from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, that says the call was reported around 6am to the John Horvath residence on Highway 49. He and his two children escaped without injury. The American Red Cross is assisting the family.

 

Leaf Collection Sparks Shed Fire

 

11/3/14 – Washington County Sheriff’s officials say a shed fire in the Town of Jackson Sunday afternoon began while the homeowner was using a riding lawn mower to blow leaves. The leaves underneath the machine started on fire and that spread to the shed and a wooded area. Six fire departments fought the blaze and put it out. The shed and it contents were destroyed. No one was injured. The residence where the fire occurred is located on Spring Valley Road.

 

Hartford Business Damaged By Fire

 

11/3/14 – Fire caused more than $50,000 in damage to a Town of Hartford business Saturday night. Washington County Sheriff’s officials say a passerby noticed a possible fire at Car Doctors on State Highway 83 and called authorities about 7:30pm. The first deputy that arrived saw moderate amounts of smoke coming from numerous portions of the building. Six fire departments fought the blaze. No one was injured during the fire.

 

Reckless Endangerment Charges Requested In Oshkosh

 

11/3/14 – A 21-year-old Oshkosh man has been arrested in connection with a hazardous materials incident that shut down several blocks Friday night and early Saturday morning. The man is tentatively charged with recklessly endangering safety for the incident in a home in the 800 block of Frederick Street. He’s being held in the Winnebago County Jail. Materials found inside the home were isolated and contained and there is no threat to the public. Oshkosh Police and the FBI are continuing their investigation.

 

Dodge County Deputies Busy With Weekend Car Accidents

 

11/3/14 – A Lomira man was injured after driving into a tree in the Town of Rubicon. The accident was reported Sunday morning around 1:15am at Hilltop and Hauser Roads. Daniel Raether was flown by Flight for Life.  The 33-year-old was cited for first offense OWI. There were two other motor vehicle accidents reported on Sunday. Around 11am, injuries were reported in a semi versus box-truck accident on County Road A in the Town of Oak Grove. Twenty minutes later, two people were transported to Watertown Hospital following a truck versus van wreck on County Road L and Silver Creek Road in the Town of Emmet. Meanwhile, Dodge County Sheriff’s deputies responded to four car versus deer accidents on Sunday, seven collisions on Saturday and three on Friday. Also on Friday, on Highway E at Highway 26 around 5pm, the driver of a vehicle was transported with an injured hand after a turkey went through the windshield.

 

Janesville Man Gets Eleventh OWI

 

11/3/14 – A 48-year-old Janesville man is facing his eleventh charge of Operating While Intoxicated.  Bradley Skelly was pulled over for speeding near the downtown area early Friday morning.  The officer who stopped him reports Skelly was driving 45-to-50 miles per hour in a 30-mile-per-hour zone.  The officer says he immediately noticed Skelly had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and bloodshot eyes.  He failed field sobriety tests.  Police say his 14-year-old son was in the car at the time.  Although he spent five years in prison and had his license revoked for three years, he did have a valid Wisconsin driver’s license when he was arrested.  Skelly faces a minimum of eight years in prison.