Republican wins Assembly seat covering Milwaukee County (WI)

AP/jsonline.com ^ | 7/22/2003

[steveegg]

Republican businessman Mark Honadel defeated Democratic Oak Creek Alderman Al Foeckler in a special election Tuesday to fill a vacant state Assembly seat which covers part of Milwaukee County.

With 14 of 16 precincts, or 88 % reporting, Honadel had 6,235 votes, or 63 %, while Foeckler had 3,698 votes, or 37 %, unofficial election returns showed. Honadel replaces former Rep. Jeff Plale in the 21st District, which covers Milwaukee's southern suburbs. Plale, a Democrat, won a special election earlier this year to the state Senate.

In another special election race in the 71st District in north-central Wisconsin, Republican Jackie Szehner took an early lead over Democrat Louis John Molepske Jr., and Green Party candidate Amy Heart.

With 25 of 34 precincts, or 74 %, reporting, Szehner had 1,673 votes, or 46 %, while Molepske had 1,498 votes, or 41 %, according to unofficial returns.

[steveegg]

This is a HUGE deal. Consider the following:

• The last time a Republican represented the district was at least 70 years ago.
• In the special election to replace the state Senator (which includes this district and 2 highly-liberal districts in the city of Milwaukee), the Pubbies didn't even put up a candidate, while the Greens did.
• Despite the abive, the district went for Bush in 2000 and Scott Walker (a Pubbie) for county exec in 2002.
• Fearing that this would turn out to be a referendum on the property tax freeze passed by the Legislature and all-but-already-vetoed by Jim (Craps) Doyle, the RATs poured an unprecedented amount of money and effort into propping up Foeckler. This effort included numerous TV ads both by the Foeckler campaign and "independent" groups (the "independent" ads were carried on the local cable network, but not the candidates' ads), supression calls, an outright lie claiming that a pro-life group who endorsed Honadel was for Foeckler, and a continuation of the practice of certain candidates who get a Milwakuee Journal Sentinel endorsement also getting a front-page post-it note slapped on the election-day edition.

Also note that despite the heavy campaigning by the Journtinel, they didn't bother to have a local reporter on this; rather, they depended on the AP.

One more thing; it looks like the Pubbies have gone 2 for 2, though the north-central numbers are a lot closer and slower in coming in.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thanks for posting this great news. I hope the trend continues in the North Central WI district.

[Jean S]

Thanks for posting this news! Can we assume that Doyle won't line item out the 'no property tax increase" provision in the budget? At the least he's received a strong message from the voters.

[steveegg]

Can we assume that Doyle won't line item out the 'no property tax increase" provision in the budget? At the least he's received a strong message from the voters.

Craps listening to the voters? Not a chance, unfortunately.

[steveegg]

I hope the trend continues in the North Central WI district.

Same here. Looks like we'll have an unexpected bonus in the tax revolt.

[Jean S]

You may be right but it's going to be harder to defend the veto.
(Wishful thinking?)

[SteveAustin]

This was a big win....the special interests poured tons of money into this.

Loud Message to Jim Doyle and the teachers union...no new taxes.

[republicandiva]

Congrats to all the southern Milwaukee area residents and thanks to all involved in the grassroots effort (including those from other areas) that turned back Foeckler's last minute sleaze machine, AND BY A SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN! GREAT JOB...maybe there is hope for Milwaukee after all! lOL

Now the real test - will this win pressure enough Demonrat legislators, fearful of their jobs, into a veto override, assuming Doyle still plans to veto the freeze? Should be interesting.

[LouD]

2 highly-liberal districts in the city of Milwaukee

Honadel lost one of those wards (I don't recall which one) by only six votes. The demonrats and union thugs were highly irate this evening over the effectiveness of Honadel's campaign. The Republicans played great defense (making it difficult for the demonrats and union thugs to play their usual election fraud games) and offense (great grassroots organization, get out the vote efforts, and communication) Everyone stayed on message, and the message was tax freeze - Doyle ignores that message at his peril.

[steveegg]

Final unoffical numbers from Channels 4 and 6 (probably also reported on 12 and 58; if so, I missed it) -

Mark Honadel (R) - 6624
Al Foeckler (D) - 4216

[steveegg]

While I was refering to Assembly districts (Cudahy, St. Francis, Bay View and the Lower East Side), point well noted.

On a related note, I'll wager that if David Clarke decides to run for mayor, he'll get more votes from those 2 wards than any 2 inner-city wards.

[steveegg]

It's just been a great day all around. Uday and Qusay dead, seat flipped (never mind that the Pubbies already solidly control the Assembly), message sent to Craps loud and clear.

[fieldmarshaldj]

WI politics *ping*

Fantastic wins here...

[Faraday]

This is great news. Hope the result leads to the Demons in the legislature going weak in the knees. (And maybe even encourage some of the Pubs to find a spine.) Also, hope that a tax revolt along with revulsion against anti-American treason will sweep Feingold out next year.

[GOPJ]

Good news bump.

[steveegg]

(~Remember, it's not sporting to fire at RINO until charging~)

Who cares about sporting :-)

[MediaMole]

The post-it notes are paid ads.

See page 3 of the advertising rate card.

Rate Card (PDF file)

Just an FYI. Even the Journal-Sentinel has some limits.

[lawgirl]

YAY!! I am moving to Milwaukee next week- how great to know I'll have a Republican representative to represent me. :-D That makes me feel a bit better about the $3800 a year I will be paying in taxes!!!!!!!!!

[steveegg]

In that case, I'd like to see a Pubbie that they would never endorse try to get a Post-It. I find it odd that the 4 times it has happened have all been Journtinel-endorsed candidates.

[steveegg]

If you're moving to the very-far south side, then you may have Honadel. A helpful PDF map to show just how little of Milwaukee would have a Pubbie representing it in the Assembly is over on the Assembly website for the district.

Of course, if you're coming out the the fine south suburbs, unless you're in Cudahy, you'll have a Pubbie representing you.