22nd State Senate GOP primary
State Sen. Robert Wirch is the target of a recall.
Well, it’s round two of the state senate recall election season.
Last week’s Democratic primaries to determine the challengers against Republican candidates were a farce, with established Democrats running against protest ‘Democrats’ who were put up by the Republican Party to delay the general election into August. In the only Milwaukee area race, Rep. Sandy Pasch easily beat Gladys Huber in her bid to challenge incumbent Sen. Alberta Darling.
As that general election approaches, ThirdCoast Digest will provide profiles and policy positions of both candidates 8th and 22nd senatorial districts.
But before the generals, there is another round of primaries, this time between Republicans to face incumbent Democrats. Today we head south to Kenosha County where Sen. Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) will face the winner of tomorrow’s GOP primary between former Kenosha County Fred Ekornaas and attorney Jonathan Steitz.
Both candidates spoke with TCD about why they are running, what they would do differently than Wirch and why they are the best man to serve the 22nd State Senate district.
Other than going to Illinois during the budget repair bill debate, what other areas has Sen. Robert Wirch not been in touch with the 22nd District?
Steitz: “Sen. Wirch’s policies have been wrong for the 22nd district in the past, and they are wrong for the future. He claims to be a fiscal conservative, but in the 2007 proposed budget he voted for the largest tax increase in Wisconsin history,” Steitz said.
Ekornaas: “The only issue is that he left the state. That is all anybody cares about.”
Should there be restrictions on the recall process and if so, what should they be?
Steitz: “I believe the recall elections should only be used in extreme circumstances. However, I am not in favor of the government imposing stricter limits, such as requiring a reason for recall, because that would inevitably lead to the courts deciding what is or isn’t a valid reason for recalling a legislator,” Steitz said.
Johathan Steitz
“I do believe that recalls should be limited to times when there’s been a serious abdication of responsibility and I think we have to leave that in the hands of the voters. One change I would be open to making is raising the bar above the 25% threshold required for a recall to make it a bit harder.
Erkonaas: “I’m not happy with the recall because most are being held based on a vote. But if Wirch had stayed and voted, this wouldn’t be happening. He should have debated and argued, instead of running away. ”
Ekornaas agrees with Republican leaders that recalls should only be used for some sort of misconduct in office, but he said tens of thousands of voters in the 22nd district felt that Wirch committed and act of cowardice and desertion and should be removed.
“If he had stay and voted differently than me, I see nothing wrong with that.”
What are your plans to increase economic development in Kenosha County, Southeastern Wisconsin and the rest of the state?
Steitz: “I believe that Kenosha County is in a prime geographic location to benefit from policies that make Wisconsin competitive again. First and foremost we need to make the tax code simpler. We need to reduce the administrative costs that are forced on businesses in order to comply with our tax code. We also need to reduce the special-interest, one-time tax breaks that we use to try to make ourselves competitive and instead cut taxes across the board.”
Erkonaas: “Do you want to know why we’ve lost jobs? It is a hard pill to swallow, but that are going to ‘right to work’ states,” Ekornaas said. “We need to have more flexibility with unions. If you want jobs you have to give them a reason to hire.”
Where do you disagree with the GOP leadership and how will you show independence from the party?
Steitz: “One of the things I disagree with is the provision in the budget that gives school districts state aid if they raise property taxes by up to $50 per student. I don’t believe that raising property taxes on people who are hurting in this economy is the answer,” he said.
“I will be independent by making decisions based on what is best in the long-term for the people of my district, not to keep the party happy or to be re-elected. People are tired of career politicians, and I am not going to be a career politician.”
Fred Ekornaas
Ekornaas: “There isn’t an issue I can think of that I would disagree with the party with right now,” he said, “and I would need to study the issues more. However, I will not be in lockstep or a maverick within the party.”
Why are you the better choice to represent the Republican Party in this recall effort against Sen. Wirch?
Steitz: “The 22nd district needs a leader that really understands business and will implement the right kind of policies that will grow the economy in our area. We don’t want another career politician. As a former small business owner and an attorney who works in capital markets, I’ve got the necessary private-sector experience. I don’t view a political office as a career. Not only that, but I have the strategy, resources and grassroots support that it will take to defeat Sen. Wirch in August.”
Steitz has taken a leave of absence from a Chicago law firm to run for office. He currently owned his own event management and production company. Steitz is married, lives in Pleasant Prairie and is the father of four children.
Ekornaas: “I am a proven conservative with a history in the community,” he said. “I am respected and trusted by the people as opposed to a Chicago corporate attorney with no name recognition.”
Ekornaas currently serves as the vice-chairman of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors, was a Kenosha County deputy for 25 years and served as the county’s sheriff for two terms. Ekornaas is a widower, lives in Bristol and has three sons and six grandchildren.
The latest battleground for recall fever.
It is hard to make a recall election exciting. But Shelly has done it. The Pubs just couldn’t come up with the votes or the candidates to make a run at it.