What Drove District 22 Voters To Polls For Recall

If you thought the recalls finished with last week’s elections, think again –recall fever is still simmering in parts of the state. In Southeastern Wisconsin Sen. Robert Wirch (D-Kenosha) will face off against Republican challenger Jonathan Steitz, while in Northern Wisconsin Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) is being challenged by Tea Party activist Kim Simac.
These two recalls are the final chapter in the drama that erupted in Wisconsin when Gov. Scott Walker and the Republican Legislature introduced the Budget Repair Bill, which required contributions to health insurance and pensions by public employees and limited their collective bargaining privileges. The Republicans were recalled for their affirmative votes for Walker’s bill, while Democratic senators are being chastised for leaving the state for three weeks during the height of the battle.
Last week, four of six Republicans held on to their seats, foiling the goal of Democrats to gain three Senatorial seats and a majority of the chamber. In July, Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) easily held off a weak Republican challenger and kept his seat. Today the Senate has a 17-16 Republican majority.
That leaves the two final Democratic recalls, which could increase the size of the majority, or keep things the same. The only thing we know for sure is at this time tomorrow, the negative campaign ads will cease across the state. That is, until the effort to recall Gov. Walker gets into high gear.
Wirch is favored to win in a close match for the 22nd Senatorial District that covers all of Kenosha County. Holperin, who holds the distinction of being the only state politician to ever be recalled twice (he faced a recall while serving in the state assembly), is in a difficult race against Simac in a district that has become increasingly conservative in recent years.
ThirdCoast Digest is focusing on the 22nd Senatorial District recall of Sen. Wirch. We were unable to sit down personally with either candidate in tomorrow’s race, but both made appearances on WisconsinEye and here are the highlights from those interviews.


It's become somewhat of a routine this summer -- long lines at the polls, ballots cast, votes counted and at the Kenosha Public Museum, turnout and opinions were strong from the start.
"Change, we need a change," voter Helen Funderburg said.
"Right now, we need somebody that's going to get us under control and that is Gov. Walker for president," voter Cathie Dulaney said.
In the final summer recall election, two Democratic senators' jobs are on the line for leaving Wisconsin during the collective bargaining debate.
Democratic state Sen. Bob Wirch is fighting to keep his job, so are some of his constituents.
"I think what Bob Wirch did was probably not the most correct thing to do, but in good standing it was the correct thing to do," Pleasant Prairie resident Joe Place said.
In Pleasant Prairie, there was another strong voter turnout early, and some voters even crossed party lines.
Lawrence Zettler is one who is switching from red to blue.
"Actually, I'm really a hard-nose Republican, but I support this man here because I worked 37 years at Brass, and I know his character, and I know he was doing a good thing," Zettler said.
But Wirch will have to beat Republican challenger Jonathan Steitz.
Steitz's supporters said they are looking for a fresh start.
"After a while in office, you tend to know where you need to work to make people happy, and that's the impression I get, is he knows what will keep him in office," Steitz supporter Walter Routh said.
But only the votes will decide who stays and who goes.
Kenosha election workers said they didn't have any official numbers, but expected voter turnout to be very high.