Ready for Recall? Efforts Could Have Local Impact

When State Senator Van Wanggaard spoke to the , he addressed the possibilty of recall.

"I know I might be recalled, but I'm not focusing on that," he said at the time. "I have to be really serious about job creation."

But Wanggaard (R-Racine) will be forced to think about recall now that efforts will launch against him tomorrow, Nov. 15, the same day recall signature collection begins for Governor Scott Walker. Wanggaard is one of three state senators targeted for recall. The other two are Pam Galloway (Wausau) and Terry Moulton (Chippewa Falls).

A story at jsonline.com confirmed Wanggaard is targeted. To force a recall, opponents of Wanggaard's efforts in Madison have to gather verifiable signatures that equal 25 percent of the total number of votes cast in his district for the governor's race in 2010. Organizers will have 60 days to try and garner enough support to force a recall election.

"I am definitely going to challenge the recall by doing my job and not running away," Wanggaard said. "We need to focus on jobs because we haven't been doing that for 15 years. In just the last few months, we've seen hundreds of new jobs, and I know that comes directly from the state level. People want their businesses here because we have a good workforce."

It is unclear who would run against Wanggaard should organizers succeed, but Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) isn't ruling it out. He told Patch on Nov. 14 that he and his wife will discuss their options while they enjoy the arrival of a new baby.

"We are undecided at this point," he said. "There are a lot of considerations or moving parts, like redistricting, for one. We're going to weigh our options for the future."

The Racine Recall Office has been set up at 2100 Layard Avenue. According to Kelly Gallaher, a volunteer with Community for Change, the recall office is a joint effort between the Democratic Party, Community for Change, the Committee to Recall Scott Walker, local unions and others.

"Anyone and everyone is welcome," she said. "We're training hundreds of volunteers on how to legally canvas a neighborhood and collect verifiable signatures."

Gallaher said she knows there's been talk of needing to collect 15,000 to 16,000 signatures a day across the state to reach the needed 540,000 for Governor Walker, but she doesn't know what the means for crews in Racine County.

"There are so many questions because we're in completely unchartered territory here," she added. "We plan to be as creative and flexible as possible to make sure we're doing things that work."