Wanggaard Responds to Recall Signatures

State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) says he stands on his record of bipartisan legislation and job creation now that a recall election is all but assured.

On Tues., Jan. 17, Wisconsin Democrats announced that they have 24,000 signatures calling for a new vote for Wanggaard's seat. Organizers needed 15,000 signatures, and while the total collected is about 126 percent more than required, each name still has to be verified by the Government Accountability Board.

After the announcement, Wanggaard issued a written statement that reiterated everything he's said in the last few weeks: his focus remains on getting jobs to Racine County and to Wisconsin as a whole.

"The people of Racine and Wisconsin are tired of being divided, angry at the political fighting and frustrated with Madison. That is part of the reason I ran for the State Senate 15 months ago, and after being in the Capitol for a year, I still join them in their disappointment and frustration," he wrote. "That’s why I’ve worked across the aisle to pass legislation that improves the jobs climate in the state, expands educational opportunities and protects southeastern Wisconsin’s most needy individuals."

Wanggaard said recall organizers can play their game of politics while he stays focused on improving the lives of Wisconsin residents.

"No matter their attacks, lies and name-calling, I will continue to focus on my efforts to help Wisconsin create and retain good-paying jobs and the politics of moving Wisconsin forward," he stated.

Randolph Brandt, the resident who kicked off the recall movement against Wanggaard last November, was thrilled with the efforts thus far.

"After a magnificent effort by scores of volunteers, I was able to turn into the GAB today 4,000 pages of petitions with 24,000 signatures to recall Sen. Wanggaard, 156 percent of the threshold," he told Patch. "Combined with overwhelmingly successful recall efforts against Gov. Walker, with more than a million signatures, Lt. Gov. Kleefisch, with more than 800,000, and commandingly large margins for recall of three other state senators, everyone's looking forward to successful recall elections later this year."

Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) - who once talked of running against Wanggaard in a recall election - said the efforts of citizens to gather signatures means good things for the state.

"It’s an important day in Wisconsin history. Today we begin to heal the politics in our state by recalling those who have needlessly divided us,” he told Patch via email. "Given the impressive number of signatures collected in Racine and statewide, Wanggaard and Walker have to be worried that their days are numbered."

As for who Wanggaard might face in his recall election, there isn't a list of names yet from Racine County Democrats.

"We don't have an official announcement yet," said Racine County Democratic Chair Jane Witt. "Once we have 15,000 accurate signatures verified by the GAB then we will make an announcement, but until we have official word that we're having an election, it's not time to start naming names."

Additional State Senate Recalls

Three other State Senators are also facing recall elections:

Pam Galloway (R-Wausau) - Recall organizers in Wausau say they collected 21,000 signatures to recall Galloway. Using her support of Governor Scott Walker's biennial budget and Act 10 (Budget Repair Bill) as reason, the Committee to Recall Senator Pam Galloway said the number of signatures on petitions represents 134 percent of the signatures needed.

Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls) - More than 21,000 signatures have been given to the GAB to recall the freshman Republican. Organizers say that is well above the needed 14,958 needed to pull the trigger on a recall election.

Scott Fitzgerald (R-Fort Atkinson) - The Senate Majority Leader will face a recall election, though it is unclear who will run against him after the more than 20,000 signatures are verified by the GAB. Organizers needed to collect 16,742 for the Senate leader.