As of 7 a.m. this morning, the 2019 Spring General Election is underway. Through 8 p.m. this evening when polling places close, local voters will be faced with a few decisions both locally and statewide. Along with several contested seats at the local township level, voters will be asked to select the next Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. Last spring, long-time state supreme court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson announced her retirement; resulting in state appellate judges Lisa Neubauer and Brian Hagedorn announcing their respective candidacies to fill the vacancy.
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Family Members: Married to wife Christina for 17 years, 5 children – Abram (15), Olivia (13), Anna (11), Abram (8), and Lily (5)
Education: B.A. from Trinity International University in Philosophy; Law Degree from Northwestern University School of Law
Current role/position: District II Court of Appeals Judge (2015-present)
Past or present positions and/or offices held, dates served: Attorney at Foley & Lardner (2006-2009); Law Clerk at Wisconsin Supreme Court (2009-2010); Assistant Attorney General at the Wisconsin Department of Justice (2010-2011); Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Scott Walker (2011-2015)
Membership in religious, professional, service, fraternal clubs or organizations: Federalist Society, Milwaukee and Madison Lawyers Chapters; State Bar of Wisconsin Bench-Bar Committee; Wisconsin Judicial Commission; St. Michael’s Anglican Church
Why have you chosen to run for the office of Supreme Court Justice, and what do you hope to bring to position if elected/re-elected?
“I am running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court because I am deeply committed to defending the rule of law, upholding our Constitution as written, and protecting the public. Because nearly everything significant comes to the courts nowadays, it is critical that we have justices who know their job is to say what the law is, not what they think the law should be.
“I was born and raised in right here in Wisconsin. My family never had any money, and we never had any political connections. But we did have a sense of love for America, and service for the common good. Soon, my own passion for public service began to form, taking me to law school at Northwestern University. After graduation, Christina and I (17 years of marriage strong) were delighted to begin my career and to raise our growing family—now at five children. After starting my career in private practice, I clerked for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, worked as an Assistant Attorney General at the Wisconsin Department of Justice, and served as Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Scott Walker. Today, I serve as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
“The core job of a judge is to defend the rule of law. This means it is my duty to say what the law is, not what I think the law should be. Of course, everyone has personal beliefs. But what we expect of all judges is that they set those views aside when deciding cases; personal political values have no place in the courtroom. And that is the kind of judge I am. I treat everyone with the utmost dignity and respect, and every single person receives a decision based on the law, and the law alone. Saying what the law is also means upholding our Constitution as written. That is why I am committed to upholding the rights written into our Constitution, rights like the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to bear arms.
“Wisconsin also needs a justice committed to protecting the public. The opioid and meth epidemics are doing tremendous damage to families and communities across our state, and the judicial branch must be a part of the conversation. On the front lines of fighting this crisis are our law enforcement professionals. They walk the thin blue line every single day, like my grandfather once did, to protect our communities. I have received the support from 44 sheriffs and the Milwaukee Police Association because they trust me to protect the public and defend the rule of law. While my opponent may say that she shares similar commitments, the truth is, she has upheld as a model justices who have been political activists on the bench. We cannot turn our judicial branch into another political branch; our founders left policy fights to the two political branches. And that’s why I am committed to enforcing the laws and the Constitution as they are written.”
“I pledge to the voters that I will apply the law fairly to everyone, and I will always remember that I am a servant of the law and the people. As your justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I will stand up for the Constitution.”
Hometown: Racine, WI
Family: Husband, Jeff. Children: Katherine, Greta, Sam, and Scout (Golden Retriever)
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Wisconsin-Madison. JD with Honors, University of Chicago
Current role/position: Chief Judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Past or present positions and/or offices held, dates served: Presiding Judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 2
Membership in religious, professional, service, fraternal clubs or organizations: ABCD/After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Racine Area United Way, Equal Justice Coalition, Big Brothers/Sisters of Greater Racine, Holy Communion Lutheran Church – Racine
Why have you chosen to run for the office of Supreme Court Justice, and what do you hope to bring to position if elected/re-elected?
“With over 30 years in the law as an attorney and a judge, I have dedicated my life to the law and believe in fair representation at every step in our judicial process. Judges should not be partisan politicians. Our duty is to interpret the law without bias or having an outcome in mind. I am focused on what my role and what my experience brings – which is a deep commitment to a fair, impartial, and independent court.
“The public’s perception of our court is critical to our entire system of justice, because the court’s legitimacy depends on the public’s confidence. My record is that of a fair, impartial, and independent judge. That’s why I was chosen by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to be Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, and that’s what I would be as a Justice of the Supreme Court. You don’t just have to take my word for it, though – I have the endorsements of over 340 current and former Wisconsin judges (98% of the judicial endorsements in the race) – including Judge Robert Russell, Judge Jay Tlusty, and retired Judges Glenn Hartley and J. Michael Nolan.
“I also have the endorsements of over 80 sheriffs and district attorneys from across WI. They know me as a tough but fair judge who will be independent and impartial on the Supreme Court.”
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In other judicial races, State Court of Appeals District 3 Judge Lisa Stark is running unopposed for her second term, which will expire in 2025. Locally, Lincoln County Circuit Court Branch II Judge Robert Russell is running unopposed for his second term as well, which also expires in 2025.
Also on today’s ballot will be three members of the MAPS Board of Education; Norbert “Nubs” Ashbeck, Linda Yingling and Jon Smith; each running unopposed. Ashbeck has been on the board since being first-elected in 2013. Yingling was first appointed to the board in 2013 and won her first elected seat in 2014. Smith will begin his second elected term in office since being appointed to the board in July of 2016.
For a complete list of county and city polling locations, click here.
Below are local town races and their respective candidates:
Town of Birch
Town Board Chairperson
David Fox
Town Board Supervisor
Debbie Gano
Terry L. Lokemoen
Town Clerk
Cynthia Lokemoen
Town Treasurer
Marlene Fox
Town of Corning
Treasurer
Katie Giese
Town Board Chairperson
John Kudick
Town Board Supervisor
Jeff Simon
Todd Luedtke
Town Clerk
Rick Hass
Town of Harding
Town Board Chaiperson
Ron Hornischer
Mike Ellsworth
Town Board Supervisor:
Donald C. Graap Sr.
John M. Tomajcik Sr.
Town Clerk
Kristy Ament
Town Treasurer
Carrie Hintz
Town of Merrill
Town Board Chairperson
Michael Matushak
Town Board Supervisor
Michael Hass
Larry Simon
Town of Pine River
Town Board Chairperson
Bill Zeitz
Town Board Supervisor
Steve Uttech
David Breunig
Town Clerk
Amanda Herdt
Town Treasurer
Donna Opper
Town Constable
Hannah Zastrow
Town of Rock Falls
Town Board Chairperson
Tim Caylor
Town Board Supervisor
George W. Alery
Tim Panfil
Town Clerk
Judith Buch
Town Treasurer
Cindy Frisch
Town of Russell
Town Board Chairperson
Robert Kressel
Town Board Supervisor
David Heller
Marty Sosnovske
Town Clerk
Linda Dorgan
Town Treasurer
Susan L. Fisher
Town of Scott
Town Board Chairperson
Mike Woller
Town Board Supervisor
Gerald Engel
Donny Graap Jr.
Ed Livingston
David W. Rice
Town Clerk
Becky Byer
Town Treasurer
Ann Krueger