Partisan primary on Aug. 14

By Robert Cloud

Wilz

Patrol Sgt. Tim Wilz finds himself running unopposed for Waupaca County sheriff.

Although Sheriff Brad Hardel’s name will appear on the Aug. 14 Republican primary ballot, he announced on June 11 that he will not seek re-election and will retire at the end of this year.

Hardel’s announcement came too late for his name to be removed from the ballot.

No other candidates are running for sheriff.

Wilz has continued to campaign, participating in parades and attending town board meetings.

Meeting with citizens and township officials gives him an opportunity to learn what his future constituents want.

“What they want is controlled spending,” Wilz said. “They want more enforcement, more transparency. They want to be informed and they want to see the sheriff.”

Wilz said he plans to visit with town boards after he takes office because he can what the sheriff’s office is doing, what it plans to do and how it is spending tax dollars.

The meetings will also encourage citizens to share their concerns with law enforcement.

Wilz said he has campaigned on a platform to ensure the safety of the county’s schools, businesses and homes, while saving taxpayers money through an effective and efficient budget.

Wilz is also concerned about the ongoing drug problem in Waupaca County.

While he supports hiring more drug enforcement officers, Wilz asks, “Can we really arrest our way out of the drug problem?”

He said the county should also promote education and prevention, starting as early as elementary school.

Wilz has proposed sending one of the county’s drug enforcement officers or detectives into local schools to speak with students about the consequences of drug use.

He noted that the officers working with drug abuses are aware first hand how drugs like heroin and methamphetamine can destroy a young person’s life.

He said county officers can also work with school liaison officers to put together educational programs.

Partisan primary
While there are no contested races on the county level in Waupaca County, Republicans and Democrats have contested state offices on the primary ballot.

Voters may only cast ballots for candidates of a single party in all races. Crossing over party lines will disqualify the ballot.

In the gubernatorial race, Robert Meyer is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who is seeking a third term.

Meyer is running as a fiscally conservative, moderate Republican.

Ten candidates for governor are will be on the Democratic primary ballot: Andy Gronik, Matt Flynn, Tony Evers, Josh Pade, Mike McCabe, Mahlon Mitchell, Kelda Helen Roys, Paul Soglin, Kathleen Vinehout and Dana Wachs.

Polling data compiled by Real Clear Politics shows State Superintendent Evers leading the race with an average of 28.7 percent.

State Sen. Vinehout comes in second with 7.7 percent, followed by campaign finance reform activist McCabe and Madison Mayor Soglin with 5 percent each.

Gronik and Wachs have dropped out of the race.

Running unopposed in their partisan primaries are Libertarian Phillip Anderson and Green Party candidate Michael J. White.

Incumbent Rebecca Kleefisch is running unopposed in the GOP primary for lieutenant governor.

Two Democrats, Kurt J. Kober and Mandela Barnes, are seeking to win their party’s nomination for lieutenant governor.
Libertarian Patrick Baird and Green Party candidate Tiffany Anderson are also running for lieutenant governor.

In the race for attorney general, Brad Schimel is unopposed in the Republican primary, Josh Kaul is unopposed in the Democratic primary and Terry Larson is the Constitution Party’s unopposed candidate.

Two Republicans, Jay Schroeder and Spencer Zimmerman, are running for secretary of state.

Two Democrats, incumbent Doug La Follette and Arvina Martin, are in the race for secretary of state.

In the race for state treasurer, Dawn Marie Sass, Cynthia Kaump and Sarah Godlewski are seeking the Democratic nomination, while Republicans Travis Hartwig and Jill Millies are running for their party’s nomination.

Incumbent Treasurer Matt Adamczyk is not seeking re-election.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The Republican ballot for senator has five names: George C. Lucia, Leah Vukmir, Griffin Jones, Kevin Nicholson and Charles Barman.

Vukmir and Nicholson are polling at about 35 percent each.

U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher is unchallenged in the Republican primary, as is his future Democratic opponent, Beau Liegeois.

In the 40th Assembly District, state Rep. Kevin Petersen is unopposed, while Erin Tracy will be the only name on the Democratic Party ballot for the seat.

Not all of Waupaca County is in the 40th Assembly District.

The city of Clintonville, the village of Embarrass and the towns of Bear Creek, Lebanon and Matteson are part of 6th Assembly District.

Incumbent Gary Tauchen is unopposed in the Republican primary.

Richard Sarnwick and William J. Switalla are seeking the Democratic primary.

Mike Hammond will be on the Libertarian ballot.

Clerk of Courts Terrie Tews, a Republican, is running unopposed.