"I have a tremendous desire and passion for this job," he said.

It took him a few months to decide he wanted to run for judge, he said. He talked with his wife, and he went over the idea several times in his mind. Once he decided to run, he realized it was the right decision.

"I'm surprised how much I've enjoyed going door to door. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, because I like working with people," he said.

Gartzke, who lives in New Glarus with his wife Tracey, and his three children, is a partner in the law firm of Schwalbe & Gartzke, S.C., with offices in New Glarus and Madison.

He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School. He is also a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin. In addition, he is a member of the Green County Bar Association, having served as vice president in 1999 and president in 2000. He is also a member of the Dane County Bar Association, where he has served on the board of directors since 2004.

In the past, Gartzke has referenced the need for respect in the courtroom. Gartzke said there isn't a lack of respect in Green County court and said there shouldn't be. He can mention instances in other county courtrooms in which lawyers have used sarcasm to try to belittle their opponents.

"I've been in many different courtrooms with many different judges and lawyers," he said.

Gartzke said he will be formal and professional when on the bench.

Having worked aside local attorneys, Gartzke will now be presiding over cases those attorneys could be a part of.

But, Gartzke believes he will be able to judge cases based on facts and not who is in the courtroom. Gartzke said a person shouldn't be rewarded or penalized because of the attorney hired to represent them.

He also said he doesn't have a problem with attorneys giving their support to a judicial candidate.

"I'm fine with it. The question should be 'Should he be prohibited?' The answer is no."

In line with overcoming the pressure of presiding over former fellow attorneys, he will have to manage his personal beliefs over the rule of law.

Gartzke said personal beliefs need to stay out of a judge's mind when he's on the bench. A judge also needs to examine himself to make sure his beliefs don't interfere with his decisions.

If elected, Gartzke will have to wrestle with the topic of plea bargains and how to implement them.

"Plea bargains are a fact of life," he said. "I've represented enough criminal defendants. They're sometimes willing to say they did something wrong and that they've made a mistake.

"Plea bargains recognize that people make mistakes."

Gartzke said there are four reasons why defendants go to jail or prison: for punishment, for general deterrence for others, to protect society, for rehabilitation.

"Most people know they did something wrong," he said.

Gartzke said people need to have faith and trust that the judicial system will come to right decision when it comes to plea bargains.

Click here to read a Q&A with Dan Gartzke published in February.