MONROE - About 3,100 voters in the City of Monroe and southeast Green County helped push Repub-lican Howard Marklein of Spring Green to become the next senator from Wisconsin Senate District 17.
Marklein faced off against Democrat Pat Bomhack, also of Spring Green, Tuesday in the general election.
Preliminary numbers with 87 percent of the precincts reporting by 12:30 a.m., showed Marklein nearing the finish of the race with 54 percent of the votes, and a total of 30,609 votes. Bomhack was receiving 46 percent, or 26,146 votes.
"We ran a positive campaign," Marklein said, "and the voters responded to our message. I'm anxious to serve the district as their next senator."
Marklein stepped down as the representative in Assembly District 51 to run for the seat held for 23 years by retiring Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center. Marklein, a certified public accountant, ran his campaign heavily on his previous Assembly work of improving the state budget and balance sheet and on lowering taxes.
Marklein took 3,085 votes, or 55.3 percent of the votes in Green County, compared to Pat Bomhack's 2,483 votes, or 44.5 percent - giving Marklein more than a 10-point lead. There were eight write-in votes.
In Lafayette County, Marklein also garnered a majority of the votes. He won 3,571 votes or 59 percent compared to 2,480 votes or 41 percent for Bomhack. There were three write-in votes.
Marklein faced off against Democrat Pat Bomhack, also of Spring Green, Tuesday in the general election.
Preliminary numbers with 87 percent of the precincts reporting by 12:30 a.m., showed Marklein nearing the finish of the race with 54 percent of the votes, and a total of 30,609 votes. Bomhack was receiving 46 percent, or 26,146 votes.
"We ran a positive campaign," Marklein said, "and the voters responded to our message. I'm anxious to serve the district as their next senator."
Marklein stepped down as the representative in Assembly District 51 to run for the seat held for 23 years by retiring Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center. Marklein, a certified public accountant, ran his campaign heavily on his previous Assembly work of improving the state budget and balance sheet and on lowering taxes.
Marklein took 3,085 votes, or 55.3 percent of the votes in Green County, compared to Pat Bomhack's 2,483 votes, or 44.5 percent - giving Marklein more than a 10-point lead. There were eight write-in votes.
In Lafayette County, Marklein also garnered a majority of the votes. He won 3,571 votes or 59 percent compared to 2,480 votes or 41 percent for Bomhack. There were three write-in votes.