MONROE - Voters in the 80th District Tuesday chose Evansville city council member Janis Ringhand over Monroe Alderman Dan Henke to represent them in the Assembly.
Henke, the Republican, said he conceded to Ringhand just after 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
Ringhand is the first Democrat to represent the 80th Assembly District in about 20 years.
She credited her win to hard work and grass-roots outreach.
"I talked to a lot of people," she said.
Her experience in local government was also a factor, she said.
"People see that I'm a results-driven person."
Ringhand said her main focus in Madison will be economic issues. Job creation and retention are vital to people in the district, she said.
Ringhand said she's looking forward to getting to work.
"It's been a great race and I'm glad we won," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with both sides."
For his part, Henke said he was pleased that he carried Green County, but not by enough of a margin to overcome the more Democratic-leaning parts of the district in southern Dane and Rock counties.
"She's strong there," Henke said. "She even beat (former 80th District Rep.) Brett Davis in Oregon and he's from Oregon."
Davis, a Monroe native, previously held the 80th District seat, but relinquished it for a failed bid for the Republican lieutenant governor nomination.
Henke said he called and thanked Ringhand Tuesday night and urged her to seek bi-partisanship in Madison.
"We're all in this together, so we need to find a way out of it together," said Henke.
Henke received 6,773 votes in Green County, or about 52 percent, while Ringhand netted 6,314 votes, or 48 percent. There were 25 write-in votes.
In Rock County Ringhand received 1,851 votes, or about 62 percent of the vote, while Henke received 1,094 or about 38 percent of the vote.
In Dane County, Ringhand received 3,841 votes, or about 58 percent, to 2,739, or 42 percent for Henke.
Ringhand served on the Evansville city council from 1998 to 2002, when she became mayor. She was mayor from 2002 until 2006. In 2008, she was elected to another term on the city council and was re-elected in 2010. She's also served as council president. She ran for the 80th Assembly seat unsuccessfully in 2004 and 2006.
In addition, she is a member of the Evansville Economic Development Committee, the Stoughton Hospital board of directors, the Brooklyn Sportsman's Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Henke is a two-term alderman from Monroe. He formally served as council president and also served on the St. Victor school board.
Henke, the Republican, said he conceded to Ringhand just after 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
Ringhand is the first Democrat to represent the 80th Assembly District in about 20 years.
She credited her win to hard work and grass-roots outreach.
"I talked to a lot of people," she said.
Her experience in local government was also a factor, she said.
"People see that I'm a results-driven person."
Ringhand said her main focus in Madison will be economic issues. Job creation and retention are vital to people in the district, she said.
Ringhand said she's looking forward to getting to work.
"It's been a great race and I'm glad we won," she said. "I'm looking forward to working with both sides."
For his part, Henke said he was pleased that he carried Green County, but not by enough of a margin to overcome the more Democratic-leaning parts of the district in southern Dane and Rock counties.
"She's strong there," Henke said. "She even beat (former 80th District Rep.) Brett Davis in Oregon and he's from Oregon."
Davis, a Monroe native, previously held the 80th District seat, but relinquished it for a failed bid for the Republican lieutenant governor nomination.
Henke said he called and thanked Ringhand Tuesday night and urged her to seek bi-partisanship in Madison.
"We're all in this together, so we need to find a way out of it together," said Henke.
Henke received 6,773 votes in Green County, or about 52 percent, while Ringhand netted 6,314 votes, or 48 percent. There were 25 write-in votes.
In Rock County Ringhand received 1,851 votes, or about 62 percent of the vote, while Henke received 1,094 or about 38 percent of the vote.
In Dane County, Ringhand received 3,841 votes, or about 58 percent, to 2,739, or 42 percent for Henke.
Ringhand served on the Evansville city council from 1998 to 2002, when she became mayor. She was mayor from 2002 until 2006. In 2008, she was elected to another term on the city council and was re-elected in 2010. She's also served as council president. She ran for the 80th Assembly seat unsuccessfully in 2004 and 2006.
In addition, she is a member of the Evansville Economic Development Committee, the Stoughton Hospital board of directors, the Brooklyn Sportsman's Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Henke is a two-term alderman from Monroe. He formally served as council president and also served on the St. Victor school board.