MONROE - With about 51 percent of the vote, Tom Vale became the first Green County Circuit Court Branch 2 Judge.
Vale, Monroe, received 3,012 votes, about 51.5 percent, to 2,799 votes, about 48 percent, for New Glarus attorney Dan Gartzke.
"It's a relief to have the campaign over with," Vale laughed after he saw the election returns at the Green County Courthouse.
Vale is a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul. He choose to run in the election because the opportunity came up after the Legislature created a Second Branch for the Green County Circuit Court.
Vale thanked Gartzke for running a positive campaign. The two men worked together at the same law firm several years ago and have remained friends. They pledged to run a positive campaign.
"I also have to thank a lot of people," Vale said. "I want to thank my family, who put up with a lot and went door to door for me; my law partners; and a lot of friends."
Vale, who will take office Aug. 1, said he wasn't sure how he would finish. In the February primary, he received 1,401 votes, about 43 percent, while Gartzke received 982 votes, about 30 percent, and Green County Court Commissioner Timm Burns received 874 votes, about 28 percent.
"You can't predict what will happen after the primary because you have only two candidates and different people coming out to vote," he said. "This was a close race."
Gartzke said he couldn't take much consolation from Tuesday's close finish, but said he was still glad he ran.
"This is something I always wanted to do," he said. "I don't have any regrets."
It was a good time for him to run, both professionally and personally, he added.
"I think Tom will make an excellent judge," Gartzke said.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer was unopposed in the Branch 1 election. Beer received 4,721 votes, about 97 percent. There were 140 write-in votes in the Branch 1 race and 31 write-in votes for the Branch 2 election.
There were 6,190 votes cast in the election, about 33 percent of registered voters in Green County.
Vale, Monroe, received 3,012 votes, about 51.5 percent, to 2,799 votes, about 48 percent, for New Glarus attorney Dan Gartzke.
"It's a relief to have the campaign over with," Vale laughed after he saw the election returns at the Green County Courthouse.
Vale is a partner at Duxstad, Vale and Bestul. He choose to run in the election because the opportunity came up after the Legislature created a Second Branch for the Green County Circuit Court.
Vale thanked Gartzke for running a positive campaign. The two men worked together at the same law firm several years ago and have remained friends. They pledged to run a positive campaign.
"I also have to thank a lot of people," Vale said. "I want to thank my family, who put up with a lot and went door to door for me; my law partners; and a lot of friends."
Vale, who will take office Aug. 1, said he wasn't sure how he would finish. In the February primary, he received 1,401 votes, about 43 percent, while Gartzke received 982 votes, about 30 percent, and Green County Court Commissioner Timm Burns received 874 votes, about 28 percent.
"You can't predict what will happen after the primary because you have only two candidates and different people coming out to vote," he said. "This was a close race."
Gartzke said he couldn't take much consolation from Tuesday's close finish, but said he was still glad he ran.
"This is something I always wanted to do," he said. "I don't have any regrets."
It was a good time for him to run, both professionally and personally, he added.
"I think Tom will make an excellent judge," Gartzke said.
Green County Circuit Court Judge James Beer was unopposed in the Branch 1 election. Beer received 4,721 votes, about 97 percent. There were 140 write-in votes in the Branch 1 race and 31 write-in votes for the Branch 2 election.
There were 6,190 votes cast in the election, about 33 percent of registered voters in Green County.