MONROE - Tom Vale and Dan Gartzke once were law partners, and over the years they've remained good friends.
On April 7, they will face off to see who will become Green County Circuit Court Judge for the Second Branch.
In a three-way primary race Tuesday, Vale finished with 1,401 votes, or about 43 percent, compared to 982 votes, about 30 percent for Gartzke. They were the top two vote-getters and advance to the general election.
Green County Court Commissioner Timm Burns finished with 874 votes, about 27 percent.
Vale attributed his win to hard work and strong support from his volunteers.
"I had a lot of personal contact with people," Vale said. "I had a lot of good people helping me."
Vale said he was somewhat anxious Tuesday waiting for the polls to close and the results to come in, but the wait wasn't too bad.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about it (the election)," he laughed.
Gartzke, who took part in his first campaign since his father ran for office in 1978, said he enjoyed the campaign. He was able to meet a lot of people and he talked about his qualifications.
He was a little anxious about the race but kept it in perspective.
"It's nothing compared to watching a jury come in," he said.
Vale and Gartzke said they plan to continue to run positive campaigns as they prepare to meet each other in April.
"We all said at the start we were going to run a clean campaign. We respect each other," Vale said.
Gartzke said his friendship with Vale was evident when he received a call a few minutes after the vote was posted on the Green County Web site.
"He called me 20 seconds after the results were in," Gartzke said.
He said "without a doubt" he would stay positive in the upcoming election.
"I'd never do anything to insult Tom or undermine the court," he said. "I'm really happy for him."
Burns said he was disappointed in the election results, but said it was a was a good experience.
"I was able to meet a lot of good people," he said. "There are still two good candidates."
Gartzke said he plans to go back out on the campaign trail, knock on doors and talk to voters.
"My family is looking forward to it," he said of the campaign.
Vale said the real winners of the outcome Tuesday were Green County voters.
"They can't get a bad judge," Vale said.
On April 7, they will face off to see who will become Green County Circuit Court Judge for the Second Branch.
In a three-way primary race Tuesday, Vale finished with 1,401 votes, or about 43 percent, compared to 982 votes, about 30 percent for Gartzke. They were the top two vote-getters and advance to the general election.
Green County Court Commissioner Timm Burns finished with 874 votes, about 27 percent.
Vale attributed his win to hard work and strong support from his volunteers.
"I had a lot of personal contact with people," Vale said. "I had a lot of good people helping me."
Vale said he was somewhat anxious Tuesday waiting for the polls to close and the results to come in, but the wait wasn't too bad.
"I spent a lot of time thinking about it (the election)," he laughed.
Gartzke, who took part in his first campaign since his father ran for office in 1978, said he enjoyed the campaign. He was able to meet a lot of people and he talked about his qualifications.
He was a little anxious about the race but kept it in perspective.
"It's nothing compared to watching a jury come in," he said.
Vale and Gartzke said they plan to continue to run positive campaigns as they prepare to meet each other in April.
"We all said at the start we were going to run a clean campaign. We respect each other," Vale said.
Gartzke said his friendship with Vale was evident when he received a call a few minutes after the vote was posted on the Green County Web site.
"He called me 20 seconds after the results were in," Gartzke said.
He said "without a doubt" he would stay positive in the upcoming election.
"I'd never do anything to insult Tom or undermine the court," he said. "I'm really happy for him."
Burns said he was disappointed in the election results, but said it was a was a good experience.
"I was able to meet a lot of good people," he said. "There are still two good candidates."
Gartzke said he plans to go back out on the campaign trail, knock on doors and talk to voters.
"My family is looking forward to it," he said of the campaign.
Vale said the real winners of the outcome Tuesday were Green County voters.
"They can't get a bad judge," Vale said.