Local spring elections always are a little more difficult to interpret than others, mostly because turnout often is so low.
Such was the case in Monroe, where none of the mayoral, city council or school board seats were contested. Mayor Ron Marsh garnered 830 votes Tuesday to get re-elected, which is nearly 600 fewer than he received two years ago when he won the office as a write-in candidate. There were 2,145 votes cast in the Monroe mayoral races in 2006, and 850 cast Tuesday.
The two statewide decisions didn't likely draw people to the polls, either. The Supreme Court race between Justice Louis Butler and Burnette County Circuit Judge Michael Gabelman was nasty, for sure, but it probably didn't inspire many more people to vote than it turned away. And the vote to eliminate the governor's "Frankenstein Veto" powers was a non-issue, apparently. Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly (71 percent) chose to take away the governor's ability to cross out words and digits and stitch sentences together to rewrite laws and budgets. Unfortunately, despite the constitutional amendment approved Tuesday the governor still has one of the strongest veto powers in the country.
The Pecatonica school district referendum yielded one of the closest decisions of the day, gaining approval by a mere 25 votes (369 to 344). The district, which spans four counties, saw the referendum fail in Green and Lafayette counties but pass mostly because of the larger margin of support in Iowa County. Sometimes, the post-referendum period is more difficult for school districts. Particularly after close votes like Tuesday's, spending will be scrutinized more closely.
Races for Green County Board were more interesting Tuesday than they have been in a while. Two incumbents were defeated by challengers. Gene Curran was soundly defeated by John Glynn in District 3, and Jeff Thomm lost to Sherry Fiduccia in District 16. It is possible the incumbents' losses were part of a backlash of voter discontent with the County Board's justice center decisions. But three other incumbents won - Oscar Olson (District 11) and Russ Torkelson (District 23) by comfortable margins and Mike Furgal (District 6) by five votes over Stewart Strait.
Another interesting outcome Tuesday didn't even occur in our readership area. It was in Grant County, where voters by a more than 2-to-1 margin approved reducing the size of the county board from 31 members to 17. The final vote count was 5,581 in favor to 2,531 opposed. The changes will take effect in 2010.
John Glynn in his successful campaign for the Green County Board said, if elected, he would work to reduce the size of the board here from its current 31 members. It is the first time we can recall someone on the board being a vocal proponent for such a change, which would add accountability and efficiency to county government. Hopefully, Glynn will follow through on the promise.
Such was the case in Monroe, where none of the mayoral, city council or school board seats were contested. Mayor Ron Marsh garnered 830 votes Tuesday to get re-elected, which is nearly 600 fewer than he received two years ago when he won the office as a write-in candidate. There were 2,145 votes cast in the Monroe mayoral races in 2006, and 850 cast Tuesday.
The two statewide decisions didn't likely draw people to the polls, either. The Supreme Court race between Justice Louis Butler and Burnette County Circuit Judge Michael Gabelman was nasty, for sure, but it probably didn't inspire many more people to vote than it turned away. And the vote to eliminate the governor's "Frankenstein Veto" powers was a non-issue, apparently. Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly (71 percent) chose to take away the governor's ability to cross out words and digits and stitch sentences together to rewrite laws and budgets. Unfortunately, despite the constitutional amendment approved Tuesday the governor still has one of the strongest veto powers in the country.
The Pecatonica school district referendum yielded one of the closest decisions of the day, gaining approval by a mere 25 votes (369 to 344). The district, which spans four counties, saw the referendum fail in Green and Lafayette counties but pass mostly because of the larger margin of support in Iowa County. Sometimes, the post-referendum period is more difficult for school districts. Particularly after close votes like Tuesday's, spending will be scrutinized more closely.
Races for Green County Board were more interesting Tuesday than they have been in a while. Two incumbents were defeated by challengers. Gene Curran was soundly defeated by John Glynn in District 3, and Jeff Thomm lost to Sherry Fiduccia in District 16. It is possible the incumbents' losses were part of a backlash of voter discontent with the County Board's justice center decisions. But three other incumbents won - Oscar Olson (District 11) and Russ Torkelson (District 23) by comfortable margins and Mike Furgal (District 6) by five votes over Stewart Strait.
Another interesting outcome Tuesday didn't even occur in our readership area. It was in Grant County, where voters by a more than 2-to-1 margin approved reducing the size of the county board from 31 members to 17. The final vote count was 5,581 in favor to 2,531 opposed. The changes will take effect in 2010.
John Glynn in his successful campaign for the Green County Board said, if elected, he would work to reduce the size of the board here from its current 31 members. It is the first time we can recall someone on the board being a vocal proponent for such a change, which would add accountability and efficiency to county government. Hopefully, Glynn will follow through on the promise.
