Schaber to run against Wieckert (Appleton area)

[Broca]

http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/APC0101/803140543/1979

Posted March 14, 2008

Penny Bernard Schaber to run for Assembly seat

Wieckert said he has plans to seek a seventh term

The Post-Crescent


Democrat Penny Bernard Schaber says her loss to state Rep. Steve Wieckert by 1,419 votes in 2006 as a first-time candidate gives her hope she can unseat him this fall.


Bernard Schaber, 54, of Appleton, plans to formally announce her candidacy for the 57th Assembly District on Saturday at a campaign rally to be attended by U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.


Wieckert, R-Appleton, said Thursday he has tentative plans to seek a new term, but won't make a formal announcement before summer. Wieckert, 53, is serving his sixth term in office.


"I still don't feel that Representative Wieckert is listening to everybody here in the district," Bernard Schaber said.


She expects the presidential contest will draw record voter turnout in November and help her unseat the six-term incumbent.


Her event is being held at noon at the Stone Cellar Brewpub, 1004 S. Olde Oneida St.


In her latest campaign-finance filing statement, Bernard Schaber, a physical therapist and environmental activist, raised $11,309 in the second half of 2007. She spent $3,748 and ended with a cash balance of $14,457.


Wieckert, meanwhile, raised $1,584. He spent $2,311 and had $28,440 cash on hand.

[dragonlady]

1. This would be a good year to challenge every Republican

After we get past this primary mess, I think it's going to be a blow-out in the fall.

I hope.

[Broca]

2. I hope you are right.

Some of the democrat experts are hoping to change over 2-3 assembly districts that will give them a majority and control of the committees. Some of the knuckle draggers are quite entrenched so I am hoping for the 2 or 3 change. This race in the 57th Assembly District is one of our better chances to alter the ratio. The republicans of course are optimistically hoping to take back the State Senate. In a few months it will be easier to speculate with greater accuracy (maybe).

[Vet31203]

3. I hope so too

Wisconsin will be blue in November and it may mean the difference in the Presidential election. What is the legislative balance looking like?

Vote Fallon!
http://www.equalitygiving.org/

[Broca]

4. Currently

I think the balance in the state assembly is 51 Republicans to 47 Democrats with the Senate having 18 Democrats to 15 Repubicans. At the U.S. level both Senators are Democrate with the U.S. Congressional delegation evenly split 4-4.

[dragonlady]

5. Actually we enjoy a 5-3 advantage in Congress

This is since Steve Kagen was elected in 2006. It's interesting to see the little chart on congressional voting in the Journal-Sentinel. It is alphabetical, and the three Republicans are together at the bottom.