1996 Wisconsin Senate election

1996 Wisconsin State Senate election
November 5, 1996
16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate; 17 seats needed for a majority
President before election; Fred Risser; Democratic	Elected President ; Fred Risser; Democratic

1996 Wisconsin State Senate election
← 1994 November 5, 1996 1998 →
16 of 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate; 17 seats needed for a majority
President before election; Fred Risser; Democratic	Elected President ; Fred Risser; Democratic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak from office.

Summary

Seats		Party (majority caucus shading)		Total

		Democratic	Republican
Last election (1994)		7	10	17
Total after last election (1994)		16	17	33

Total before this election		17	16	33
Up for election		9	7	16
of which:	Incumbent retiring	1		1
	Vacated
	Unopposed	3	1	4
This election		9	7	16
Change from last election		2	3

Total after this election		17	16	33
Change in total

Popular vote

Democratic			49.25%
Republican			48.53%
Taxpayers			1.55%
Libertarian			0.67%

Senate seats won

Democratic			56.25%
Republican			43.75%

Close races

State Senate district 30, 3.58%

State Senate district 28, 4.08%

State Senate district 10, 8.24%
State Senate district 16, 8.97%

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

Joseph F. Andrea (D–Kenosha), representing district 22 since 1984, decided to retire.

Recall election

Background

In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.^[1]

Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures,^[2] the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.^[3]

Petition

Dist.	Incumbent			Recall petition
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Signatures required	Signatures approved (%)	Status
21	George Petak	Rep.	1990	11,577	15,050 (130%)	Petition certified on March 26, 1996. Recall held on June 4, 1996.

Results

Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache.^[4] As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session.

Dist.	Incumbent			This race
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Primary^[5]	General^[6]	Result
21	George Petak	Republican	1990	George Petak (Rep.) William A. Pangman (Rep.) Kimberly Plache (Dem.)	▌Y Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 51.22% ▌George Petak (Rep.) 47.02% ▌Todd Mascaretti (Lib.) 1.76%	Incumbent recalled. Democratic gain.

Results summary

Dist.	Incumbent				This race^[a]^[7]
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Candidates	Results
02	Robert Cowles	Rep.	1987 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YRobert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92% ▌Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08%	Incumbent re-elected
04	Gwen Moore	Dem.	1988	Incumbent Running	▌YGwen Moore (Dem.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
06	Gary George	Dem.	1980	Incumbent Running	▌YGary George (Dem.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
08	Alberta Darling	Rep.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌Y Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78% ▌Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62% ▌Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60%	Incumbent re-elected
10	Alice Clausing	Dem.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌YAlice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12% ▌Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88%	Incumbent re-elected
12	Roger Breske	Dem.	1990	Incumbent Running	▌YRoger Breske (Dem.) 57.39% ▌Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%	Incumbent re-elected
14	Robert Welch	Rep.	1995 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YRobert Welch (Rep.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
16	Charles Chvala	Dem.	1984	Incumbent Running	▌Y Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67% ▌Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70% ▌Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63%	Incumbent re-elected
18	Carol Buettner	Rep.	1987 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YCarol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77% ▌Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23%	Incumbent re-elected
20	Mary Panzer	Rep.	1993 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌Y Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83% ▌Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18% ▌Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98%	Incumbent re-elected
22	Joseph F. Andrea	Dem.	1984	Incumbent Retiring	▌YRobert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81% ▌Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19%	New member elected. Democratic hold
24	Kevin Shibilski	Dem.	1995 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌Y Kevin Shibilski (Dem.) 84.08% ▌Wayne Wiedeman (Tax.) 15.92%	Incumbent re-elected
26	Fred Risser	Dem.	1962 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YFred Risser (Rep.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
28	Lynn Adelman	Dem.	1976	Incumbent Running	▌YLynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04% ▌Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96%	Incumbent re-elected
30	Gary Drzewiecki	Rep.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌YGary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 51.79% ▌Barbara Lawton (Dem.) 48.21%	Incumbent re-elected
32	Brian Rude	Rep.	1984 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YBrian Rude (Rep.) 75.10% ▌David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90%	Incumbent re-elected

Notes

^ Scattered votes omitted

References

^ Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

The 1996 Wisconsin Senate election were held on Tuesday, November 5, 1996. Sixteen of the 33 seats in the Wisconsin Senate were up for election—the even-numbered districts. At the time, Democrats held 17 seats while the Republicans held 16, having lost their majority only months prior due to the recalling of Senator George Petak from office.

Summary

Seats		Party (majority caucus shading)		Total

		Democratic	Republican
Last election (1994)		7	10	17
Total after last election (1994)		16	17	33

Total before this election		17	16	33
Up for election		9	7	16
of which:	Incumbent retiring	1		1
	Vacated
	Unopposed	3	1	4
This election		9	7	16
Change from last election		2	3

Total after this election		17	16	33
Change in total

Popular vote

Democratic			49.25%
Republican			48.53%
Taxpayers			1.55%
Libertarian			0.67%

Senate seats won

Democratic			56.25%
Republican			43.75%

Close races

State Senate district 30, 3.58%

State Senate district 28, 4.08%

State Senate district 10, 8.24%
State Senate district 16, 8.97%

Outgoing incumbents

Retiring

Joseph F. Andrea (D–Kenosha), representing district 22 since 1984, decided to retire.

Recall election

Background

In October 1995, Senator, George Petak, faced controversy when he changed his vote on a funding bill for the Miller Park stadium. Miller Park was being planned to replace the forty-year-old Milwaukee County Stadium and was being pushed by Republican Governor Tommy Thompson and Milwaukee Brewers owner and future-Commissioner of Baseball, Bud Selig. Petak had promised his constituents that he would vote against the bill, but changed his mind based on the belief that the Brewers would leave Wisconsin if a new stadium wasn't built.^[1]

Petak's change in vote supported a 0.1% increase in sales tax for five counties in the vicinity of the proposed stadium, which included Petak's home county of Racine. His actions caused outrage and frustration in his home district, and local Democrats were energized to collect signatures for a recall petition. After collecting 15,050 signatures, or 130% of the required 11,577 signatures,^[2] the recall was certified on March 26, 1996, and a recall election was ordered for June.^[3]

Petition

Dist.	Incumbent			Recall petition
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Signatures required	Signatures approved (%)	Status
21	George Petak	Rep.	1990	11,577	15,050 (130%)	Petition certified on March 26, 1996. Recall held on June 4, 1996.

Results

Nine months after his vote on the stadium tax, Petak became the first Wisconsin state legislator to be removed from office in a recall election, when he was defeated by Democratic State Representative Kimberly Plache.^[4] As a result of the recall, control of the state Senate flipped to Democratic control for the rest of the session.

Dist.	Incumbent			This race
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Primary^[5]	General^[6]	Result
21	George Petak	Republican	1990	George Petak (Rep.) William A. Pangman (Rep.) Kimberly Plache (Dem.)	▌Y Kimberly Plache (Dem.) 51.22% ▌George Petak (Rep.) 47.02% ▌Todd Mascaretti (Lib.) 1.76%	Incumbent recalled. Democratic gain.

Results summary

Dist.	Incumbent				This race^[a]^[7]
Dist.	Member	Party	First elected	Status	Candidates	Results
02	Robert Cowles	Rep.	1987 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YRobert Cowles (Rep.) 62.92% ▌Patricia Buss (Dem.) 37.08%	Incumbent re-elected
04	Gwen Moore	Dem.	1988	Incumbent Running	▌YGwen Moore (Dem.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
06	Gary George	Dem.	1980	Incumbent Running	▌YGary George (Dem.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
08	Alberta Darling	Rep.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌Y Alberta Darling (Rep.) 58.78% ▌Randy Nash (Dem.) 38.62% ▌Tim Gallert (Tax.) 2.60%	Incumbent re-elected
10	Alice Clausing	Dem.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌YAlice Clausing (Dem.) 54.12% ▌Jay Griggs (Rep.) 45.88%	Incumbent re-elected
12	Roger Breske	Dem.	1990	Incumbent Running	▌YRoger Breske (Dem.) 57.39% ▌Nancy Levanetz (Rep.) 42.57%	Incumbent re-elected
14	Robert Welch	Rep.	1995 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YRobert Welch (Rep.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
16	Charles Chvala	Dem.	1984	Incumbent Running	▌Y Charles Chvala (Dem.) 53.67% ▌Tom Metcalfe (Rep.) 44.70% ▌Mike Oprish (Lib.) 1.63%	Incumbent re-elected
18	Carol Buettner	Rep.	1987 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YCarol Buettner (Rep.) 73.77% ▌Fred Frederickson (Dem.) 26.23%	Incumbent re-elected
20	Mary Panzer	Rep.	1993 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌Y Mary Panzer (Rep.) 84.83% ▌Kevin Scheunemann (Lib.) 8.18% ▌Barry Moder (Tax.) 6.98%	Incumbent re-elected
22	Joseph F. Andrea	Dem.	1984	Incumbent Retiring	▌YRobert Wirch (Dem.) 56.81% ▌Bruno Rizzo (Rep.) 43.19%	New member elected. Democratic hold
24	Kevin Shibilski	Dem.	1995 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌Y Kevin Shibilski (Dem.) 84.08% ▌Wayne Wiedeman (Tax.) 15.92%	Incumbent re-elected
26	Fred Risser	Dem.	1962 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YFred Risser (Rep.) 100%	Incumbent re-elected
28	Lynn Adelman	Dem.	1976	Incumbent Running	▌YLynn Adelman (Dem.) 52.04% ▌Lisa Soik (Rep.) 47.96%	Incumbent re-elected
30	Gary Drzewiecki	Rep.	1992	Incumbent Running	▌YGary Drzewiecki (Rep.) 51.79% ▌Barbara Lawton (Dem.) 48.21%	Incumbent re-elected
32	Brian Rude	Rep.	1984 (special)	Incumbent Running	▌YBrian Rude (Rep.) 75.10% ▌David Wulf (Dem.) 24.90%	Incumbent re-elected

Notes

^ Scattered votes omitted

References

^ Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
^ "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[7] Scattered votes omitted

[1] Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[2] Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[3] "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[4] "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[5] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[6] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[8] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[7] Scattered votes omitted

[1] Sandomir, Richard (May 7, 1998). "Stadiums Are Proposed, but Public Isn't Always Disposed to Pay Price". The New York Times. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[2] Bowers, Faye (June 3, 1996). "Wisconsin state senator faces recall over stadium vote". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[3] "Recall gets green light". Racine Journal Times. Madison. March 27, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[4] "Plache sworn in as state senator". Racine Journal Times. June 14, 1996. Retrieved February 15, 2019.

[5] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 888. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[6] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. p. 889. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

[8] "State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1997-1998". University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries. pp. 889–890. Retrieved March 24, 2024.

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