Supreme Court candidates spend day before election in Green Bay
(Published Tuesday, April 3, 2007 10:10:07 AM CST)
A d v e r t i s e m e n t
By Scott Bauer Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. - Mud throwing marked the state Supreme Court race to be decided Tuesday, but snow and rain falling across the state also may have an impact.
The forecast calls for heavy snow in the north, with showers and thunderstorms in the south as voters decide who will serve a 10-year term on the state's high court. The state Elections Board has cited the poor forecast as one reason why turnout may reach only about 25 percent statewide.
Neither candidate was taking anything for granted Monday as they campaigned in the Green Bay area.
Annette Ziegler, a Washington County circuit court judge for the past 10 years, spent the morning in the Fox Valley and had an afternoon news conference planned at the Milwaukee firefighters' union hall. Linda Clifford, a Madison attorney for the past 32 years, planned campaign stops in Green Bay, Kaukauna and Sheboygan.
Both sides expressed confidence heading into the election.
"We feel that voters tomorrow are going to make their decision based on experience," said Ziegler's spokesman Mark Graul. Much of Ziegler's campaign has been focused on her record as a judge and her former job as a federal prosecutor.
Clifford's spokeswoman Nicholl Caruso said she believes the momentum is on Clifford's side, given the attention paid to a complaint the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed with the state Judicial Commission over Ziegler's decision to rule on cases involving companies in which she owned stock and a local bank where her husband is a director.
Ziegler emerged from a three-candidate field in February with 57 percent of the vote, but since then has had to deal with questions over potential conflicts of interest and charges that she is soft on crime.
Ziegler has said Clifford would be a judicial activist and may rule on cases that would benefit her husband, a prominent Madison trial lawyer.
Clifford and Ziegler combined spent a record for a state Supreme Court race, putting in $1.4 million as of March 19. Much of their money was spent on ads attacking each other.
In addition, outside groups have spent at least $2 million in an attempt to influence the outcome of a race that will decide the ideological swing of the seven-member court.
The vacancy is created by the retirement of Justice Jon C. Wilcox, who is viewed as one of three conservative members of the court. There are also three justices considered liberal and one swing vote.
Clifford is seen as the more liberal candidate in the race, with Ziegler the choice of conservatives.
In other races Tuesday, voters will elect mayors in Madison and Green Bay, local judges, city council members and decide a number of school referendums and other local issues.
While the bad weather may depress voting at the polls, Election Board spokesman Kyle Richmond said that may be mitigated by high numbers of absentee votes.
Both sides said volunteers were making calls Monday to remind people to vote. It's hard to know what impact low turnout will have on the Supreme Court race, Caruso said.
"A lot of it really depends on what's going on locally," she said. "That's probably what's going to drive a lot of the turnout."
Summary POLL HOURS: Polls are open for voters statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. People can register to vote at their local polling station.
SUPREME COURT: Voters will decide who will serve a 10-year term on the state Supreme Court. The battle between Washington County Circuit Judge Annette Ziegler and Madison attorney Linda Clifford has been the most expensive in state history.
WEATHER: The forecast for snow in the north and thunderstorms in the south probably won't help bolster turnout, which the state Elections Board is predicting to be about 25 percent.
