A former City of Racine police officer, Wanggaard is a member of the Racine Police and Fire Commission. He was first elected to the county board in 2002. His campaign website is HERE.“Racine County has one of the worst unemployment situations in the state,” Wanggaard said. “With so many Wisconsinites and Racinians struggling to make ends meet, I am concerned that our state lawmakers are taking us in the wrong direction. We need a senator who will vote ‘no’ on higher taxes and job-killing policies. My campaign will be about giving the people of the 21st Senate District the representation they deserve in the State Senate.
“Citizens of the 21st Senate District are struggling every day to pay their bills and put food on the table. Hard-working people are being laid off, businesses are closing their doors, and families are being forced to tighten their belts like never before. Meanwhile, politicians in Madison are increasing wasteful and unnecessary spending and increasing taxes on everything from fuel to cell phone bills. It’s time for real leadership and real representation for the citizens of the 21st Senate District.
"My priorities will focus on strengthening our remaining businesses and creating a greater potential for job creation and expansion. Also, public safety is a priority that must be addressed. Releasing felons from prisons early for budgetary reasons circumvents the criminal justice process and puts the safety and security of our neighborhoods in jeopardy. To be successful, we have to decrease the individual tax burden, create good-paying jobs, attract new business, ensure public safety, and maintain core services for the hard-working people of the state.”
Lehman issued his own statement in response to Wanggaard's announcement.
“While I now have an announced challenger for State Senate I remain focused on the job the people of Racine County elected me to do. Clearly my opponent is announcing his campaign so early - sixteen months prior to the election -- to start the chase for special interest cash and try to match the $400,000 that was spent against me by my last opponent.Lehman defeated Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds in 2008.
"The voters of the 21st Senate District deserve an honest campaign that’s focused on what needs to be done to meet the challenges we face. When the time is right I’m going to run just that kind of campaign and hope that my opponent feels the same and his campaign would reflect that.
"It’s hard work, leadership, and a willingness to be straight with the people about the choices and the investments we need to make that will get our economy going again. The same old, tired partisan politics and rhetoric doesn’t create jobs, improve schools, keep our streets safe, make health care more affordable or balance a state budget.
"I’ve been working to make our communities stronger as citizen and concerned father, teacher, alderman and now a member of the State Senate. I’ve never shied away from taking on the powerful special interests to stand up for middle class and working families, kids and seniors. I’m proud to stand on my record."
God Speed sir!
ReplyDeleteHe has my vote.
ReplyDeleteVan has my vote too. He is someone you can trust and he has common sense. Two things missing right now in Madison.
ReplyDeleteGo Van Go!
Van is a good man. He is tough, smart and honest. Something that is rare nowadays. Bring integrity back to that office.
ReplyDeleteGreat, another politician whose only solution is to say no. He even said it in his press release. I hope he at some point actually puts some ideas out there.
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer someone who sez "no" over someone who sez "yes" to every special interest group's request for more of my tax dollars! I'll vote for Van.
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ReplyDeleteWell, now we know who came up with the plane idea and why....
ReplyDeleteHe's a loser who couldn't beat Mason for an assembly seat, now he thinks he's going to pull off some mid-term magic? Man, is his party using him for the sacrificial lamb!
How many times do some of these people have to lose before they figure out the public really doesn't want them?
OMG his website starts with "Velkommen!!"
ReplyDeleteGee, do you think that focusing on your Northern European heritage says something? Glad he doesn't think he needs the votes of the Hispanic or Black or Asian citizens.
Van is one big talker, and a loud talker too. More than once we had the unfortunate luck of eating at a small breakfast place and he would come in. He made SURE he talked loud enough so everyone would hear him. No dignity or poise and no polish. He can say all he wants about the ideal status but he isn't into the reality of the situation. Again he is simply all talk, like a helium balloon.
ReplyDeleteAll talk...not action. He's a loud bully. He yells at constituents on the phone if they don't agree with him! NO to bullies!
ReplyDeleteGo Lehman, go!
Van fought for the West Racine Farmers Marker Van fought crime as a police officer. What does John do "Which way is Canada?" and is one of Doyle's lapdogs
ReplyDeleteI like Van, he's a decent guy and I hope he wins.
ReplyDeleteWangaard is a pig. Foul mouth.
ReplyDeleteI laughed out loud when I read Lehman say we need someone "straightforward" or whatever. Lehman's so full of crap you could mistake him for a Porta-John.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if Van had anything to do with the airplane banners or not, but I do find it interesting that lots of people are determined to find out who paid for them yet nobody has disputed the message. Doyle, Lehman, and Mason DID raise our taxes!
ReplyDeleteThe moment you turned off comments on the Marie Black article, you became exactly like the JT.
ReplyDeleteTwo points
ReplyDeleteYes Cory and John sure did rase our taxes
When John thinks he is going to lose will The Post stop anti Lehman comments too?
anon 11:47 - it's the shoot the messenger when you don't like the message mentality.
ReplyDeleteI don't know really anything about Vanggaard, but I do know that anything would be better than that traitor Lehman. He has no place to talk about being fair and representing the people of Racine after turning his back on us and voting for tax raise after tax raise. I'd vote for a cockroach before I'd vote for Lehman.
ReplyDeleteHey Pete & Dustin, I think Marie Black's rebuttal would hold a little more water if you'd post a viable phone number for her. She evidentally doesn't know that there are supposed to be 4 numbers in the suffix.
ReplyDeleteThanks. We got Marie Black's number fixed. It's 637-4520.
ReplyDeleteMcReynolds had a little chance in the minority community but Van does not have a chance. I thought it would be Cathy Stepp, but this choice is definitely not it.
ReplyDeleteVan will crush Lehman. Van fights for Racine as we have seen time after time. Lehman just does what Doyle wants.
ReplyDeleteThis really is a shame. Lehman is a complete mouth breathing idiot and needs to go.....except Wanggaard is even more of an idiot.....come on GOP run a real candidate...not a bizarre cheesey dweeb like him.
ReplyDeleteKay, if you can't prove that plane comment shut your big fat mouth..
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