Organizer of Darling Recall Effort Drops Out of Assembly Race

Kristopher Rowe tells supporters he's stepping aside and giving the floor to Rep. Sandy Pasch, who is going to run for Shorewood's new Assembly district formed by the Legislature's redistricting plan.

Kristopher Rowe, the man behind the failed recall effort against Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), said Wednesday he’s suspending his run for the state Assembly to clear the path for Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch. “I feel that it is in the best interests of the people that I wish to represent to step aside,” Rowe told supporters in a Facebook message late Wednesday night. “I have spoken with Representative Pasch … she has pledged to fight just as hard for you as I have. I believe she is genuine and she is not tied to the oligarchy that has lost sight of the people. With the GOP’s ongoing war on women we need strong leaders like Sandy in Madison," he wrote. Rowe announced his candidacy in October, saying that in light of the …

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Darling Raised $1.3 Million During 2011 Recall Push, Watchdog Group Says

Democracy Campaign says 22 state lawmakers involved in recalls last summer raised more than $8 million — four times more than what the rest of the Legislature raised.

A new report shows that Republican Sen. Alberta Darling led 22 state legislators involved in fundraising during last year's recall frenzy with $1.3 million, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group. Combined, lawmakers raised a total $8.2 million and when throwing fundraising by special interest groups into the mix, that number swells to $12.2 million, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says. The $8.2 million is more than four times the $1.9 million raised by the rest of the Legislature, the group found. Two Republican lawmakers were removed from office during the summer recall elections, but Darling, of River Hills, wasn’t one of them. She won a race against Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay), who ranked fourth in fundraising at $807,535. …

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Shorewood Patch Year in Review

The Best of Patch: May

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days. With the Sen. Alberta Darling recall effort in full swing, and Rep. Sandy Pasch announcing she would challenge for the 8th Senate seat, coupled with plenty of other local news, we were pretty busy at Shorewood Patch in the month of May. Here’s a look back at some of top headlines from the month. Pasch Makes Formal Announcement of Senate Bid Against Darling Dozens of people braved the rain at Whitefish Bay's Cahill Park on May 6, to hear directly from state Democratic Rep. Sandy Pasch that she is launching a campaign to challenge Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling for her 8th District Senate seat in a July recall election. …

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Shorewood Patch Year in Review

The Best of Patch: April

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days. With local elections ramping up and the Sen. Alberta Darling recall effort in full swing, we were pretty busy at Shorewood Patch in the month of April. Here’s a look back at some of top headlines from the month.  Easy Night for Trustee Incumbent, Newcomer; Others Win by Wide Margin Voters: A Very Strong 'Yes' for School Referendum In the April 5 election, it was an easy night for incumbent Trustee Michael Maher, Village Board newcomer Don Ford and incumbent School Board members Michael Mishlove and Ruth Treisman. Additionally, 63 percent of voters said "yes" to the school district's referendum, asking residents whether school …

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Shorewood Patch Year in Review

The Best of Patch: February

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days. We were still newbies in Shorewood, but Patch heeded the call in Shorewood in the month of February, as the village and the state erupted over the proposal of the budget repair bill or Act 10. Here’s a recap of the news that made headlines in February. After Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker introduced Assembly Bill 11, known as Act 10 or the budget repair bill on Feb. 15, which curtailed most collective bargaining rights for public workers, it triggered a massive reaction in the state. Shorewood was not unique in that fact, as residents and teachers took to the streets to demonstrate and local officials drafted responses to the bill…

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Local Progressive Group Grows in Wake of Wisconsin's Political Unrest

With recalls trending in the state and activists looking to volunteer more than ever, Grassroots Northshore has become a significant voice in Shorewood.

Considering the state of politics in Wisconsin — emotionally charged recall efforts across the state, an open U.S. Senate seat and a looming presidential election — it's no wonder the all-volunteer, local progressive group Grassroots Northshore has seen its membership swell to more than 1,000. “Let’s face it, Scott Walker has been very good for business,” Grassroots Northshore founder Keith Schmitz joked. "People are sort of looking for a vehicle to push back." A primary driver of a failed earlier this year, the group is once again hitting the sidewalks and canvassing the North Shore for recall petition signatures. Grassroots Northshore is one of hundreds of groups around the state organizing efforts to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker …

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Bucky

7:27 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

Now Im Bewildered ...   more ›

Leader of Darling Recall Effort to Run for State Assembly Seat

After redistricting moves Shorewood out of the 22nd Assembly District and into the 10th District, Kristopher Rowe says he will make a run in 2012.

The architect behind the attempted recall of state Sen. Alberta Darling announced Monday he will seek the 10th Assembly District seat after redistricting takes effect in 2012. Kristopher Rowe, a Shorewood resident and respiratory therapist, said at a Village Board meeting that in light of Shorewood's shift from the 22nd District under Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) to the 10th Assembly District, he will run for the seat now held by Democratic freshman Elizabeth Coggs of Milwaukee. “We have been really lucky in Shorewood to have some awesome Assembly leadership," he said. "I just want to make sure Shorewood continues that active and creative leadership. I will be knocking on all of your doors very soon and I hope to gain your trust and …

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What You Need to Know to Cast Your Vote Tuesday

Sen. Alberta Darling will square off with Rep. Sandy Pasch in the 8th Senate District recall election.

Shorewood residents will have their opportunity to cast their votes in the battle for the 8th Senate District seat on Tuesday. Democratic Rep. Sandy Pasch of Whitefish Bay will challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Alberta Darling of River Hills for her seat in the Senate. About 13 percent of registered voters in Shorewood have already casted their vote via an absentee ballot, with more than 1,300 ballots tallied, Village Clerk Sherry Grant said. That is pretty high for a special election, but not unheard of. "It isn’t higher than a presidential election, but yes, it is higher than normal," Grant said. Grant expects voter turnout to peak at 65 percent. There will be a few changes from previous elections when voters hit the polls Tuesday, as …

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Nearly $8 Million Spent in Darling, Pasch Recall Election

New estimates have summer recall election spending topping out at $31.4 million.

The candidates and outside groups with a stake in the 8th Senate District recall race have shattered the spending record, shelling out nearly $8 million thus far, according to a nonpartisan group following campaign dollars. Spending in five of the nine recall elections this summer have surpassed the previous record of $3 million set in 2000 in the 10th Senate District, with the battle between incumbent Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) leading the way with $7.9 million, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Combined spending for all the Wisconsin recall contests tops out at $31.4 million, with estimates for special-interest groups at $25 million. Around $5.5 million has been spent in the …

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

As Election Day Nears, Allegations of Wrongdoing Fly Free

Democrats ask state to investigate possible collusion between Darling and outside groups - the latest of nearly half a dozen other complaints against both sides made this week.

In the midst of a week full of accusations of wrongdoing by both political parties, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Thursday filed a complaint with the state Government Accountability Board, accusing Republican Sen. Alberta Darling of covering up of collusion with several special-interest groups. The party is alleging that Darling has had e-mail coordination with four conservative outside groups and she hasn't yet responded to open records requests the party filed on July 13. The complaint alleges collusion with conservative groups - Americans For Prosperity, Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Right to Life and American Federation for Children. "Darling's refusal is an intentional coverup of her illegal collusion," the complaint states. …

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Bob McBride

11:09 am on Friday, August 5, 2011

Then again they're probably pretty busy today trying to fabricate a correlation between a lack of jobs in Milwaukee's central city and the attacks at State Fair last night.   more ›