Paperwork to recall the governor was filed online just after midnight.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says voters are suffering from “recall fatigue” and are in “disbelief” that there’s another round coming. “I don’t want another round of recalls but it looks like the Democrats and certainly the unions are hell-bent on one more round here.”
In addition to ousting Governor Scott Walker, Democrats are pushing a separate recall effort against Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. And three Republican senators who were elected just a year ago will also be targeted for recall — Pam Galloway (Wausau), Terry Moulton (Chippewa Falls), and Van Wangaard (Racine).
Fitzgerald says he expects to be targeted, too. “It’s definitely gonna make it more difficult to legislate and develop public policy with the senate back in the same position of facing elections.”
Even if they collect enough signatures for a recall election against Walker, Democrats don’t yet have an announced candidate to run against him. Fitzgerald says that’s a problem. “You have to find somebody who … to win. You can’t beat somebody with nobody. They need to figure that out.”
Some potential candidates to run against Walker include state Senator Jon Erpenbach, former US Representative Dave Obey, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
Approximately 540,000 signatures are required to trigger a recall election for Walker. Supporters hope to collect 600,000, just to be sure. They have until Jan. 17 to turn in those signatures.
Fitzgerald says his party isn’t planning on filing paperwork to recall Democrats, but it’s not out of the question. And, running fake Dems in recall elections is an option in order to buy time.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:53
