Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard defeated Richland County Circuit Judge Edward Leineweber for a seat on the District 4 Court of Appeals in Wisconsin. He attributes a “positive campaign” to his success in a time when people have concerns of the tones in judicial races.
As Dane County’s DA since 2001, Blanchard was known statewide for filing criminal charges against state legislators in 2002 for using their tax-funded Capitol offices as illegal campaign operations.
The 51-year-old takes over a seat being vacated by Judge Charles Dykman, who is retiring after serving on the appeals court since 1978. Blanchard begins his six-year term on August 1st on the four-member court which serves 24 counties in southern and central Wisconsin.
Brian Blanchard (:11)
Meanwhile Waukesha County Circuit Judge Paul Reilly got 53 percent of the vote to win a seat on the Second District Appeals Court which serves much of southeast Wisconsin. Reilly defeated Waukesha County Circuit Judge Linda Van de Water, who ran for state attorney general a number of years ago.
Also Tuesday, State Assembly Republican Mark Gundrum of New Berlin got 77-percent of the vote in winning a Waukesha County judgeship. He defeated Richard Congdon, who was appointed by Governor Jim Doyle last year.
Dave McCann-WIBA contributed to this report