Voter Turnout Strong for Supreme Court Race in Menomonee Falls

A steady stream of voters has kept poll workers busy throughout the day at the 11 polling locations throughout the village.

At roughly 2 p.m., a trio of polling places reported turnout at or above 20 percent. Peter Schaubach, a poll worker for Wards 16 and 17, said turnout was at 20 percent by 1:30 p.m. Schaubach said this is higher than the typical Supreme Court and local election.

“They predicted turnout would be about 20 percent for the day at the village,” Schaubach said. “This is pretty good for one of these offbeat elections that isn’t for the president or governor.”

While gathering absentee ballots, Village Clerk Janice Moyer dropped off additional ballots to polling places around the village. Moyer on Monday said the village had ordered enough ballots for a voter turnout of 50 percent.

A number of polling place chief inspectors estimated turnout in their wards could reach 30 to 35 percent in once the after-work rush files through. Throughout the afternoon, voters filed in steadily and were able to avoid lines.

For Menomonee Falls residents, the primary decision to be made in Tuesday’s election was for the state Supreme Court race. Both Village Board and School Board elections were uncontested. Village Board incumbents Sharon Ellis (District 1), James Jeskewitz (District 2) and Dennis Farrell (District 3) all ran unopposed.

School Board members Gina Palazzari and Ronald Bertieri, both incumbents, also ran unopposed. Palazzari serves as vice president and Bertieri as treasurer.

Despite the lack of local contested elections, the importance of the Supreme Court election wasn’t lost on those who voted Tuesday. State prosecutor JoAnne Kloppenburg is challenging incumbent David T. Prosser’s bid at a third term on the high court.

“This is one of the most important elections for the Supreme Court,” said Bob Fellenze, who had just voted at the . “This seat is incredibly important because Prosser is the swing vote on the court.”

The high court elections are nonpartisan races, but in this year’s election partisan politics has driven voter’s decision. The justice on the ballot influenced Menomonee Falls voters just as much as their support or opposition of Gov. Scott Walker’s initiatives. Many residents who don’t typically vote in April elections said they felt compelled to fill out a ballot in response to the turmoil in Madison.

The Supreme Court election Tuesday resembled referendum on Walker’s performance as governor to this point. Most residents explained their decision to vote for Prosser or Kloppenburg based on their evaluation of Walker.

“We need to fix our state and end the complacency in government,” said Kat Draper. “I don’t usually vote in spring, but I needed to show my support for Walker.”

On the other side of the coin, residents opposed to Walker’s budget initiatives were equally energized to head to the polls on Tuesday.

“We’re very unhappy with Gov. Walker and how he ran his budget proposals down our throats,” said Edna Frye. “We usually vote in spring elections anyway, but we were definitely going to make it to the polls today.”

Petitioners gathering signatures to recall Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) were stationed outside most polling places in Menomonee Falls. Ronald Cada, a poll worker at ’s, said there were no complaints to report about the petitioners. Cada said some residents had questions about the legality of their presence, but he said they were following the all rules required to collect signatures outside a polling place.

Check Patch.com later this evening to see how Menomonee Falls voted in Tuesday’s election. Polls close in the village at 8 p.m.