"Non-Partisan" Moderate Elected Mayor in Conservative Waukesha

[LeftHander]

WAUKESHA, WI - Larry Nelson, longtime Waukesha resident, teacher and moderate "progressive" city alderman was elected to mayor over obvious neo-con opponent Ann Nischke. Nelson won in a close race in a historically Republican strong hold in Wisconsin's conservative Waukesha county. The race received close media attention in South Eastern Wisconsin and was carefully watched by both Democratic and Republican party strategists.

The campaign was touted to be "non-partisan" with neither opponent actually stating a party affiliation. But it was pretty obvious once the campaign began. Nischke was funded by local tax-payer alliance with deep ties to to no-tax low tax republicans in Waukesha and beyond.

The same style of marketing materials as seen delivered to Waukesha homes as was seen coming from radical right wing conservatives like Tim Michaels and Russ Darrow who ran for Senate in 2004.

Larry Nelson was endorsed by Russ Feingold and variety of progressive media and organizations. He won by a 600 vote margin with a 22% voter turnout.

What this election shows is that even deep-pocketed neo-cons aren;t going to win against principled value oriented progressives in races contested in normally conservative strong holds. Nelson brings a blend of progressive ideas and values along with fiscal responsibility and fair taxation.

Nischke ran on "proposed" tax cuts and tax savings while offering nothing in the way any real substance. Nischke out spent her opponent 3 to 1 spending a record $34,000 on a Waukesha mayoral campaign. She spent the most on expensive four color mailers while Nelson reused primary campaign materials by placing a sticker over the election date. Nelson ran on a platform of community and values of progress while Nischke, typical of GOP strategy, attacked and attempted to bribe voters with tax cuts and local government slashing.

Even typically conservative Waukesha voters did not buy into it. Bush carried Waukesha county in Wisconsin easily in both 2000 and 2004. Democrats and progressives rallied in Waukesha and came out to the polls to loft Nelson into office.

This race represents a microcosm of what we can expect this November on a national scale. If Progressive candidates stick to values, progress for the future, coming together to solve real problems and allowing the Republicans to rally around bribery.

Nelson election is seen by many progressives across Wisconsin as a victory. Even though Nelson would be considered more of a moderate Democrat by strict political standards. But in staunchly conservative Waukesha it definitely is a blow to the Republican party in Wisconsin. If they can't place a mayor in office in arguably one of the more conservative cities in Wisconsin it doesn't bode well for Republicans in Wisconsin come November.

[leftstreet]

1. Ouch - 22% voter turnout?

I wonder what turnout was for the last mayoral election.

[LeftHander]

2. 20's....typical

Mayoral elections typically not held in Novemeber. When turnout spikes to very high levels.