In a possible recall election, are Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch a package deal or separate tickets? It’s an unprecedented question for an unprecedented period in Wisconsin politics, and so far there’s no official answer. The Government Accountability Board, which runs state elections, won’t yet weigh in, saying that it’s still researching the issue.
“It’s the unanswered question that somebody needs to provide some guidance on,” said Mike Wittenwyler, a Madison election and campaign finance attorney. “To me, it’s an issue that deserves serious study before this begins.”
So far, any talk of a recall of Walker or Kleefisch by Democrats and unions is just that – neither official is even eligible for recall until early November, one year after they were elected to office. To do it, recall organizers would need to gather a whopping 540,208 signatures across the state within 60 days and then back a pair of candidates in a costly statewide election.
But the group United Wisconsin, which is identifying potential recall petition signers, says its mission is to “recall Scott Walker & Rebecca Kleefisch.” And the issue would be important even at the beginning of a recall effort for questions as simple as whether organizers would have to circulate one petition or two while gathering signatures.
Kleefisch and the treasurer for United Wisconsin, Mike Brown, didn’t respond to requests for comment.
United Wisconsin says it’s seeking to recall Walker for his legislation repealing most union bargaining for public workers and for budget policies such as passing tax cuts for business while making spending cuts in areas such as public schools. Walker says he was seeking to boost the state’s economy and close a more than $3 billion budget shortfall over two years.
So far, United Wisconsin says more than 190,000 people have signed its pledge supporting the recall. But that number can’t be independently verified since the group is keeping the names confidential.
The nine state senators who recently faced recall elections over their stances on union legislation were all elected – and recalled – separately in different districts. But in Wisconsin, governors and lieutenant governors such as Walker and Kleefisch are elected on a single ticket just as presidents and vice presidents are at the federal level.
Full Article: Would governor recall be a package deal? – JSOnline.