The Wisconsin judicial elections were the earliest in the nation, concluding in April. In 2014, the following counties saw contested judicial elections for the circuit courts: Dunn, Florence, Forest, Jefferson, Milwaukee and Waupaca.
A primary is held on the third Tuesday in February to nominate judicial candidates for the spring election. Candidates seeking election must file by December 1 preceding the spring general election.[2] A primary is required to be held if more than two candidates file for nomination to the supreme court, the same district of an appellate court or for the same branch of a circuit court.[2] If the number of candidates for office does not exceed twice the number to be elected to the office a primary is not held and all the candidates will appear on the ballot in the spring election.[2] The two candidates who receive the most votes in a primary race advance to the general election.[4]
In an unexpected upset, Vicki Taggatz Clussman defeated the newly appointed incumbent Keith A. Steckbauer for Branch 2 of the Waupaca County Circuit Court. Clussman, who had served as assistant district attorney for Waupaca County since 1987, received 57.5 percent of the vote to Steckbauer's 42.3 percent.[7] Steckbauer was a former attorney and owner of the firm Steckbauer Law S.C.. He was appointed to the bench by Governor Scott Walker on January 14, 2014.[8][9] The race in Waupaca had been hotly contested since the primary, where Clussman and Steckbauer prevailed over challengers Brenda Starr Freeman and Edmund J. Jelinski.
Two Wisconsin counties held judicial primaries on February 18, 2014. Here's what happened...
One candidate eliminated from Dunn County nonpartisan ticket
There were 1466 total votes cast in Dunn County for the February nonpartisan judicial primary. The Dunn County Clerk reported that James M. Peterson had the strongest showing in the February 18 primary with 664 votes. Coming in second was Christina M. Mayer with 583 votes. Finally, Roger M. Hillestad had 218 votes and thus was not on the general election ballot. Peterson and Mayer squared off in the general election.[10]
Keith A. Steckbauer, Edmund J. Jelinski, Vicki Taggatz Clussman and Brenda Starr Freeman all filed for candidacy to replace Hoffmann. Steckbauer was appointed by Governor Scott Walker to finish the remainder of Hoffmann’s term. He ran a private practice for 17 years prior to that appointment.[13] The other three challengers brought a wealth of public and private legal experience to the race.[14] Clussman served as a veteran assistant district attorney in Waupaca County for 26 years. Freeman served as a probate contract guardian in Outagamie County and part-time district attorney in Waupaca County. Jelinski worked as a private practice attorney since 2003, and was a district attorney previously.[15]
The primary on February 18 served to eliminate two of the candidates. The remaining contenders then faced voters in the April 1 general election.
From Ballotpedia - Reading time: 7 min
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