Primary Election Day Preview: 98th Assembly District race
MADISON (WITI) -- Gov. Scott Walker called for a special election when state Representative Paul Farrow won a seat in the Senate. Five Republicans are vying for the party's nomination and the primary election is Tuesday, February 19th.
Jeanne Tarantino describes her campaign for state Representative as a mom on a mission. Knocking on doors on Sunday, February 17th, Tarantino said she is the best-prepared candidate, having previously worked in the Capitol under Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch.
"This seat will be sworn in in the middle of a budget, in the middle of a legislative session. I'm the only candidate in the field who's worked for Governor Walker directly. I've been attending cabinet meetings, I understand the agenda of the Governor Walker administration," Tarantino said.
However, in a leaked deposition hearing from Tarantino's divorce proceedings, Tarantino said she felt her age and gender contributed to her being transferred out of the Lieutenant Governor's office.
Tarantino says her words have been twisted, but wouldn't elaborate.
"They want me to do the same thing they did, which is talk about something I can't talk about. It's confidential," Tarantino said.
There is little buzz, positive or negative surrounding candidate Matt Morzy, but the stock broker and Marquette University grad student refuses to call himself an underdog.
"As myself, coming completely from the outside, I'm able to bring the day-to-day of what people in Wisconsin are really talking about because that's what I've been doing since I've been out of college. I've been living and working with people in Waukesha County, helping them and knowing what their struggles are," Morzy said.
With a small voter turnout expected on Tuesday, the candidates here are convinced face-to-face contact will make the difference.
The race also features Pewaukee Police Chief Ed Baumann, Waukesha business owner Adam Neylon and Todd Greenwald of Pewaukee, whose background is in construction.