Mayoral Campaign Just Getting Started with Primary Results

With one election success under their belts, Wauwatosa's mayoral candidates said Tuesday the hardest work is yet to come.

Kathy Ehley, executive director of the Village Business Improvement District, snagged 3,079 of the 6,455 votes cast — about 48 percent — in the primary, topping second-place finisher Ald. Peter Donegan, who had 2,366 votes, or 37 percent.

John Pokrandt, a political newcomer who said he would bring a sorely needed fresh perspective to the city’s top elected office, earned 1,003 votes, or 15 percent.

Ehley said she was pleased with the support she received during the primary campaign period and Tuesday’s outcome.

“I’m the one who has the actual experience,” Ehley said. “I’ve actually been doing things in the community for many years with economic development, schools and helping the neighborhood association.”

The three-way mayoral race was the major draw in the primary, although the turnout — typical for a primary — was low. Just shy of 21 percent of the city’s registered voters turned out to cast ballots Tuesday, according to City Clerk Carla Ledesma.

Donegan said the last general election for mayor drew about 13,000 voters, or twice the number of voters casting ballots Tuesday. With Tuesday’s low voter turnout, he said, “it’s hard to know what to make of the numbers.”

“I’m certainly not done with the campaign,” Donegan said. “I’ve got a lot of work to do. The main work is to get people interested, is to get people paying attention.”

Donegan and Ehley agree on the major issues facing the city. Chief among them: the need for fiscal restraint while maintaining city services; the need to prod new development as the economy rebounds; and the need to address costly sewer repairs after more than a decade of neglect.

Although Donegan was pleased to secure a spot on the April 3 ballot, he said Tuesday’s results show that there's a long way to go.

“I still think I am the superior candidate,” Donegan said. “I don’t have enough people interested in the election.”

Moving into the general election, Ehley said she will continue the same campaign and focus on the same issues.

John Hallanger, a volunteer who helped organize the Ehley campaign efforts, thanked volunteers who gathered at Café Hollander for their work with the campaign and their ability to make a difference in the race. He said volunteers have worked hard, noting 40 volunteers passed out 4,500 pieces of campaign literature to Tosa homes this past weekend.

While Ehley supporters were enthusiastic about the results, Hallanger warned the campaign is far from over.

“There is going to be a tremendous amount of work,” he said.

Pokrandt could not be reached for comment.

Kroll, Moldenhauer move on in 1st District

The mayor's race wasn't the only one on Tuesday's ballot.

Jeff Kroll and Jim Moldenhauer triumphed in the 1st District aldermanic primary.

Final unofficial results show Kroll receiving 411 votes and Moldenhauer 377. Robert Smith was eliminated after receiving 147 votes.

Voters asked to show ID for first time

The first election to require voters show a photo ID didn’t cause any glitches, primarily because the pace of voting was so slow, said Bill Schaffer, a chief inspector at the polling place at the Public Works Yard, 11100 Walnut St.

“People don’t have their IDs out, which is taking a lot of time,“ said Rowena Radtke, an election official at the poll at Jefferson Elementary School. “It’s going to cramp in April.”

Schaffer and co-chief inspector Sharon Pscheid said they will recommend the City Clerk’s office urge voters to have their IDs in hand before checking in at the polling stations for the April election.

In addition to showing a photo ID, every voter also had to sign — in purple ink — the voter registration book that will be submitted to county election officials. The signature requirement is new under the election law changes, and poll workers matched signatures on photo IDs with those inked into the voter registration binder.

Voter response to the ID requirements was mixed — with some all ready with their IDs and had no comment to those who voiced disapproval for the new law.

“The majority of voters were in favor of the voter ID and signature” that's required under the state’s new election law, said Gwen Simonis, a poll worker at Wilson School, 1060 N. Glenview Ave.

“The ones that were unhappy were very unhappy,“ Simonis said.

A handful of voters trickling in at District 7, Ward 20  in the Public Works Buidling represented the mix of sentiment — with two strong supporters of the changes, one who as “just fine” with the change but would prefer that IDs not be required and another who said he understood both sides of the issue.

“I am fine with it, but I’m not sure it is necessary,“ said Mark Wojnowiak. “I just think of my mom, who is into her 80s, who doesn’t have any form of ID at the moment.

“If everyone has the right to vote,” Wojnowiak said, “then why would you limit someone because they don’t have an ID?”

Although it was a light primary, those highly committed to exercising their right to vote did make it to the polls on a day that started with snow but ended with sunny sky.

“I always vote,” said Myron McCormack, who has lived 71 of her 72 years in the city. “Only two positions on the ballot, but I’m mainly concerned about the mayor.”