Garey Bies, Frank Lasee Win Big

Garey Bies won his sixth term in the Wisconsin State Assembly yesterday, defeating Democratic challenger Dick Skare easily in a rematch of their 2008 contest. Bies took 58 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, the name won’t change for Wisconsin’s 1st Senate District representative. Frank Lasee, the cousin of longtime Senator Alan Lasee, defeated Democrat Monk Elmer in their race, earning 60 percent of the vote.

Incumbent Door County Sheriff Terry Vogel has won another term, defeating challenger Will Oakley handily. Vogel took 58.94 percent of the vote, winning 8,189 votes to 5,683.

Oakley had also challenged Vogel in 2006.

All four referendum questions on Door County ballots passed as well. Gibraltar School District’s revenue limit override question passed 63.83% – 36.17%. In the Towns of Egg Harbor and Jacksonport, referendums to make the town clerk an appointed, rather than an elected position, passed. Finally, an advisory referendum asked voters whether the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to establish a Department of Transportation and a Transportation Fund, and to prohibit the money deposited in the Transportation Fund from being used for non-transportation purposes. It received 9,436 yes votes to 2,978 no votes.

In national races, the Republican wave hit Wisconsin solidly, with Ron Johnson defeating incumbent U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and Republican challenger Reid Ribble knocking out two-term Democratic Congressman Steve Kagen in the 8th Congressional District.