Walker Wins Big Over Barrett, Falk in Brookfield

Updated 11:40 p.m. Tuesday May 8:

For a ballot that was primarily a Democratic runoff, 47 percent of voters in the GOP stronghold of Brookfield went to the polls Tuesday, with Gov. Scott Walker racking up far more votes than the Democrats trying to recall him.

• See more on and residents'

Walker nabbed 99 percent of the vote in his GOP primary against Arthur Kohl-Riggs.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who handily defeated former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk statewide and , won 70 percent of the Brookfield votes in his Democratic primary.

But as a percentage of all votes cast for all GOP and Democratic candidates for governor on the ballot, Walker got 70 percent of the Brookfield vote, compared to 21 percent for Barrett and 8 percent for Falk.

That is not a surprise as Brookfield routinely votes two-to-one Republican.

But the turnout was high, given the lack of a true GOP contest on the ballot, prompting City Clerk Kelly Michaels to predict the June 5 turnout will be very high.

Michaels and her staff were done by 10:30 p.m. in a refreshing change after online tabulating and reporting by Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus and her staff . That came after two big snafus — one in which a failure by Nickolaus' office to report the entire City of Brookfield results in spring 2011 flipped the results of a state Supreme Court race two days after the election. And on April 3 a computer software problem forced media and campaign staff to hand-tabulate countywide results from election machine tapes stuck on walls around the room.

Tuesday, results were posted online and in a timely fashion, with the county clerk's office tweeting them on social media.

There was some confusion, however, about whether Nickolaus was running the elections Tuesday night or not. Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas had announced she would not be handling the recall election and her deputy clerk would be in charge. However, Nickolaus later said she remained in charge constitutionally. And reports Tuesday were that Nickolaus was addressing the media and handling at least some operations.

After the April 3 election, the county and state Government Accountability Board decided to have the municipalities in Waukesha County report their results directly to the state in addition to the county. Historically, municipalities have not reported to the state on election night; counties do that.

Michaels, Brookfield's clerk, said city accounting staff hand-entered Brookfield's results into the state's software system and faxed it to the county, which posted it online with all other municipalities' results. It was Michaels' first time using that state software process.

"I think it went really well," Michaels said in an interview right before leaving for the night. "We had our totals. They were quick. They were accurate. So that process went well. I'm pleased."

She said the same process will occur on June 5, with municipalities reporting vote results directly to the state and county.

The Brookfield-only vote totals in Tuesday's recall elections:

Republican primary

99 percent (8,780 votes) — Scott Walker
1 percent (90 votes) — Arthur Kohl-Riggs

Democratic primary

70 percent (2,604 votes) — Tom Barrett
26 percent (969 votes) — Kathleen Falk
2 percent (76 votes) — Doug La Follette
1.6 percent (60 votes) — Kathleen Vinehout
less than 1 percent (23 votes) — Gladys Huber

Update: 9:53 p.m. Tuesday: FINALS for City of Brookfield:Gov. Scott Walker earned 70 percent; Tom Barrett got 21 percent; Kathleen Falk 8 percent. Turnout was 47 percent, slightly higher than the 42 percent turnout April 3.

Actual numbers: Brookfield residents ran up 8,780 votes for Walker and 90 for Arthur Kohls-Riggs.

In the Democratic primary, Brookfield residents gave 2,604 votes for Barrett, 969 votes for Falk, 76 for Doug La Follette, 60 for Kathleen Vinehout and 23 for Gladys Huber.

Update 9:21 p.m. Tuesday: Final unofficial turnout in the city was 47 percent, the city clerk's office said.

With 7 of the city's 24 wards in, Gov. Scott Walker has 69 percent of the vote (2,644 votes); Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has 20 percent and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk has 8 percent.

Walker's pseudo opponent, Arthur Kohl-Riggs has less than half of one percent of the vote.

Update 8:14 p.m. Tuesday: Polls closed at 8.

Saying he didn't want Wisconsin to become the "hell hole that is Illinois" or the debt crisis of Greece, one man voting at Swanson Elementary School said he believes Gov. Scott Walker was the right person to improve the state's economic future.

"On so many levels, I support many of the (Walker) initiatives," said the man who did not want to be identified. "The bill's coming due, and if things aren't done now it'll be like Greece."

The man, who said he was a staunch conservative who is a big fan of conservative WISN radio talker Mark Belling, said he also wants Walker to continue to press to expand the school choice system to other cities.

He said he would like to dangle such a voucher in front of the Elmbrook School Board and tell them to "either shape up or I'm going straight to Brookfield Academy or University School."

Update 7:57 p.m. Tuesday: A common theme from Brookfield voters who talked to Patch this evening was their support of Gov. Scott Walker because they believe he has stuck with his promises.

"He's made promises and he's fulfilled his promises," Mary Ringquist said. "Things are better because of what he's done. He's got the courage to be fiscally responsible."

She cited financial debt as a key issue motivating her choice, saying Walker has made strides to get debt under control.

Update 7:45 p.m. Tuesday: Two college-aged men voting at Swanson Elementary School in Brookfield said they were big Walker backers but decided to vote for Falk in the Democratic primary because they saw her as the weaker opponent.

"I think Walker has a better chance against her than he would versus Barrett," said one of the men, a Brookfield Central High School grad now a junior at Carroll University. Neither man wanted his name used.

In a Falk-Walker battle, Walker could win more Milwaukee County votes with Barrett out of the race, he said.

Why does he like Walker? The college junior said it was time for public employees to pay their fair share of benefits and health costs.

"I don't think that 7 percent is that much to ask for," he said, adding his family's "small private business" pays much more toward those expenses.

The Carroll student said he believed young Republican voters were highly motivated, saying "the Republican Party has done a great job rallying" youth in a grass-roots manner.

Update 7:28 p.m. Tuesday: Usually when I talk to voters on election days I find some differences in choices, but everyone I talked to this evening said they voted for Walker, except for two cross-over votes for Falk.

Update 7:20 p.m. Tuesday: Turnout was about 50 percent at the Brookfield Public Safety Building polling site as of 7 p.m. and 42 percent at the Swanson Elementary School site as of 6:30 p.m. Voters are definitely surpassing the statewide prediction of 30 to 35 percent turnout.

Update 3:55 p.m. Tuesday: Turnout was 27 percent as of 3 p.m. in one of the city's seven polling sites, Dixon Elementary School, where 1,050 residents had voted.

Chief inspector Kathy Repka said, "quite a few" residents were erroneously voting for both a Republican and a Democrat for governor, invalidating their ballots and requiring them to vote with a replacement ballot.

After repeat problems in the morning, the poll workers decided to start telling all voters when they grabbed a ballot to not vote twice for the same office. That reduced the errors, Repka said.

There were no lines at 3 p.m. as voters continued to trickle in.

Update 2:25 p.m. Tuesday:"A few" residents' ballots are being rejected by the machines due to over-votes — voting for two candidates for the same office, Deputy City Clerk Renee Taydich said.

When voters select both a Republican and Democratic candidate for governor, "the ballot spit out" of the machine and voters are allowed to get a replacement ballot to try again, Taydich said.

Under state election laws, voters get up to three ballots should errors occur. Taydich said she hadn't heard of anyone who needed more than two, once that error was caught.

Turnout figures at mid-day were not available. "It's going well so far, probably comparable to the (April 3) spring election," she said.

Original story: Wisconsin voters Tuesday will choose who will stand alone to try to unseat Republican Gov. Scott Walker, unless another Republican knocks him off the ballot.

Political analysts and polls, however, say the historical gubernatorial recall June 5 will be a showdown between Walker and either Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett or former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, both Democrats. Barrett has led over Falk in most polls.

But voters will decide Tuesday, with the state Government Accountability Board predicting turnout of about 30 to 35 percent.

• Undecided on your vote? Read Patch's recall elections coverage and see stories listed along right side of this story --->

There has been much confusion about whether citizens can vote for candidates in more than one party. 

In Brookfield, the only offices on Tuesday's ballot are governor and lieutenant governor. Citizens can vote for only one candidate for governor and only one candidate for lieutenant governor. However, voters can cross parties, choosing a Republican for governor and a Democrat for lieutenant governor. Voters can not vote for both a Republican and a Democrat for governor; that will invalidate the ballot.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch is not on the ballot, nor is independent gubernatorial candidate Hari Trivedi, because they do not face primary election opponents in their respective parties.

The state Government Accountability Board is urging voters to not wear campaign paraphernalia such as campaign/candidate buttons, shirts and hats inside the polling place. Those who wear campaign paraphernalia may be asked to cover it up or leave.

Other information before heading to the polls:

WHEN

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

WHO

Are you eligible to vote? You must be a US citizen 18 years or older, not on probation or parole. Details here. You can check this state web site to see if you are registered and eligible to vote.

If you are registering at the polling place, make sure you have proof of residence and your Wisconsin driver’s license number. If you do not have a Wisconsin driver’s license, you can use the number from your Wisconsin ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Proof of residence can be established with a current lease, recent utility bill or other official document issued by a unit of government with the voter’s name and current address on it. A college photo ID is also acceptable if the institution has provided the polling place with a list of students who live in its housing and if the housing list includes citizenship information.

HOW

Do you have to show photo ID to vote? No. A recent injunction has put the requirement that voters show identification on hold. Residents may still be asked for a current photo ID showing proof of residence, but it is not required. You will be required to sign in to the voter roll book.

WHAT

On Tuesday's ballot:  

Gubernatorial recall primary:

Republican candidates are: Arthur Kohl-Riggs and Scott Walker ()

Democratic candidates are: , Gladys R. Huber, ()

Lieutenant Governor recall primary:

Democratic candidates are: , and Isaac Weix ()

WHERE

City of Brookfield:

Alderman

District

Wards

Location

1

1, 2, 3

Immanuel Baptist Church

4250 N. 137th St.

2

4, 5, 6, 7

Burleigh Elementary School

16185 Burleigh Place

3

8, 9, 10

Dixon Elementary School

2400 Pilgrim Square Drive

4

11, 12, 13

Brookfield Elementary School

2530 N. Brookfield Road

5

14, 15, 16, 17

Public Safety Building, Court Room

2100 N. Calhoun Rd.

6

18, 19, 20, 21

Swanson Elementary School

305 N. Calhoun Rd.

7

22, 23, 24

St. Luke Catholic Church

18000 W. Greenfield Ave.

To determine what Aldermanic District you are a part of, view a map of Aldermanic Districts. Questions? Call city clerk's office, 782-9650

Town of Brookfield:

Check with the Town Clerk's Office (262-796-3788) for what Ward you are in.