Was False Tip Trying to Point to Breaks in Local GOP?

An anonymous tip meant, perhaps, to stir things up a bit in the upcoming Republican primary race for the 21st Senate District was much ado about nothing.

Patch received an email Tuesday saying John Meredith, owner of Elite Tactics and Training, was angry because Republican Jonathan Steitz wasn't upfront about why Steitz wanted to host an event at Elite Tuesday. 

Steitz officially announced his candidacy Tuesday for the 21st District at Elite, and the email author claimed Meredith is a "staunch Wanggaard supporter" while implying that Meredith might be angry.

"When the owner of Elite Tactics & Training Center, LLC, John Meredith, was asked if the Steitz campaign could hold their event at his business he was lead (sic) to believe it was a general GOP event, and not an announcement for a primary opponent of Wanggaard," the email reads. 

Meredith, though, told Patch he isn't leaning toward either candidate and that he's happy to provide a location for events as long as the individual or group believes in gun rights.

"I'm not supporting any one candidate because as a business owner, I need to be neutral and let the voters figure out the best candidate," he said. "Anyone who is pro-gun is allowed to hold an event here."

Meredith also said he's met both Steitz and Wanggaard, and he likes both of them.

Racine County GOP Chair Bill Folk said the local party does not endorse individual candidates until after primary elections decide the successful candidate for the general election. Supporters for one or the other, however, are another thing.

"The county sees this as an open seat and both Jonathan and Van are candidates for that seat," he said. "Supporters have their passions, though, which are separate from the party."

As for whether the Racine TEA Party might be behind the email, local organizer Nancy Milholland said the group is putting out a press release in the next couple of days announcing their endorsement of Wanggaard.

"I have no idea what's going with (the email)," she said. "I think passions are running high and on overload, but I have never seen so many conservatives from the across the board support one person like they're doing for Van."

Milholland suggested the writer of the email could be someone who is questioning how another conservative could run against Wanggaard.

"We back Van because he backs Act 10, school choice and he supports fiscal issues that the TEA Party also fights for," she said. "But there could be people who question why another conservative would run against a guy who lost his seat because he had the courage to vote for Act 10."

Patch responded to the email, asking for a conversation, but we've yet to hear back.