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Getting out the vote: Tuesday’s primary picks candidates, tax rates

JANESVILLE — If you haven’t registered to vote, Tuesday would be a good time to do it.

“I’m thinking we’ll have less than 20 percent turnout,” said Lori Stottler, Rock County Clerk.

Tuesday’s primary election will give local voters a choice of Democratic candidates in the 1st Congressional District and some voters in Rock and Walworth counties will pick challengers in state assembly races.

Fulton Township residents will face a referendum asking them to increase the tax levy for next year.

Needless to say, county, city and town clerks are expecting a slow day.

“It is really a good time to register if they plan to vote in November,” said Lori Stottler, Rock County Clerk. “They won’t have to deal with the rush.”

Potential voters need proof of residence to vote. Proof could include a Wisconsin driver’s license, phone bill, power or light bill or rent receipt. Students may use their student I.D. card if it has a Rock County address listed.

Here’s the rundown of races from Stottler and Walworth County Clerk Kim Bushey:

-- 1st Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, currently holds the seat.

Paulette Garin, Marge Krupp, Mike Hebert and John Mogk will all appear on the ballot. However, Mogk has withdrawn from the race.

The winner will take on Ryan and Libertarian Joseph Kexel in November.

-- The 80th State Assembly District: Democratic John Waelti and Kristin Wisnefske will face off for the chance to take on incumbent Republican Brett Davis from Oregon.

The 80th Assembly District consists of Union and Magnolia townships in Rock County, most of Green County and a small part of Dane County. All of Evansville also is in the district.

-- The 66th State Assembly District: Democrats Mike Orr and Larry Zamba are running for the chance to take on incumbent Republican Samantha Kerkman. The 66th district includes small portions of eastern Walworth County and parts of Racine and Kenosha counties.

-- Town of Fulton Referendum: The town board is asking residents to increase the tax levy for next year by 62 percent.

Under state law, a municipality can raise its tax levy by only 2 percent or the percentage of new growth in the community in 2009 unless it holds a referendum.

The town estimates the 62 percent increase in the levy would add $116 in taxes on a $100,000 home. That homeowner paid $183 in town taxes in 2008 and would pay about $299 in 2009 if the referendum passes.