Candidate plans district walk
Photo 
Matthew A. Gaboda
JANESVILLE — Most candidates run for office. Matt Gaboda hopes to walk to victory.
Gaboda, who lives in the Rock County township of Center, is an independent candidate for the 43rd Assembly District seat now held by Kim Hixson, D-Whitewater. Hixson announced earlier he will seek re-election.
Gaboda plans to walk through much of the 43rd district, from Orfordville to Whitewater, in one day. That day is April 3, also known as 4/3.
Gaboda is working the numbers but also the English language in this effort. He sent out a news release saying he will do the legwork for constituents and go the extra mile for them in Madison.
Of course, he won’t be able to walk that walk unless he wins in November.
Conventional wisdom says voters pay scant attention to independents. It also says challengers stand little chance against an incumbent who hasn’t shot himself in the foot. Maybe that’s why Gaboda is trying to get his name recognized even before the April 6 spring elections are out of the way.
In addition to the walk, Gaboda has made unconventional promises on his Web site. He says he won’t run for more than two terms, won’t touch a drop of alcohol for the entire time he is representing the district and will lose 43 pounds by Nov. 2. He says he weighed 220 on New Year’s Day.
In his news release, Gaboda also shows he can pat himself on the back as well as any politician. He calls his April 3 walk “unconventional” “daring” and “grueling.”
“This walk represents what I am about: hard work and originality,” he quotes himself as saying.
Meanwhile, a third candidate has surfaced in the race.
Evan B. Wynn of Whitewater recently registered as Republican candidate for the seat, according to the state Government Accountability Board’s Web site.
The Gazette was not able contact Wynn on Monday.
Mar 11, 2010 at 8:26 p.m.
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I will be walking a 26.2 mile warm-up walk on 3-14-10. I will start in the town of Avon and work my way through parts of Newark, Plymouth, Rock and Beloit townships. I will be starting at E. Stateline Road, less than one mile from County Hwy T. My warm-up walk will end at the Beloit Town Hall on Afton Rd. I want all residents in District 43 to know that I am looking out for every corner of the district, not just my home turf. Here is a link to the planned route, but I may have to reroute depending on flooded roads!
I'll be wearing blue jeans, a Packers cap, and a fluorescent yellow vest. Thanks.
Here is the link: http://bit.ly/cTBybz
Feb 24, 2010 at 9:55 p.m.
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Bobb, I wish there was a way to 'follow' gazette comment users, because you always crack me up.
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Anyways, I recommend that everyone follow Matt Gaboda's link to his press release, because it's good for a laugh. He understands that walking is unconventional and DARING? The best part of this article is Frank Schultz calling him out on the absurdity of that statement.
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Farmerdude, you're probably right.
Feb 24, 2010 at 8:17 p.m.
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If anyone wants to read the press release in its entirety, here it is: http://www.mattgaboda.com/Feb22pressrele...
Thanks!
Feb 24, 2010 at 7:43 p.m.
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I think this was supposed to be a news story, but it reads like an opinion piece.
Feb 24, 2010 at 11:21 a.m.
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It's called going door to door and campaigning....political candidates do it all the time.
Thank you Frank Schultz for pointing out how ridiculous Gaboda's press release was.
Based on the 43rd Assembly District's status as a "swing district" it would appear that independent Gaboda could garner just enough votes to cost either Hixson or Wynn the election.
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