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Anclam, Loudenbeck claim wins in primaries

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Roger Anclam

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Amy Loudenbeck

Residents of two rural Rock County townships will move on from Tuesday’s primary to seek to represent the 45th Assembly District that includes the city of Beloit.

Update: Klett requests recount

Democrat Roger Anclam of 7928 S. Butterfly Road in Turtle Township and Republican Amy Loudenbeck of 10737 S. Highway 140 in Clinton Township earned 1,570 and 1,655 votes, respectively, to win their primaries.

Anclam handily beat city of Beloit resident Rick Valdez.

The race was a “nail-biter” on the Republican side, Loudenbeck said. She beat Jeff Klett by only 19 votes. Retired Beloit Fire Chief Jim Reseburg came in third with 755 votes.

Anclam’s first priority is bringing family-supporting jobs into the area, he said. Recruiting businesses to locate in Wisconsin will bring in those jobs and boost the economy, he said.

“We can play a role in the national economy,” Anclam said.

Anclam worked as a United Auto Workers representative and served 12 years as a citizen representative to the Turtle Plan Commission. He currently is the town board chairman.

Anclam’s experience working with local, state and federal governments makes him the best candidate for the job, he said.

The key to recruiting businesses to Wisconsin is creating public/private partnerships that can raise venture capital, he said.

“There are a lot of folks willing and ready to invest,” Anclam said. “It would be a win-win when we bring those employers in.”

Loudenbeck served for seven years in management positions with the Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and thinks her good record in Beloit will serve her well between now and the general election.

She is a former firefighter with the Town of Linn Fire Department and is on the Clinton Town Board.

Her message of representing both rural and urban constituents as well as supporting the economy, agriculture and tourism will not change, she said.

“This race was always about true representation,” Loudenbeck said. “That was a big part of my decision to run.”

Anclam and Loudenbeck seek to replace Democrat Chuck Benedict, a retired physician. He does not seek re-election.

The district includes the city of Beloit, the village of Clinton, a slice of Janesville’s east side and the rural communities on Rock County’s east side as well as Richmond Township in Walworth County.