Joe Voiland Wins

It was nice to be celebrating the election returns Tuesday night rather than feeling crushed like in November 2012.

Especially satisfying was the ouster of Ozaukee County Circuit Court Judge Tom Wolfgram.

Joe Voiland trounced Wolfgram.

The results:

Tom Wolfgram

7,714 votes

37%


Joe Voiland

12,999 votes

62%

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

An Ozaukee County judge lost his job Tuesday when voters sided with a challenger critical of the incumbent's 2011 signature on a petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

Attorney Joe Voiland defeated Circuit Judge Tom Wolfgram, a three-term incumbent, by collecting more than 60% of the vote, according to partial returns. He was elected to a six-year term.

Voiland criticized Wolfgram for forfeiting his impartiality by publicly supporting the recall.

"I have promised to be an impartial judge," Voiland said late Tuesday. "I want to thank Judge Wolfgram for his many, many years of service to Ozaukee County."

Voiland, a military veteran, did not challenge any ruling in Wolfgram's 18-year judicial career.

Obviously, the Leftists are not happy.

The reason Wolfgram lost is because he made a fatal mistake. He paid the price for his terrible judgment. The people tossed him out because he deserved to be tossed out.

"It's been a pleasure and honor to serve every citizen of Ozaukee County for 19 years," Wolfgram said late Tuesday. "I wish my opponent well."

Wolfgram campaigned on his record as judge and said his signature on the petition would not affect his ability to be an impartial judge. He signed the petition several months after a controversial bill became law and sharply curtailed collective bargaining for most public employees.

The law also required the workers to pay more for medical and pension benefits.

Oh, good grief.

I think Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel wants to pull a Peter Jennings and say Ozaukee County residents had a temper tantrum.

...Wolfgram had not faced opposition in any of his previous elections for judge. He was serving as the Ozaukee County district attorney when he was appointed judge in 1994 by Gov. Tommy Thompson, a Republican. Wolfgram was elected to a full term in 1995, and he was re-elected in 2001 and 2007.

He was named 2008 Judge of the Year by the State Bar of Wisconsin. The organization described him as "an example of a fair and impartial jurist" and a judge who was diligent in specifying the facts of each case and applying appropriate legal standards.

A circuit court election is nonpartisan, but both candidates emphasized their Republican supporters in the race. Several Republican office holders in the county, including District Attorney Adam Gerol and Sheriff Maury Straub, endorsed Wolfgram.

Gerol described Wolfgram as "a good judge" and cited the incumbent's ability to explain how he applies the law in each case before him.

This article is hilarious.

How could the 2008 Judge of the Year lose???

Pathetic.

This race was nonpartisan. So was the JoAnne Kloppenburg lunacy, the nonpartisan race billed as the referendum on Scott Walker, until Kloppenburg was defeated.

The fact is Wolfgram made a fool of himself with his stunningly lame attempts to explain his decision to sign the petition to recall Gov. Scott Walker. He blew it. The voters held him accountable.

Wolfgram's judgment was exposed as lacking.

Voiland's candidacy was backed by several Republican lawmakers representing portions of the county, such as Alberta Darling of River Hills and Jim Ott of Mequon.

This was Voiland's first run for public office. He has been an attorney since 2002 and specializes in litigation involving financial services, from securities and investments to employee benefits.

Walker won the June 2012 recall election.

Can you feel Behm's pain?

Voiland didn't just win.

It was no contest.

THANK YOU to all my supporters, volunteers & donors. I couldn't have done it without you. I simply can't say "thank you" enough.

— Joe Voiland (@votevoiland) April 3, 2013