Today is the 2012 Presidential Preference Primary Election.  Polls open at 7am and close at 8pm.  Make sure to get out to vote.

To find your registration status or polling place, go to vpa.wi.gov.  The Wisconsin Voter Public Access site is maintained by the state’s Government Accountability Board.

There are also several other races around the county.  There are four contested seats on the City of Sheboygan Common Council, nine races for county supervisor and additional school board races and referendums.

In addition to your polling place/registration status, you will also be able to find a sample ballot for your district/municipality at vpa.wi.gov.

Make sure to get out to vote TODAY, Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012!

Polls open at 7AM and close at 8PM.  This is the day we complete the recall of Governor Walker and take back the State for the people.

Today is the Primary Election to determine the Democratic candidates who will replace Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch. The polls are open as of 7am and close at 8pm. You can determine your registration status and polling place by going to vpa.wi.gov.

We need a strong turnout today as we build momentum toward the recall of Scott Walker.  We have four fine candidates for Governor in Doug La Follette, Kathleen Falk, Kathleen Vinehout and Tom Barrett. Whoever your choice is, make sure you vote and get your friends and family to turn out to the polls today and vote Democratic!

You have a choice today for Governor, but there is only one real, viable Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor: Mahlon Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell is the candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. You can read more about him at wisdems.org.

Most important of all, once our Democratic candidates are selected, we must come together to defeat Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch in June. Many of you have strong preferences for the primary, but whichever candidate wins, we must show solidarity come the general election. Wisconsin cannot afford any more of Walker’s regressive policies.

Thank you and thanks for voting!

The Double “Brat” Obama buttons are on order and we are expecting to receive them in the next week or so.

Information on how and where to get yours will be posted here and to our Facebook page as soon as we receive them.

Four years ago the original “Brat Obama” buttons were a huge hit after Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota was given one while stumping for President Obama in Sheboygan and subsequently presenting her button to Rachel Maddow.

You can view the transcript and video HERE on sheboygandems.com.

The Annual Spring Dinner and Silent Auction will be held on Friday, May 4th at Range Line Inn, 170 Rangeline Road, Sheboygan Falls. For reservations please call Cynthia  Devine at 467-3285. Dinner will be $25 per person.  Cocktails 5 to 6:30, Dinner 6:30 with speaker to follow. Call Barb Sertich-Kress at 803-762 for Silent auction items.

Please drop off Silent auction items at Flossie Meyer’s home, 200 N 6th St, Sheboygan Falls several days before the dinner so that they can be properly organized. Along with Jon Erpenbach, declared candidates for governor will also be allowed time to speak.

Jon Erpenbach, born Middleton, January 28, 1961 and has 2 children. Graduate Middleton H.S.; attended UW-Oshkosh 1979-81. Former communications director, legislative aide, radio personality, short order cook, meat packer, truck driver, and City of Middleton recreation instructor. Member: League of Women Voters; 1,000 Friends; NAACP; Wisconsin Farm Bureau; League of Conservation Voters; Monroe Optimists.

Jon was elected to Senate from Senate District 27 in 1998 and reelected in 2002. Jon serves on Committee on Health, Committee on Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations, Committee on Transportation and Elections, Joint Legislative Council and Special Committee on Health Care Reform Implementation. So make your reservations!

From http://www.wisdems.org/news/blog/view/2012-03-walkers-failure-threatens-wisconsins-future

Following the news that Gov. Walker has established a criminal defense fund as a result of the ongoing criminal investigation of his administration, several Wisconsin legal experts weighed in on the implications in an article published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

“If you create a legal defense fund, you are either being investigated, being charged with or have been convicted of a criminal violation of Chapter 11 or Chapter 12,” said George Dunst, a retired state election lawyer.

“The only way you can set that up is if you are under investigation or being prosecuted,” said Michael Maistelman, an election lawyer who is representing former Walker aide Tim Russell in the John Doe investigation. “One can only draw the conclusion that either one of those two things is happening.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Gov. Walker is also the first governor in Wisconsin history to establish a legal defense fund.

The polls are now OPEN!

For those of you who are residents of the City of Sheboygan, don’t forget to vote TODAY Tuesday, February 21st, for the Mayoral Recall election.

In addition to the Recall Election there are several other races in the City and throughout the County.

There are three candidates on the ballot in the Sheboygan 4th District Aldermanic Primary in addition to 2 write-in candidates. The 4th District (map) includes Wards 13, 14 and 15 and is bordered by Superior Avenue on the north, South 14th Street on the west, Georgia Avenue on the south, and Lake Michigan on the east. Find out more about the candidates and the write-in campaigns on the Sheboygan Press.

There are three candidates on the ballot in the Sheboygan 1st District Aldermanic Primary.  The 1st District (map) includes Wards 1, 2 and 3 and is partially by North Avenue and Bell Avenue on the south, Lake Michigan on the east, the City limits to the north and Taylor Drive to the west (make sure to check the map). Find out more about the candidates on the Sheboygan Press.

There is a primary for the 12th District County Board seat, which represents Wards 2 and 3 in the Town of Herman, the Town of Mosel, and Wards 1-3 in the Town of Sheboygan.  Find out more about the candidates on the Sheboygan Press.

The Town of Plymouth is holding a primary election for Alderman in the 1st District. Also, there is a primary election for Kewaskum School Board being held in Ward 1 in the Town of Mitchell and Wards 1-3 in the Town of Scott.  Four candidates are running for two open spots.  The Sheboygan Press has an article on the candidates.

Polls opened at 7am and close at 8pm.  You can find your polling place and voter registration status HERE at vpa.wi.gov.

Also, you will be required to show ID at the polls in this election due to the Voter ID law that has now gone into effect.  Find out more about the requirements HERE at bringit.wisconsin.gov.

Another effect of the change to the law is that Friday, February 17th was the last day for early voting.  If you are not yet registered, YOU CAN STILL REGISTER on election day.  Information on registering on election day can be found HERE at gab.wi.gov/elections-voting/voters/registration-voting.

REMINDER: The Democratic National Convention Info Session is THIS WEEKEND, March 25th @ 4PM.

The 2012 Democratic National Convention is quickly approaching, and we wanted to make sure you were aware of our free National Convention Info Session. The info session is open to anyone who would like more information about how to become a Delegate to this year’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC.

Please click on the link below to register for this session, or one in your area. Make sure to check wisdems.org regularly as this list will be updated when more Info Sessions are scheduled.

For those of you who are citizens of the City of Sheboygan or are interested in the City’s Mayoral Recall, Lakeland College and the Sheboygan Press are sponsoring a debate tonight between Terry Van Akkeren and Bob Ryan.  It is scheduled to begin at 7PM at the Stephanie Weill Center for the Performing Arts 826 N. 8th Street.

If you cannot make it to the debate you can also watch live, online at www.sheboyganpress.com.

The Recall Runoff Election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 21st.  Make sure to get out and vote! Remember, this election you will be required to show photo ID to vote and you will have to sign the poll log.

For up to date information on the new election laws check out bringit.wisconsin.gov and find your registration status and polling place at vpa.wi.gov.

You did it!  Along with ordinary people like you from all across Wisconsin, more than a million signatures were turned in today to recall Scott Walker.

You stood up for the right to organize.  You stood up against a Governor who has repeatedly shown that he will not listen to the people.  You stood up even when Scott Walker called you a “small minority”.

Today, Scott Walker and Rebecca Kleefisch are going to have to answer to a 1.9 million signature “small minority”.

Today is an historic day.  Signers and circulators alike have participated in the largest recall effort in the history of the United States.  Thank you and congratulations.

Step one is complete, now we continue the fight.  On Wisconsin!

If you live in the city of Sheboygan there is an election on Tuesday, January 17th 2012. It’s important to note that there have been many polling place changes since the last election.  For the most up to date information on your registration status and your current polling place go to the Wisconsin Voter Public Access website at vpa.wi.gov.

Sample Ballot

MAYORAL RECALL

MARK HERMANN (Non-Partisan)

TERRY VAN AKKEREN (Non-Partisan)

RANDY SCHWOERER (Non-Partisan)

JEAN KITTELSON (Non-Partisan)

BOB RYAN (Non-Partisan)

ASHER HEIMERMANN (Non-Partisan)

ERIK G NEAVE (Non-Partisan)

ROBERTA FILICKY-PENESKI (Non-Partisan)

With an election coming up on Tuesday, January 17th, in the City of Sheboygan it’s important to note that there have been many polling place changes since the last election.  For the most up to date information on your registration status and your current polling place go to the Wisconsin Voter Public Access website at vpa.wi.gov.

If you know someone who lives in the City and does not have Internet access they can call the City Clerk’s office at (920)459-3361 to find their polling place.

The Wisconsin Voter Public Access website is maintained by the Government Accountability Board, a non-partisan state government entity that is charged with oversight of Wisconsin’s campaign finance, elections, ethics, and lobbying laws.

A listing of municipal and county clerks’ telephone numbers can be found HERE at the GAB website for those residing outside the City of  Sheboygan.

The GAB also launched a statewide voter photo ID awareness campaign in early January, featuring a dedicated website at BringIt.Wisconsin.Gov designed to tell Wisconsinites everything they need to know about the new law, including how to get a free state ID card.  Act 23 requires voters to show a photo ID to receive a ballot, and to sign the poll list, starting in February.

You will not be required to show ID for the Sheboygan mayoral recall primary on Tuesday.

The Sheboygan County Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the Sheboygan Area UAW-CAP Council will co-host Sheboygan Labor’s 54th Annual Kick-Off Banquet, Saturday, January 28, 2012 with John Nichols as the guest speaker.

The event will be held at Emil Mazey Hall, 5425 Superior Avenue in Sheboygan. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with a cash bar. Program/Dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. sharp!!!

The deadline for purchasing tickets has passed and was on Wednesday, January 25th. The evening will include the buffet dinner, featured speaker, entertainment, and door prizes.

UPDATE: Steve Kagan, former U.S. Representative for the 8th District, will be joining the party!

In recognition of all the hard work everyone has put in toward the recall effort, there will be an appreciation party for all volunteers on Friday, January 13th at Emil Mazey Hall from 6-9pm.

Come on out for some food, drink and meet with your fellow volunteers.  Thank you all for everything you have done!