Organizer of Darling Recall Effort Drops Out of Assembly Race

Kristopher Rowe tells supporters he's stepping aside and giving the floor to Rep. Sandy Pasch, who is going to run for Shorewood's new Assembly district formed by the Legislature's redistricting plan.

Kristopher Rowe, the man behind the failed recall effort against Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), said Wednesday he’s suspending his run for the state Assembly to clear the path for Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch. “I feel that it is in the best interests of the people that I wish to represent to step aside,” Rowe told supporters in a Facebook message late Wednesday night. “I have spoken with Representative Pasch … she has pledged to fight just as hard for you as I have. I believe she is genuine and she is not tied to the oligarchy that has lost sight of the people. With the GOP’s ongoing war on women we need strong leaders like Sandy in Madison," he wrote. Rowe announced his candidacy in October, saying that in light of the …

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Darling Raised $1.3 Million During 2011 Recall Push, Watchdog Group Says

Democracy Campaign says 22 state lawmakers involved in recalls last summer raised more than $8 million — four times more than what the rest of the Legislature raised.

A new report shows that Republican Sen. Alberta Darling led 22 state legislators involved in fundraising during last year's recall frenzy with $1.3 million, according to a nonpartisan watchdog group. Combined, lawmakers raised a total $8.2 million and when throwing fundraising by special interest groups into the mix, that number swells to $12.2 million, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says. The $8.2 million is more than four times the $1.9 million raised by the rest of the Legislature, the group found. Two Republican lawmakers were removed from office during the summer recall elections, but Darling, of River Hills, wasn’t one of them. She won a race against Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay), who ranked fourth in fundraising at $807,535. …

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Local Progressive Group Grows in Wake of Wisconsin's Political Unrest

With recalls trending in the state and activists looking to volunteer more than ever, Grassroots Northshore has become a significant voice in Shorewood.

Considering the state of politics in Wisconsin — emotionally charged recall efforts across the state, an open U.S. Senate seat and a looming presidential election — it's no wonder the all-volunteer, local progressive group Grassroots Northshore has seen its membership swell to more than 1,000. “Let’s face it, Scott Walker has been very good for business,” Grassroots Northshore founder Keith Schmitz joked. "People are sort of looking for a vehicle to push back." A primary driver of a failed earlier this year, the group is once again hitting the sidewalks and canvassing the North Shore for recall petition signatures. Grassroots Northshore is one of hundreds of groups around the state organizing efforts to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker …

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Bucky

7:27 pm on Monday, December 12, 2011

Now Im Bewildered ...   more ›

Leader of Darling Recall Effort to Run for State Assembly Seat

After redistricting moves Shorewood out of the 22nd Assembly District and into the 10th District, Kristopher Rowe says he will make a run in 2012.

The architect behind the attempted recall of state Sen. Alberta Darling announced Monday he will seek the 10th Assembly District seat after redistricting takes effect in 2012. Kristopher Rowe, a Shorewood resident and respiratory therapist, said at a Village Board meeting that in light of Shorewood's shift from the 22nd District under Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) to the 10th Assembly District, he will run for the seat now held by Democratic freshman Elizabeth Coggs of Milwaukee. “We have been really lucky in Shorewood to have some awesome Assembly leadership," he said. "I just want to make sure Shorewood continues that active and creative leadership. I will be knocking on all of your doors very soon and I hope to gain your trust and …

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Nearly $8 Million Spent in Darling, Pasch Recall Election

New estimates have summer recall election spending topping out at $31.4 million.

The candidates and outside groups with a stake in the 8th Senate District recall race have shattered the spending record, shelling out nearly $8 million thus far, according to a nonpartisan group following campaign dollars. Spending in five of the nine recall elections this summer have surpassed the previous record of $3 million set in 2000 in the 10th Senate District, with the battle between incumbent Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) leading the way with $7.9 million, according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Combined spending for all the Wisconsin recall contests tops out at $31.4 million, with estimates for special-interest groups at $25 million. Around $5.5 million has been spent in the …

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

As Election Day Nears, Allegations of Wrongdoing Fly Free

Democrats ask state to investigate possible collusion between Darling and outside groups - the latest of nearly half a dozen other complaints against both sides made this week.

In the midst of a week full of accusations of wrongdoing by both political parties, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Thursday filed a complaint with the state Government Accountability Board, accusing Republican Sen. Alberta Darling of covering up of collusion with several special-interest groups. The party is alleging that Darling has had e-mail coordination with four conservative outside groups and she hasn't yet responded to open records requests the party filed on July 13. The complaint alleges collusion with conservative groups - Americans For Prosperity, Wisconsin Family Action, Wisconsin Right to Life and American Federation for Children. "Darling's refusal is an intentional coverup of her illegal collusion," the complaint states. …

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Bob McBride

11:09 am on Friday, August 5, 2011

Then again they're probably pretty busy today trying to fabricate a correlation between a lack of jobs in Milwaukee's central city and the attacks at State Fair last night.   more ›

TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Grassroots Shorewood Celebrates Pasch Campaign in Style

The Shorewood chapter of Grassroots Northshore pumped up Rep. Sandy Pasch campaign volunteers with a night of poetry, music and comedy at Sen. Alberta Darling's expense.

Around 100 packed Three Lions Pub in Shorewood Monday night for a unique evening of activities to motivate grassroots volunteers for the Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Sandy Pasch's campaign. The night started with a group of supporters holding signs at the intersection of East Capitol Drive and North Oakland Drive, soliciting car horn honks. The group moved to Three Lions Pub, where they recited original limericks, poetry, music about 8th Senate recall election incumbent Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills). Comedians performed jokes about Darling.

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Recall Tracker: Fake Return Dates; GOP FIles Complaint; and More

A recap of news and events surrounding the Alberta Darling and Sandy Pasch race for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District, and other recall races in the state.

GOP Files Complaint Over Possible Collusion Between Pasch, Outside Group The State Republican Party is seeking an investigation into whether Democrat Sandy Pasch in the 8th Senate District recall race is coordinating efforts with the special-interest group Citizen Action of Wisconsin, where Pasch sits on the board of directors. Conservative Group Sends Absentee Ballots With Late Return Date Dan Bice, columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, says that fliers are being mailed to Democratic voters telling them to return the absentee ballots to their city clerk before Aug. 11, even though the election date for the two districts receiving the mailers is Aug. 9. Sources in his column say the fliers were received by "card-carrying Democrats …

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TOTAL RECALL: State Senate Showdown

Special Interests Duking It Out on the Airwaves in Recall Race

Conservative and liberal groups account for $1.3 million of the more than $1.7 million spent on TV ads on 8th Senate District election.

The battle for the 8th Senate District seat has quickly become one of the most watched recall races in Wisconsin, with candidates and special-interest groups pouring more than $1.7 million into TV ads. Both incumbent Sen. Alberta Darling and challenger Rep. Sandy Pasch have purchased airtime on TV, but the real money is being spent by outside organizations, which have pumped more than $1.3 million into ads in the Milwaukee market, according to Patch's review of ad spending. A review of public records at the four major Milwaukee TV stations shows that two special interest groups are spending nearly $800,000 on ads supporting Darling, a Republican from River Hills. The Wisconsin chapter of Club for Growth has spent nearly $550,000 and …

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