Senate 10 candidates disagree over primary issue

The two candidates whose names will be on the 10th Senate District recall primary ballot next week have very different opinions about the reason for the election.

Shelly Moore, River Falls, says incumbent Sheila Harsdorf should be recalled because she doesn't listen to her constituents and has voted for a budget that will gut funding for the most important services in the state.

Isaac Weix, Menomonie, says the effort by Democrats to recall Harsdorf has nothing to do with issues or positions but about the power unions lost when the governor and Republican-controlled Legislature eliminated most bargaining rights.

The winner of July 12 primary will face Harsdorf, who has served in the Senate for over a decade, in an Aug. 9 election.

Moore, an Ellsworth High School English and drama teacher who has held leadership positions in the teachers union in the local, state and national level, decided in April to be a Democratic candidate to challenge Harsdorf.

Two months later, Weix, co-owner of T and S Hardware in Elmwood who has run in two previous Assembly races as a Republican, filed as a Democrat to force a primary.

"At a time of fiscal crisis for our state, it is more important than ever for people to work together, to listen to each other to find solutions," said Moore. "But Senator Sheila Harsdorf has stopped listening to us. Over the past six months, Harsdorf has voted to gut funding for our most important priorities like education, local roads, health care -- all while increasing spending by over $1 billion, rolling back environmental protections and raising taxes on the working families and seniors of our district.

Moore pledged that, if elected, she would fight for what people in communities value and work with members of both parties to balance the budget fairly.

"I entered this campaign with two goals," Weix said. "First, to ensure that the election was delayed long enough for (Harsdorf to have) time to mount a sufficient campaign. The legislative cycle kept the incumbents in Madison working on the budget and not in the district able to meet with constituents.

"Second, to allow for sufficient time for the press and other interested parties to vet any challengers."

It would be a stretch to say Weix is campaigning for the Senate seat. He hasn't set out signs, he isn't going door to door and he hasn't put out any position papers.

"There's no point. This (recall) campaign is not about issues anyway," Weix said. "It's about the unions feeling that they are going to lose power."

Calling Weix the "fake Democrat," Moore said his candidacy serves no purpose but to distract and mislead voters while wasting taxpayers' dollars.

But, she claims, his candidacy will help rather than hurt her own.

"The only impact on my race is to further solidify the negative impact of radical partisan politics on the people of western Wisconsin," she said. "I have a positive agenda for moving us forward and will not be distracted by those who are trying desperately to cling to power at any cost. I am working to move Wisconsin forward."

Weix counted: "When I entered this campaign I was determined not to be a spoiler." He refuted the label "fake" candidate because his motivations are transparent.

"I have run for office in the area numerous times, so everyone knows who I am and my political positions," Weix said. "If not, there is enough information easily accessible on the Internet and other places to understand where I stand on the issues."

He added, "Let it be clear, no one will be fooled into voting for me."

Does he want to win the primary?

"Of course," replied Weix.

"But I'm not going to beat Sheila," he added. "The same people who are voting for me will vote for Sheila (instead)."

Moore, who has taught in Ellsworth for 13 years, says teaching is in her blood. Her mother taught English and French. Her father taught industrial arts. Her grandfather was a teacher and principal. She sees her candidacy as another teaching experience.

"My overarching theme as a candidate is having a return to representative democracy," Moore said. "That means listening to constituents as a way to work things out."

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