Lehman Canvassing Takes Targeted Approach to Drum Up Support
John Lehman and volunteer supporters take a targeted approach to canvassing. They split up to talk to voters who are considered "unidentified" or "irregular," to talk with them about why Lehman is running in the recall election for the 21st District.
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Former Sen. John Lehman bundled up and headed out Thursday for another day of canvassing. He is running against Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) in the recall election for the 21st Senate District.
He said despite having one or two potential rivals for the May 8 primary, he's looking ahead to the June 5 general election.
Caledonia resident Andrew Mielke announced last month that while he is not affiliated with either party, he intends to run as a Democrat against Lehman in the primary to then face Wanggaard in the general election. The state GOP, however, wants to guarantee there is a primary here so they're running protest candidate Tamra Varebrook of Union Grove.
"We're not working toward the primary, we are focused on June 5," Lehman told Patch as we walked a northside Racine neighborhood.
Lehman and a group of six or seven volunteer supporters split up lists of names and addresses of voters who are considered "unidentified" or "irregular," which means they don't identify with any one party. The goal is to engage them in conversation to determine if the campaign should target mailers to that address for their support for the election. Then, they divided into groups of two to visit those addresses.
Patch followed Lehman and volunteer Rachel Trobraugh to the north side of Racine. The first door Lehman knocked on was answered by a man who will not appear on the campaign's mailing list.
"Hi, I'm John Lehman, running for state Senate," Lehman said after the resident opened the door just wide enough for conversation.
"Are you a Democrat?" the man asked.
When Lehman told him he was a Democrat and running against Wanggaard in the recall, the man waved Lehman off and told him to go away.
Lehman was not discouraged.
"It's actually quite valuable," he told us as he checked some boxes for that address on his list. "This way we know not to mail to anyone who is strongly Republican."
The next home was more welcoming. Jason Hempel is a Caledonia fire fighter and his department's union representative with the Professional Fire Fighters Association. He opened the door with his hand extended.
"Hi, John," Hempel said. "We'll be voting for you. Count on it."
David Christensen told Lehman he probably won't support Lehman because he's more pro-Gov. Scott Walker than not. Still, he took literature from Trobraugh and said he'd look it over. Lehman wrote his phone number on the pamphlet.
"If you have any questions, just call me," he said.
After we walked away from Christensen's home, Lehman said he always writes his home number on the literature. If a resident isn't home, he also includes a note saying, "I'm sorry I missed you."
"It's important constituents know how to contact me," he said.
Walking neighborhoods and knocking on doors is old hat for Lehman. He said when he first ran for the state senate in 2006, he knocked on about 17,000 doors. In 2010, when he was running for re-election, he said a total of 22,000 visits were paid, split about evenly between Lehman and a volunteer.
Janet Delao was reluctant to speak with Lehman when she answered her door.
"Have you thought about the recalls?" he asked.
She took the proffered campaign card, shaking her head. Her mood brightened considerably when she recognized Trobraugh.
"I haven't but I know I should pay attention," Delao admitted.
Gordon Stiles, just a few doors down, though, is a staunch Lehman supporter. He confirmed that Lehman's got his vote and also signed Lehman's nomination papers.
"He's more a supporter of the unions," he said, explaining one of the reasons behind his support. "I don't care for how Wanggaard supported the unions when it was for himself, but then turned the other way once he got into office. He shut everyone else off."
Asked why she was out working for the campaign, Trobraugh said she's been a longtime constituent of Lehman's and said she supports him because of his ability to rise above the fray.
"He is a steady voice, with common sense solutions, that rises above the noise," she said.
SkinnyDude
12:45 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Lehman must be a nice guy. I mean he never meant a TAX he didnt like. No thanks.
Tuco
5:02 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Trying for a comeback draft dodger John? Calling Mielke a fake democrat was right up your alley. Typical name caller. He was in the race before you!
Frances Martin
6:59 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Where do we sign up to volunteer for John Lehman? Wisconsin deserves better than the "jam-it-down their-throats with no time for discussion or compromise" the Alec-driven Republican approach has become(and I grew up in a very Republican family), but the Republicans didn't used to be so mean-spirited towards the poor and less privileged. Shame on Wangaard for taking his union-won pension, but voting lock-step with his party to cut out those behind him.
enicar333
7:15 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
You're clearly confused - it's the tax and spend liberal policies that are hurting the poor and less priviledged. It's called PROPERTY AND INCOME TAX. You take that away from a poor working man, give it to government, then return a small portion of what you've taken as welfare or food stamps - and then complain about the poor - THE POOR YOU CREATED.
End the oppressive income and property tax - consumption taxes only!
enicar333
7:22 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Liberal Loonacy - helping the poor by creating the poor by taxing them on their home and land - so they can't afford their home or land - thus making them homeless.
Heather Asiyanbi
7:31 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
@Frances - the offices for the Democratic Party of Racine County are located at 606 6th Street in Racine. I believe their hours are normal business, 8 am to 5 pm.
T Van Parys
8:52 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Where do I sign up to support Wanggaard? We finally have people in office looking after the tax paying citizens. We don't want to go back.
upset father
8:08 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
Where do I go to sign up to help wanggaard and walker .
morninmist
6:20 pm on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Love this new bumper sticker!
@Progress2day If you Stand with Walker-You will Fall for ANYTHING #recallwalker #wiunion #wirecall
Stormy Weather
8:51 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
This family would also like to support Van Wanggaard & and Governor Walker...
morninmist
10:22 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012
http://www.epi.org/publication/getting_the_facts_straight_about_state_and_local_pay/#.T4OfSF54C5c.twitter
Getting the facts straight about state and local pay
State and local workers have not seen their wages and compensation (including all benefits) grow any faster than that of private-sector workers. According to the data, the wages of state and local employees grew 0.6% annually from 1990 to 2010 (after adjusting for inflation), which was actually slightly slower than the 0.7% rate for private-sector workers.1 Both groups saw their inflation-adjusted hourly compensation grow at an identical 0.9% annual rate. Claims that state and local workers make exorbitant wages and compensation almost always fail to consider the occupation or education levels of the workers being compared. Studies which make an apple-to-apple comparison (controlling for education and other worker characteristics) show that state and local workers are not overpaid.
The facts:
• Heywood and Bender (2010) find that “• Wages and salaries of state and local employees are lower than those for private-sector workers with comparable earnings determinants (e.g., education). State employees typically earn 11% less; local workers earn 12% less.” ...“State and local employees have lower total compensation than their private sector counterparts. On average, total compensation is 6.8% lower for state employees and 7.4% lower for local workers, compared with comparable private sector employees.”
Greta Mueller
8:37 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
@Heather - you have two requests for info on how to help Walker/Wanggaard that I noticed you didn't answer, yet you were quick to answer the request for the Dem's office info.
Heather Asiyanbi
10:47 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I haven't looked at comments in a few days so not a deliberate snub.
Greta Mueller
8:39 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
@upstfather
@T Van Parys
I've seen the GOP office - it's right across from the new steakhouse on Hwy 11, or just west of the Walgreens on the corner of Hwy 11 and 31. Sorry , don't have a contact number, maybe Heather can find that for you.
Greta Mueller
8:50 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Mr. Lehman and/or Heather - I have to ask - coincidence of PLANT? These were supposedly "irregular" or "unidentified" voters being targeted. YET, one of the first stops is the home of Jason Hempel, who aside from being President of Caledonia's Firefighters Union, also just happens to serve on the Wisconsin State Firefighter's Association board with Mahlon Mitchell, the gentleman running as a Dem for Lieutenant Governor against Walker/Kleefisch.
I'm thinking this would be akin to Senator Wanggaard stopping by the home of someone closely affiliated with the Walker administration and receiving support under the ruse of an "unidentified" voter.
Greta Mueller
9:03 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Uh oh... here's a clue for you Mr. Lehman to the political persuasion of your so-called "unidentified" voters - It would appear a "Jason Hempel" signed both the Wanggaard and Walker recall petitions. Gee, I wonder if it's the same Jason Hempel as in this story?
Heather Asiyanbi
10:47 am on Wednesday, April 11, 2012
@Greta - volunteers interested in helping with Sen. Wanggaard's campaign can visit the Victory Center at 6211 Durand, Ste. 203 or by calling (262) 864-1010.
You are welcome to theorize all you want about the canvassing, but the first home where Lehman knocked on the door was someone who told him to go away when Lehman admitted he was a Democrat. Before Lehman got to Hempel's home, there were several where Lehman's knocks went unanswered.