WDH: Galloway Will Defend Her Record

WDH

Proponents of a recall election against state Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, have 60 days to gather at least 15,647 signatures to force an election.

Nancy Tabaka-Stencil, a Rib Mountain resident named as the petitioner on documents filed with state election officials, said the effort was spurred by Galloway’s support for proposals of Gov. Scott Walker, including the controversial law limiting public employees’ collective bargaining abilities.

“Really, to pick a single issue (that encouraged a recall effort) is hard,” Tabaka-Stencil said. “Their actions have hit a lot of people hard.”
Galloway, who worked as a surgeon specializing in breast cancer before running for election, said today that the recall is “inappropriate” because she hasn’t done anything illegal. She expects to face an election and said she plans to defend her record, including the changes to public employees’ collective bargaining authority in Wisconsin Act 10.

“I have done exactly what I said I would do when I campaigned,” Galloway said. “My commitment was clearly prioritizing the needs of the taxpayers. That’s what I’ve done, either through Act 10 or balancing the budget without tax increases.”

The effort to recall Galloway and two other Republican state senators began today, piggybacking on a recall attempt against Walker. Galloway said she expects Walker’s own efforts to prevent or win a recall election, including television ads already airing in Wisconsin, will benefit her.

In central Wisconsin, volunteers will gather signatures supporting recall elections against both the governor and Galloway, Tabaka-Stencil said.

Republicans held onto a one-member majority in the Senate though Democrats gained two seats in the fall recall elections.

Galloway is perhaps best known for leading the push to pass legislation allowing Wisconsin residents to carry concealed weapons, but Tabaka-Stencil said that proposal alone would not have prompted a recall election.

“If concealed carry was the only issue I had with Senator Galloway, I would not be recalling her for that alone,” she said.

State Sens. Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls and Van Wanggaard of Racine also were targeted for recalls. All of the recall efforts are backed by the state Democratic Party.

The petitions were filed electronically shortly after midnight Tuesday, the same time as paperwork was submitted to recall Walker.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.