Democrats Eye 9th Senate District In Bid To Regain Control Of Senate

Political observers say there are three open state Senate districts that if Democrats win would mean they regain control of the Senate. One of those, however, is a Republican stronghold: the 9th District, which encompasses the cities of Manitowoc and Sheboygan, and many small towns.

Of the three open seats, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh political scientist Jim Simmons believes the one in the 9th District is the least likely to flip from Republican to Democrat. Some parts of Wisconsin, like the Fox Valley, have seen demographic shifts making them more competitive. But people from Milwaukee are moving into the 9th District, effectively making it an “exurb.” Simmons said some of those people are bringing conservative ideals with them, possibly making it safer for Republicans.

The only reason the seat is open is because incumbent Republican Sen. Joe Leibham gave it up for a Congressional bid that ended when he lost his primary to state Sen. Glenn Grothman in August. Simmons doubts Democrats would have had any chance of winning the district if Leibham chose to run again.

With Leibham out of the picture, Devin LeMahieu is vying to keep the district in Republican hands. In eight years, he’s risen through the ranks of the Sheboygan County Board, where he said he’s helped keep a lid on property taxes: “I’m pretty fiscally conservative,” he said.

If elected, he said he’d bring that philosophy to the Senate.

“We’re still one of the top ten taxed states in the nation,” said LeMahieu. “We need lower taxes (and) a flatter tax system across the board. And also make sure the government’s regulation and red tape isn’t slowing down business and putting up obstacles.”

LeMahieu owns the “Lakeshore Weekly,” a ‘shopper style’ newspaper that has a wide circulation in the Sheboygan area.

“It gives me a chance to meet different business leaders in this community — talk to them about things that are going on,” said LeMahieu.

It’s that connection to the community that could help LeMahieu win, according to Simmons.

“His father was in the Assembly. He’s run for office before. He heads the county board there,” he said.

The Democratic candidate in the race is Sheboygan resident and community organizer Martha Laning. The going for Laning could be tough: According to Simmons, any Democrat would have trouble winning the race, given that voters in the district supported Gov. Scott Walker in 2010 and the 2012 recall. Simmons also said that Laning has other weaknesses. She’s never held elected office and some see her as an “outsider.”

“She has a problem because she has moved around a lot in her career,” said Simmons. “You know, in Wisconsin oftentimes if your great-grandparents weren’t born in Wisconsin, you’re seen as a newcomer.”

Laning has lived in the town of Sheboygan for eight years. She’s worked on multi-million dollar fundraising projects for a new community center and for the restoration of an historic Sheboygan theater.

Laning describes herself as a moderate Democrat and a fiscal conservative, thanks in part to her degree in accounting. If sent to Madison, she said her biggest concern would be the budget.

“We actually spent $200 million more than we took in last year — so the year ending June 30 2014 — and if we just lay out the budget as it is exactly, we’ll be $550 million dollars in the hole, further in the hole, after this year,” said Laning.

Laning said she doesn’t want to raise taxes, take on more debt or make cuts to things like education. There is, however, one tax bill she’d vote to repeal.

“They passed a law just recently, in the most recent budget, that all manufacturers will pay no state income tax,” said Laning. “And I’ve talked to manufacturers who think that’s just crazy. They don’t mind paying taxes, they just don’t want to be taxed to death.”

The two candidates were scheduled to debate each other in Manitowac on Thursday night.