1410 WIZM

People working on the recall of state Senator Dan Kapanke have gathered enough signatures to force a recall election.

 

And they did it in just half the time allotted for gathering signatures -- a performance that attests to the energy of some of the recall efforts going on throughout the state. After they are delivered today, the recall organizers have collected them in just half the time they were allotted. Organizers registered the recall effort on March 2nd, and had until May 2nd to collect the signatures.

Lacrosse County Human Services Social Worker, Rochelle Zimmerman led a noon rally of recall supporters.

 

After the signatures are delivered, the GAB will have 31 days to validate them. In the first 10 days, Kapanke can challenge any of the signatures on the petitions. If the petitions are found sufficient to call an election, one could be scheduled for the Tuesday of the sixth week after they're found sufficient -- which could come as early as June 7th. Just two Wisconsin lawmakers have ever lost recall elections -- Senator Gary George in 2003 and Senator George Petak in 1996.

Citywide, alternate side parking tickets in La Crosse saw a big drop-off this year over last. But, in one particular area, they doubled. The alternate side parking exempt test area around UWL went from eight hundred tickets written last winter season to over 16 hundred this winter. In the test area, cars can ignore alternate side parking rules except in snow emergencies and during other road maintenance times. Throughout the city, about 17,600 ten dollar alternate side parking tickets were written. Down significantly from the 19,700 or so written last year.

Its looking like there will be a recall election for Senator Dan Kapanke. Those who have been gathering signatures to force that recall election say they now have enough signatures. They plan to submit those today in Madison after a rally at La Crosse's city hall. They say they collected more than 20,000 signatures in about a month. Those signatures will need to be verified, then a recall election would be scheduled. It is not known who Kapanke would face in the election. Candidates have 10 days to collect enough signatures to get on the ballot. Some possible names mentioned include Tara Johnson who lost to Kapanke in the last Senate election, and current La Crosse state representative Jennifer Shilling. Neither have confirmed their intentions to run.

La Crosse Spartans general manager Chris Kokalis announced today that head coach Gilbert Brown will be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team and his coaching duties to tend to personal and family matters.

Kokalis has named assistant coach Kyle Moore-Brown as the team’s interim head coach. Defensive coordinator Mitch Madland will take over duties as assistant head coach.

The Spartans are 2-2 heading into this Sunday's home game against Nebraska.