State Democrats Want GOP 'Protest' Candidates Off Recall Ballot

Well, it's officially a complaint now.

The Associated Press is reporting that Jeremy Levinson, attorney for the Democratic Party of Wisconin, has filed a formal complaint with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board over the state GOP running "protest" candidates in the upcoming recall elections.

Levinson wants the six candidates — four in the state Senate recalls as well as governor and lieutenant governor contests — removed from the ballot because he claims when they really aren't.

The "protest" candidates include:

• Gladys Huber (D) running in the gubernatorial recall race;
• running as a Democrat against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch;
• Tamra Varebrook challenging State Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) as a Democrat;
• Gary Ellerman (D) challenging Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau);
• James Engel (D) running against Republican Terry Moulton in Senate District 23;
• and Jim Buckley (D) challenging Sen. Pam Galloway (R-Wausau).

Levinson says the "protest" candidates are just a way for the Republicans to manipulate the elections. Republicans say they're running the "fake Democrats" to keep Democrats from dictating the scheduling of elections.

But Levinson's argument also includes charges of disenfranchisement.

"Since people can sign only one candidate's nomination paper per office, anyone who signed a fake Democrat's papers lost an opportunity to nominate a legitimate Democrat," he is quoted as saying.

Ben Sparks, spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said the GAB was well aware of and still allowed the six "protest" candidates on the ballot.

As for what the GAB will do, Reid Magney, spokesman for the agency, said any challenges will be taken up at Tuesday's board meeting.