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Compas was outraged by what opponents saw as hardball tactics by Republicans during the chaotic months at the Capitol after Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011.
"I realized that my own senator was the ringleader of all of it," she said.
Working in her hometown of Fort Atkinson, she started gathering signatures, by the hundreds, then the thousands, in the 13th District, covering much of Dodge and Jefferson and pieces of Dane and Waukesha counties. Compas, 41, in many ways has become the face of the grass-roots movement in Wisconsin's recall elections.
By contrast, Fitzgerald is one of the lawmakers most closely associated with Walker. He presided over a session that included the virtual elimination of collective bargaining for most public employees, major cuts in education and changes to environmental and social programs.
And his uncompromising legislative maneuvering in a Capitol packed with demonstrators made the Senate veteran a hero to many.
"Sure, there's a group of people who are still very upset about the way it was handled," Fitzgerald said. "But more people are saying to me, 'Hey, you guys did the right thing.'
"If Lori Compas wouldn't have launched this race, I don't think there would be as much energy - maybe this gets more people to the polls."
This spring, Walker's historic recall election looms over everything.
But in addition to his contest and the race for lieutenant governor, four state Senate seats also are in play on June 5.
Fitzgerald is the most formidable of the incumbents. First elected to the Senate in 1994, he was re-elected in 2010 with 68% of the vote. In 2006, he was unopposed.
... (District 21) Democrats never thought they had a chance to unseat Fitzgerald. Instead, the party targeted three other senators who were viewed as more beatable - Van Wanggaard of Racine, Terry Moulton of Chippewa Falls and Pam Galloway of Wausau.
Galloway has since resigned and in her place Rep. Jerry Petrowski (R-Stettin) is running for the open Senate seat against Rep. Donna Seidel (D-Wausau.) Her resignation left the Senate evenly split - 16-16 - between Republicans and Democrats.
...( District 23) Moulton is opposed by Dexter, who defeated Moulton in 2008 for an Assembly seat. The Senate district covers Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls and large portions of Eau Claire, Chippewa and Clark counties.
Dexter said the economy, cuts to education and Republicans' limits on eligibility for BadgerCare, the state health program for the poor, are the issues voters are talking about.
"The policies of Terry Moulton and Scott Walker favor the few at the expense of the working class," Dexter said.
... (District 29) Seidel is challenging Petrowski for a Senate seat that includes Wausau and rural areas to the north and northwest.
The resignation of Galloway "changed the nature of the race," Seidel said, but she said that Petrowski voted for the same policies.
"There has not nearly been enough done for jobs," Seidel said. "That's the top issue."
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