In his last quarterly newsletter, state Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, listed his office number as 1-888-736-8729. That number directed callers to 1-800-475-TALK, a sex chat line where the conversation with “students, housewives and working girls” was presumably not about lower taxes and smaller government. Hopper, who’s been targeted for recall, recently made headlines when reporters learned he’d moved out on his wife and in with his much-younger mistress in Madison.
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Hopper, Olsen to face recalls
Oshkosh Common Councilor Jessica King will seek to replace state Sen. Randy Hopper, R–Fond du Lac, in a recall election that has yet to be scheduled.
King lost to Hopper by fewer than 200 votes in 2008.
In early April, volunteers submitted more than 22,500 signatures to the Government Accountability Board to recall Hopper over his support for Gov. Scott Walker’s elimination of government employees’ collective bargaining rights.
The marital problems of Hopper, a so-called “pro-family” conservative, could be a factor in the race. When pro-union protesters surrounded his Fond du Lac home in February, Hopper’s wife emerged to tell them he’d moved in with his much-younger mistress in Madison and no longer lived there. She also told reporters that she and her maid are supporting her husband’s recall.
A complaint filed against Hopper for living outside his district is currently under investigation by the Wisconsin Justice Department.
Volunteers working to recall Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, also filed recall petitions in April. Signatures to recall Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, were submitted last month.
Attempts are still underway to recall five additional Republican senators as well as eight Democrats who are being targeted for delaying a vote on the collective bargaining measure by hiding out in Illinois. So far no petitions have been filed against the Democrats.
For the record | Voting history of the GOP senators targeted for recall
WiG looked at ratings the eight GOP senators targeted for recall have received from various special interest groups. The ratings indicate the percentage of time the senators voted with positions taken by the various groups during a given legislative session, which is shown in parentheses.
Robert Cowles, Green Bay, District 2
Voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin.
- Planned Parenthood: 25 (2007-08), 0 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 90 (2007-08), 71 (2005-2006)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 100 (2010), 90 (2009)
- ACLU: 0 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 67 (2009-2010), 50 (2005)
- Sierra Club: 29 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 27 (2007-08)
Alberta Darling, River Hills, District 8
Voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin.
- Planned Parenthood: 50 (2007-08), 17 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 100 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 75 (2010), 90 (2009)
- ACLU 0 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 50 (2009-2010), 39 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 14 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 27 (2007-08)
Sheila Harsdorf, River Falls, District 10
Voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin.
- Planned Parenthood: 50 (2007-08), 0 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 79 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 100 (2010), 90 (2009)
- ACLU: 0 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 58 (2009-2010), 50 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 43 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 36 (2007-08)
Luther Olsen, Ripon, District 14
Voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin.
- Planned Parenthood: 25 (2007-08), 33 (2006), 20 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 76 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 100 (2010), 100 (2009)
- ACLU: 0 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 67 (2009-2010), 29 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 29 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 45 (2007-08)
Randy Hopper, Fond du Lac, District 18
First elected to public office in 2008, Hopper has a limited legislative record.
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 100 (2010), 100 (2009)
- League of Conservation Voters: 50 (2009-10)
Glenn Grothman, West Bend, District 20
One of the four most virulently anti-equality members of the Legislature, Grothman was one of only three senators who voted against legislation to discourage anti-gay bullying in Wisconsin schools. He voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state.
- Planned Parenthood: 0 (2007-08), 0 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 93 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 80 (2010), 100 (2009)
- ACLU: 20 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 36 (2009-2010), 24 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 14 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 9 (2007-08)
Mary Lazich, New Berlin, District 28
Another one of the four most virulently anti-equality members of the Legislature, Lazich was one of only three senators who voted against legislation to discourage anti-gay bullying in Wisconsin schools. She voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state.
- Planned Parenthood: 0 (2007-08), 0 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 93 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 100 (2010), 90 (2009)
- ACLU: 20 (2006)
- Fair Wisconsin: 0 (2004)
- League of Conservation Voters: 33 (2009-2010), 28 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 14 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 20 (2007 08)
Dan Kapanke, La Crosse, District 32
Voted to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in Wisconsin.
- Planned Parenthood: 0 (2007-08), 0 (2006), 0 (2005)
- Americans for Prosperity: 76 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: 80 (2010), 81 (2009)
- ACLU: 0 (2006)
- League of Conservation Voters: 67 (2009-2010), 50 (2005-06)
- Sierra Club: 43 (2005-06)
- Wisconsin AFL-CIO: 50 (2007-08)