Milwaukee Rising

A surprise: Walker wins in Story Hill

April 15 -- County Executive Scott Walker won the traditionally Democratic Story Hill neighborhood in the April 1 general election, edging challenger State Sen. Lena Taylor by three votes.

Walker wins in Story Hill

"It doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make any sense," political analyst Jeff Fleming said.

The Republican Walker, who was re-elected to his post, outpolled Taylor, a Democrat, 200 to 197, in Story Hill's Ward 282, according to the city Election Commission.

"I have no doubt Lena did a strong campaign and tried really hard," Fleming said. He added, though, that people "feel positive about Scott Walker" even if they disagree with him.

Walker ran strong television ads during the campaign as well, Fleming said.

"People really liked him," he said. "Scott Walker won that election on message and his communication (skill)."

Taylor also may have entered the race with some naivete about what it would take to win the county executive's job, said Fleming, who worked for Jim Ryan when Ryan ran against Walker for county executive in 2002.

Walker's Story Hill victory was a turnaround for him, as he has lost in the neighborhod in the past. In 2004, challenger David Riemer captured 54% of the vote in Ward 282.

Walker's good fortune in Story Hill did not extend to Dan Wycklendt, a conservative with Walker's backing who challenged incumbent County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin. DeBruin beat Wycklendt by better than 2-to-1 in Story Hill, racking up 261 votes to Wyklendt's 118.

Districtwide, though, the race was much closer and DeBruin eeked out a 51%-49% victory.

DeBruin wins

At least some of the Walker supporters in Story Hill turned around and voted for incumbent Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler, who outpolled challenger Michael Gableman, 255-124 in Story Hill. Butler, though, lost to Gableman in the statewide contest.

Gableman was viewed as far more conservative than Butler.

Incumbent Ald. Michael Murphy won the "kick butt" award of the election, crushing his opponent, Richard Geldon, 335-58, in Story Hill.

Murphy kicks butt

Mayor Tom Barrett didn't do quite that well, but did well enough, thank you, embarrassing opponent Andrew Shaw 301-87 in the neighborhood.

City Attorney Grant Langley trounced his opponent, State Rep. Pedro Colon, 244-138 in Story Hill.

Murphy, Barrett and Langley all easily won re-election to their posts.