Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Opponents bow out in Winnebago County court race (72376)

By: dmc-admin//February 2, 2009//

Opponents bow out in Winnebago County court race (72376)

By: dmc-admin//February 2, 2009//

Listen to this article

Voters in Winnebago County who cast a ballot this spring for Branch 6 judge should have an easy choice.

The only name that will appear on the ballot is the same one that has been there since 1991.

But that was not the case several weeks ago, at least officially.

Last August, Judge Bruce K. Schmidt announced he would not seek a fourth term, and two candidates immediately announced their intention to run for the open seat.

By mid-August, Winnebago County Court Commissioner Daniel J. Bissett and Winnebago County Assistant District Attorney John A. Jorgensen had both declared their candidacy, but their campaigns lasted less than two months.

In October, Schmidt, 60, reconsidered his retirement after his wife passed away.

“Retirement was not as attractive as it was before,” Schmidt said. “So I made the decision to run again.”

That left Jorgensen and Bissett with a big decision — challenge a longtime incumbent or withdraw.

Bissett, who has been the court commissioner for the last decade, said the choice was easy given the circumstances.

“I was certainly shocked by the news of his wife’s passing, and he let us both know as soon as he changed his mind,” Bissett said. “At that point, there was no way I was going to run against him.”

Bissett noted that Schmidt’s 18-year tenure on the bench was one of the primary reasons he chose not to challenge the judge.

Jorgensen, who also chose not to file nomination papers prior to the Jan. 6 deadline, is on paternity leave until late February and could not be reached for comment.

Bissett admitted his disappointment, but at 44, he did not rule out the possibility that he may run again in the future, if a seat opens up.

Branch 3 Judge Barbara Key and Branch 5 Judge William Carver are both up for re-election next year.

“I had initially felt this was a good situation to run with the vacancy, but I don’t really feel like I missed my opportunity,” Bissett said. “I’m still young enough that it might be something I’ll pursue in the future.”

Bissett downplayed the thought that his brief campaign this year would have any lasting benefits if he decides to ever run again in the county.

The only money he invested in the campaign was the $25 required to establish his account with the Government Accountability Board.

“When I close the account it will probably be the shortest campaign finance report ever,” Bissett said.

Polls

Should Steven Avery be granted a new evidentiary hearing?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Legal News

See All Legal News

WLJ People

Sea all WLJ People

Opinion Digests