Ehlke looks to make up ground in Dane

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Despite advancing out of the primary for the Branch 13 seat in Dane County Circuit Court, Stephen E. Ehlke knows he has a lot of work to do in the seven weeks leading up to April 7.

The assistant U.S. attorney received 5,032 votes, which was enough to top attorney Charles Schutze (3,835), but only one-third of the votes cast for attorney Julie Genovese (15,104).

Ehlke attributed the wide margin to Genovese’s significant advantage in fundraising and spending through the primary and he hopes voters will take a closer look at qualifications before the general election.

“I’m not surprised, because I knew she had deeper pockets and I think if people look at experience in general, I have a good shot,” Ehlke said.

According to the latest campaign finance reports filed with the state Government Accountability Board, the fundraising differential between the candidates was almost 3 to 1, but figures are only current through Feb. 2.

Genovese, 47, raised more than $34,000, compared to $13,000 for Ehlke. Reported expenditures were relatively close with Genovese spending about $6,800 and Ehlke investing about $5,600.

Genovese was the only candidate to run television ads prior to the primary, and declined to say how much she has spent in February.

Schutze said he personally contributed about $4,000 to his campaign since filing his pre-primary finance report, which showed contributions of only $250.

Genovese said she was surprised by the results, but admitted to campaigning hard through mailings, radio and television ads prior to Feb. 17.

“I plan to take the same approach leading into the general election,” Genovese said. “I don’t take anything for granted though.”

Ehlke, 47, said he plans to unroll radio and television endorsements soon. He also plans to tout his experience prosecuting criminal cases and to raise questions about Genovese’s experience.

“I think the public should focus on the fact that she [Genovese] hasn’t practiced law for the last 10 years,” Ehlke said. “She has to give an example of how you can run for judge not having practiced for the last decade.”

Schutze also said he was “bothered” by the notion that someone with little courtroom experience could get elected and he plans to support Ehlke on April 7.

Genovese disputed those claims and said she has maintained a mediation practice for the last 10 years, working on employment and civil rights cases. She previously worked with Foley & Lardner as a civil litigator for 11 years and also spent three years as a special investigator for the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

“I’ve been practicing law for 20 years, I have a mediation practice and have been hired by outside firms to try [civil] cases,” Genovese said. “I don’t accept the premise [that I don’t practice].”

Ehlke spent his first four years in the U.S. attorney’s office prosecuting white collar crimes and still handles some criminal cases. From 1988-91, he prosecuted domestic violence cases while an assistant district attorney in Dane County and he spent five years on the board of Domestic Abuse Intervention Services in Madison.

He also spent time in private practice doing civil work with Cullen, Weston, Pines & Bach and then at Bell, Gierhart & Moore.

“[Genovese] has never done a criminal case in her life, and I think people should ask her about that,” Ehlke said.