Democrat throws hat in the ring for 66th Assembly District race

Just days after Cory Mason left his seat as State Representative for the 66th Assembly District to become mayor, one of Mason’s legislative aides has announced her bid for the state job.

Mason took office Tuesday night after being elected mayor in a special election held in October after the former mayor, John Dickert, left office. Greta Neubauer, of Racine, announced Thursday that she wants the job. And there could be other people interested in running that have yet to formally announced. Still, the timeline to turn in nomination papers is less than two weeks away.

“I am running for State Assembly because we need the next generation of leaders to stand up to the powerful special interests that buy our politicians and corrupt our democracy,” according to a press release.

Racine County Eye also reached out to members of the Racine County Republican Party and the Libertarian Party to see if anyone else has formally announced, but no one else has.

Candidate announces bid for 66th Assembly District

Neubauer’s family isn’t a stranger to politics. She is the daughter of Jeff Neubauer, who represented the 62nd Assembly District for several terms from 1981 to 1988. Greta graduated from Middlebury College in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in history.

“Together we can enact a Green New Deal that provides living wage jobs and protects our environment. We can strengthen our public schools, which are critical to ensuring every person has the opportunity to live up to their potential,” Neubauer said.

George Meyer, a member of the Libertarian Party who has run in a number of races, said he is not planning a bid for the seat.

“I just don’t see this type of race being what I need it to be,” he said. “I typically run so that I can get the message out about the Libertarian Party. There just wouldn’t be a lot of opportunity for interviews either. And I don’t see a way to win it without a tremendous upset.”

Tight nomination timeline

The timeline to turn in the nomination papers is short. Gov. Scott Walker called for a special election to fill Mason’s vacant seat on Jan. 16.  With nomination papers due at 5 p.m. Nov. 21, there isn’t much time to collect signatures, said Meg Andrietsch, chair of the Democratic Party of Racine County.

“But I also understand the need to have the 66th District represented,” she said. “It’s only fair to constituents to have the position filled, but it certainly doesn’t give much time for people to collect signatures for their nomination papers.”

In the spring elections, candidates typically have six weeks between they file their notices of candidacy and the time they need to collect signatures and in fall elections they have from April through early June. If a primary is needed, the primary election would be held Dec. 19.

But if no one announces, the seat may go unchallenged. Still, two other people — who did not wish to be named — said they were thinking about running — one is a Republican, the other a Democrat.

Possible candidate for Libertarian Party

Meyers said a few people from the Libertarian Party are thinking about a bid. But with the normal term expiring in January 2019, the person would have to run for re-election again in November 2018.

“I have spoken to one person who is interested,” he said. “Another said they want to run for 2018.”

Racine County Eye also reached out to Nancy Milholland, vice chairman of the Racine Republican Party, to see if she was aware of anyone that planned to announce their bid for the set.

“I have heard of nobody else that might run … yet,” she said.

Nomination forms are available on the Wisconsin Election Commission website.