Wisconsin: You may have another option…

The pro-union protests in Wisconsin have been inspiring. I’ve been looking for something that the union supporters could use to gain the upper hand in this battle.  I ran across this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_George_(Wisconsin_politician)

• “In November 2003, George was recalled from office,[3] because of corruption charges”

Which led to this…

http://legis.wisconsin.gov/LRB/gw/gw_13.pdf

• “Reasons required for recall of local officials. A recall petition for a city, village, town, or school district officer must contain a statement of a reason for the recall which is related to the official responsibilities of the official for whom removal is sought. No reason need be provided for other offices.” [emphasis mine]
• “Signature requirements and time limits. Recall petitions for state, judicial, or county officials, or members of Congress or the state legislature, or district attorneys must have valid signatures of electors equaling at least 25 percent of the total vote cast for the office of governor in the last preceding election.”

The “total vote cast for the office of governor” in 2010 is 2,133,144 –   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_gubernatorial_election,_2010

Therefore if union supporters could gather enough signatures (at least 533,286) they could mount a recall challenge to GOP State Senate seats that won narrow victories in 2010:

-Leah Vukmir (District 5)

-Van Wanggaard (District 21)

-Pam Galloway (District 29)

Even the credible threat of such a recall could sway their vote on this highly visible issue.