David Maas and Zach Wittchow are both running against Evers’ appointees.
Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel made two big endorsements in Waukesha County judgeships. He is supporting prosecutors David Maas and Zach Wittchow for judge.
Wittchow is running for Schimel’s old seat on the Waukesha County bench. Both of their opponents – Fred Strampe and Bridget Schoenborn – were Evers’ appointees.
We bring you that information as we know many people in Waukesha County are trying to sort out who they should vote for in those races. The election is Tuesday. The Waukesha County judicial races have flown beneath the radar of the hotly contested state Supreme Court race between Schimel, the former DA, judge and AG, and liberal Susan Crawford, a Dane county judge.
In addition, the major law enforcement associations – the Waukesha Police Chiefs Association, the Waukesha County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, and the Milwaukee Police Association – have also all endorsed Zach Wittchow and David Maas for judge.
Maas worked previously for Schimel when Schimel was the Republican Attorney General. See Maas’s endorsement list here.
“I have known David for over 20 years as a colleague. During that time, I have seen him exhibit a strong commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. When I served as Attorney General, I entrusted David to handle some of the most sensitive and difficult cases – prosecuting internet crimes against children, among many others,” Schimel wrote in a statement.
“He has earned the respect and support of law enforcement leaders, the judiciary, and other public and private sector leaders in Waukesha County. I have committed to supporting his campaign for circuit court judge. He will be an exceptional representative of the people of Waukesha County.”
Wittchow also touts Schimel’s endorsement on his website, along with endorsements from Waukesha Co. DA Lesli Boese, Sheriff Eric Severson, and others. In contrast, Strampe is endorsed by a string of Milwaukee County judges and criminal defense attorneys.
Wittchow is currently a prosecutor in the Waukesha County DA’s office. Maas, who lives in Oconomowoc in Waukesha County, is currently a prosecutor in the office of Republican DA Eric Toney. Toney has also endorsed David Maas.
“David is an incredible prosecutor with a commitment to the rule of law. David has worked tirelessly training prosecutors and law enforcement to aid them in protecting the community. I know his judicial philosophy of originalism will be unwavering and he will hold criminals accountable while ensuring justice for crime victims,” said Toney. “I wholeheartedly endorse David. He will serve with honor and integrity, and he will be a judge the community will be proud of.”
As for the Evers’ appointees: Schoenborn is currently on the bench; Strampe was appointed by Evers to the Waukesha bench and then was defeated by former state GOP state Rep. Cody Horlacher of Mukwonago.
Both Bridget Schoenborn and Fred Strampe are also endorsed by the Democrat Party of Waukesha County, although Schoenborn has drawn support from some prominent conservatives, like Judge Jennifer Dorow and Oconomowoc Ald. Jennifer Aultman-Kloth. See Schoenborn’s full list of endorsements here.
Maas also has a number of other conservative endorsements, such as former Waukesha County DA Sue Opper and conservative Waukesha County Judge Jack Melvin.
Curiously, Turning Point door knockers have been handing out a flyer listing only Schoenborn’s name at the doors, even though Turning Point has held events for both Maas and Schoenborn. WisRed endorsed both Schoenborn and Maas. In her application to Evers, Schoenborn wrote that she admired the intellect of radical leftist federal judge Lynn Adelman, who overturned voter ID and forced Mukwonago to allow boys in girls’ locker rooms.
Read our story exploring the backgrounds of Schoenborn and Maas in depth here.
