Walker supporters stage rally to counter recall efforts

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff writer

While many are standing up in an attempt to recall Gov. Scott Walker, there is another group working hard to thwart that process.

Local conservative Jordan Debbink, who volunteers for the local “We Vote Burlington” group and was heavily involved in an attempt to stop the Burlington Area School District from raising its tax levy this year, is at the heart of this movement.

“I’m calling it the Burlington Counter Protest,” said Debbink, who has spearheaded the counter movement. “There needs to be something to help counteract what I feel is an unfortunate event.”

There is a Facebook page for the group – people can join by emailing [email protected] – and Debbink says he has seen a lot of interest.

The group started its work last week by making its point at the Echo Lake Park parking lot where recall organizers are collecting signatures.

The group has also started a petition to send to state Sen. Dale Schultz, asking him to reconsider his vote against allowing the redistricting proposed by the state to go into effect for any recall elections.

A second petition is simply a show of support for conservative legislators that want to change the state’s recall election procedures so recalls would have to have a solid reason – such as an illegal act or scandal.

Debbink did say, as far as he knew, his group had nothing to do with an incident Sunday at the Echo Lake Park parking lot, where the recall supporters and the Walker supporters got into a disagreement and police were called.

Both sides were lectured about their behavior by police and the incident resolved without any citations.

Debbink said the primary goal of the protest is to get people to realize what Walker has done in a short time span – and to recognize that the governor’s actions have proven to be effective for the state.

“I think what he’s done has benefited the state,” Debbink said. “School districts are saving loads of money, private businesses are growing.

“This is not about teachers, this is not about unions,” Debbink added. “The last year he has been in office, things have flourished.

“Take a breath. Take a stop. Across Wisconsin, it’s working.”