.
Ed Thompson and Dan Hellman have renewed a political alliance.
Thompson, the mayor of Tomah, has endorsed Hellman for the 92nd Assembly District seat that’s being vacated by 11-term Republican incumbent Terry Musser of Black River Falls.
Hellman is unopposed so far in the Republican primary. Curtis Miller of Sparta and Mark Radcliffe of Black River Falls are seeking the Democratic nomination.
Thompson, who ran as the Libertarian party’s nominee for governor in 2002, endorsed Hellman in a contentious Republican primary for Monroe County District Attorney in 1998. Hellman defeated incumbent John Matousek after a campaign in which Matousek’s prosecution of several county taverns for paying out on video gambling machines, including those in Thompson’s Mr. Ed’s TeePee Restaurant, was a major issue. Thompson later told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “We went to every bar, and every house and got (Matousek) voted out.”
Hellman agreed that Thompson played a crucial role in Matousek’s defeat.
“Ten years ago, Ed really gave my campaign a big boost,” said Hellman, who served two terms before declining to seek re-election in 2002. “You still see signs and bumper stickers that say, ‘Don’t blame me, I voted for Ed.’ He still has a lot of friends and supporters in Tomah.”
Thompson will co-chair Hellman’s Assembly campaign.
“Dan will be an independent voice for us down in Madison,” Thompson said. “He’s not going to tow the party line, bow to special interests, or get caught up in all that partisan bickering down there. He’ll get the job done and that’s why I have agreed to co-chair his campaign and do what I can to help him become the next representative from the 92nd.”
Hellman believes most taverns aren’t paying out on gambling machines and doesn’t anticipate gambling will be a major issue in the campaign. Shortly after Hellman’s election, Musser pushed through a bill that decriminalized possession of five gambling machines or less, and Matousek dropped the charges against Thompson two weeks before leaving office. Hellman didn’t prosecute any taverns for payouts during his four years as District Attorney.
“I don’t hear tavern owners talk about (gambling) because there are such bigger issues out there,” Hellman said. “I think tavern owners are more concerned about taxes and a statewide smoking ban.”
Hellman opposes the smoking ban.
“I really believe a tavern owner should be able to say, ‘It’s our business, and we decide whether or not our clientele can smoke,’”
See Assembly, page 12A
.
Advertisement 
Advertisement 
