The Post-Crescent
November 3, 2004
Nelson wins bid for seat in state Assembly
BYLINE: By J.E. Espino, Post-Crescent staff writer
Democrats took back a state Assembly seat in a hotly contested race Tuesday that includes much of Outagamie County.
Democratic challenger Tom Nelson defeated state Rep. Becky Weber, R-Green Bay, in a race that remained in doubt until early this morning.
Nelson had 14,833 votes, while Weber had 13,928.
Nelson used an advantage of more than 2,300 votes in Outagamie County to more than offset Weber's advantage of about 1,400 votes in Brown County.
Weber is completing her first two-year term in the Assembly after unseating former state Rep. Lee Meyerhofer, a Kaukauna Democrat. Weber had benefited from redistricting that brought more Republican territory into what had traditionally been a Democratic district.
Nelson, a political newcomer, offered proposals for health care, job creation and education.
He supports the concept of property tax freeze but not the current proposals.
Nelson opposes the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights and said during the campaign that he is committed to being an independent cost-controller.
The race turned nasty two weeks before Election Day, when Weber inaccurately said in TV commercials Nelson had not paid state income taxes in five years.
The advertisements were amended when Nelson presented copies of his tax returns.
Nelson's camp then launched a retaliatory radio ad that alleged Weber hadn't paid taxes in 2000.
During the campaign, Weber said she was committed to lowering taxes in Wisconsin and fighting for true tax reform.
A proponent of a local control, Weber said she favors a property tax freeze that would take away local control.
Nelson vowed to be an independent legislator, and said he wants to work to retain businesses in the state and retain the quality of education in state public schools.