Recall Petitioners Continue to Collect Signatures

Drive along Bluemound Road and you will see a rugged group of recall petitioners standing at the entrance to the Brookfield Fashion Center.

They have been there since the signature collection began on Nov. 15 and vow to be there until the end, according to volunteer Greg Jozwik.  

"We've been receiving a surprisingly good amount of signatures," Jozwik said. "It seems to be a good spot and we've been well received. Except for the times when Walker supporters come and take our pictures." 

Brookfield would seem to be an improbable place to find support for the recall. Waukesha County voted 71.5 percent for Walker in the 2010 election, the second highest percentage of all counties. And the Republican governor carried every ward in the city. 

As the recall effort as gone on, the signs are improving. Starting with handwritten pleas on cardboard, now the signs are artistic and look professional. 

Paul, a former resident of Brookfield, said he had a few paintbrushes in the basement so he created the oversized Wisconsin license plate emblazened with the phrase "Recall Walker." He also created a number of 'recall fist' signs, with convenient carrying handles for a long day of signature collection. 

Jozwik, who is a human services instructor at the Waukesha County Technical College, said that Walker's overreach with Act 10 really angered people and that is bringing out the signatures. 

"I truly believe he overstepped his position by negating the bargaining rights of public employees," Jozwik said.

He said since Act 10 went into effect, WCTC employees have not been under contracts, but work rules instituted by administrators. And that has left many with a cloud of uncertainty. 

"Now we have no idea what our retirement benefits will be, and it is really scary if you're getting close to that point," he said.

Jozwik said after some initial confrontations with Walker supporters, such as when Fred Frisby confronted the petition collectors on video, things have settled down. 

The most common interaction now entails people telling the petitioners they are trespassing. Jozwik said he has worked with the Brookfield police and the owners of the shopping center, located just east of Calhoun Road, to ensure petitioners are always on the public sidewalk, not on private property. When someone who wants to sign pulls up and parks in the shopping center lot, that is not a violation. 

Jozwik has also endured a number of drivers shouting that he should "get a job," an taunt he really doesn't understand. 

"This has nothing about having a job or not," Jozwik said. "This is democracy and I truly feel Scott Walker has lied to us and needs to go." 

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin and United Wisconsin claimed to . They need 540,208 by Jan. 17, and are aiming to collect more than 720,000 signatures.