Efforts are being made to recall state Sen. Chuck Chvala, D-Madison, the former Senate Majority Leader who faces 20 felony charges for extortion, misconduct in office, contribution violations and filing a false report.
Kevin Kennedy, executive director of the Wisconsin Elections Board said 14,477 signatures would be required for Chvala's recall.
State Sens. Russ Decker, D-Schofield, and Fred Risser, D-Madison, replaced Chvala as Majority Leader. Chvala, who represents mainly the east side of Madison, said he expected to be exonerated in court.
Both Lisa Nelson, a Monona City Council member who lost the 16th District election to Chvala in 2000 and Monona Mayor Tom Metcalfe, who lost a Senate election to Chvala in 1996, said they were not interested in a recall.
\We need to figure out what has happened, and things need to be substantiated. Most of it should be very concerning to the public,"" said Nelson, a Republican. ""The process should be fair. There is not a fair playing field. I am totally disgusted.""
Orville Seymer, a member of the Board of Directors of Citizens for Responsible Government in Milwaukee, which led Milwaukee County executive and board member recall efforts, said they have been working on recalling Chvala.
Seymer said it has been difficult to raise the issue because people in Madison are afraid to come forward due to a ""vindictive"" Chvala.
