Knilans claims seat in 44th Assembly
44th Assembly District
Joe Knilans 8,684
Mike Sheridan 8,168
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JANESVILLE — Traversing Janesville's wards and knocking on thousands of doors, Joe Knilans walked the walk for months.
Come January, he'll have the opportunity to talk the talk as the new representative of the 44th Assembly District.
The Republican challenger knocked off three-term incumbent and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan on Tuesday.
"Janesville has spoken," Knilans said late Tuesday night. "I knocked on all those doors, even (on Tuesday), because I wanted to make myself seen and because every single vote counts.
"Mike didn't knock on any doors because he apparently felt he didn't have to."
In his travels Tuesday, Knilans said he encountered 12 people and 11 of them said that they had voted for him.
"I thought that was a pretty good omen," said Knilans, a former assembler and supervisor at General Motors who now works for J.G. Innovations of Janesville.
Knilans now will turn his attention to taking office in January.
"My mission is to get up there and find like-minded people who I can work with to make the best decisions to move things forward for Janesville and Wisconsin," he said. "I'm really looking forward to jump-starting the economy with Scott Walker."
Knilans said he heard loud and clear that the economy and jobs should be his first priority. He acknowledged riding a wave of voter discontent that seemingly spread across the country.
"I don't want to take anything away from my victory, but there were a lot of things that played into it," he said.
One of those, Knilans said, was Sheridan's relationship with a lobbyist for the payday lending industry and his handling of it.
"When I talked with the older people, it was the ethics of that situation, and when I talked with the younger people who are struggling, it was the failure to put a cap on the industry that upset them," Knilans said.
"Also Tuesday, I talked with a retired GM guy who had his 30 years in. He said he voted for (Russ) Feingold, (Tom) Barrett and me. I asked why, and he said it's because Mike hadn't done the best things for Janesville."
Sheridan could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night.
Nov 4, 2010 at 11:26 p.m.
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I can not wait for all of you same whinners that have been whinning on everyday issues no matter what is printed, true or not, to be the same babies that cry when it still does not again go your way that day! In a couple of years you will then blame Joe and vote Blue again! Nothing will ever make you people happy but complaining just to battle with eachother! You will finally will see what our Voice did for Janesville and he was for the people at all times even when the people were not there to back him or even back Janesville! Most people only know what they hear and not what they know! Oh I can not wait to hear the blah blah blahs from you guys from the next years to come!
Nov 4, 2010 at 3:24 p.m.
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Ha Ha mike got the" BOOT".
Nov 4, 2010 at 2:28 p.m.
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Well,time will tell if Joe will have character or be the character I remember!
Nov 4, 2010 at 1:58 p.m.
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thats the funniest thing ive ever seen you post ljs!! of course it ranks as the funniest mostly from lack of other options;)
Nov 4, 2010 at 12:44 p.m.
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Good luck, Joe. Remember where you came from. Or people might come knocking on your door
Nov 4, 2010 at 11:13 a.m.
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I think I saw Sheridan getting some money at the Pay Day Loans store on Milton Ave. Tuesday night.
Nov 4, 2010 at 10:05 a.m.
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Good luck, Joe. Remember where you came from. I'm afraid Mike forgot that.
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:29 a.m.
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Joe, I contacted you via email on an important issue to me, I also contacted Mike...you were the only one who answered me, and you earned my vote. Please remember where you came from and what you promised. It will be hard in the face of the lobbyists money and temptation.
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:13 a.m.
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"Could not be reached for comment"
He wasn't at some public place preparing for a victory speech?
How odd for a politician
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:11 a.m.
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Congratulations Joe!
Joe did the work of campaigning and was rewarded for his efforts. I'm sure he will do the work for his district and the state and will be rewarded with your vote next time too.
Mike Sheridan seemed to operate like a man who gained power and felt entitled to keep it no matter what his actions. His campaign was bland, full of platitudes, and patting himself on the back.
'Everyone' just assumed Sheridan would win.
Nov 4, 2010 at 8:15 a.m.
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bummer...we had just hired a better looking lobbyist for the jacki rickert medical marijuana bill;)
Nov 4, 2010 at 7:58 a.m.
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I tend to vote dem, and was certainly not pleased with Mike Sheridan's performance over the past several years. So, when Joe knocked on my door, I answered, listened to him, asked him a few questions, and was, conflicted.
1) At least he was walking the neighborhood he hoped to represent, was congenial, and was showing interest. That was good.
2) Unfortunately, when I pressed him on issues, he could only repeat catch phrases like "we need to make Wisconsin more business friendly" I asked what does that mean, and he said we need to make it easier for business to invest and create jobs. That didn't bode well--still don't know what he meant by that...those are 'safe' statements that don't really mean much of anything. That was bad.
Of course, those are just a couple of examples. Ultimately, he seemed like a good person, and still not being impressed with Sheridan's efforts on behalf of Janesville, I voted Joe. (Yeah, I think, therefore I don't vote straight ticket)
He has two years to earn my vote again...but he better get going. DELIVER THE GOODS. Oh, and by the way Joe, the train project between Madison and Milwaukee will create thousands of jobs...think about it, research it, and don't just react and kowtown to Mr. Walker.
Nov 4, 2010 at 7:08 a.m.
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NITPICKER!!!
Nov 4, 2010 at 6:56 a.m.
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Representative Knilans is quoted as saying -"Mike didn't knock on any doors because he apparently felt he didn't have to." - is wrong. I saw Representative Sheridan many times walking the neighborhoods knocking on doors and he came through our neighborhood and stopped to talk. I hope this is not a sign of this politician not getting the facts right.
Nov 3, 2010 at 9:48 p.m.
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Well maybe the lobbiest can get Sheridan a new job. Maybe not cause she got him to do what she was there for so now she probably wont even answer his calls!!!!! HA HA Sheridan see what a conflict of intrest gets ya!!!
Nov 3, 2010 at 9:03 p.m.
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I for one am happy to see Sheridan gone due to character issues. His performance as a representative aside, the guy gives me the creeps.
Nov 3, 2010 at 8:16 p.m.
Nov 3, 2010 at 4:56 p.m.
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Good luck.
Nov 3, 2010 at 4:55 p.m.
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Great job Joe!I would like to think Janesville "gets it"..Sometimes when all your friends move out of town.It is time for you to move out of Madison.
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