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Nass holds on to 31st state Assembly seat

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WHITEWATER — Rep. Steve Nass won't be surrendering the 31st Assembly seat he's held for two decades.

The Republican incumbent celebrated a crushing victory over Libertarian Leroy Watson on Tuesday, maintaining a strong hold on the position he's occupied since 1990.

Nass held close to 90 percent of his district's vote, which spans across Jefferson, Waukesha and Walworth counties.

"Clearly, my fights against our own government have been recognized by the voters," Nass said. "People are paying attention, and they're paying closer attention, which is good.

"Those who want a smaller, less-taxing, less-intrusive government, help is on the way."

Election season was a comfortable one for Nass. In September's primary, he easily won his party's nomination over challenger Craig Peterson.

Without a Democrat in the race, Watson of Oconomowoc was Nass' only competition in the general election.

Watson, a former sergeant first-class with the U.S. Army and expediter with the U.S. Postal Service, ran unsuccessfully for the 38th District in 2000 and the 31st District in 2002.

Now that Nass can put his campaign to rest, he's said job creation and the state's projected $2.4 billion deficit are at the forefront of his agenda. Nass said he's already begun drafting a list of specific legislation and government spending he believes should be closely reviewed prior to next year's budget.

Nass criticized the state government for not managing its own spending while expecting municipalities to do just that. He expects lobbyists to be "as thick as bees" at the capital, but he urged lawmakers to stand up for the taxpayers.

"We have to control spending in government, and it's going to be extremely difficult, it's going to be ugly," Nass said. "It's a task that's got to be done."

Nass has a record of exposing reckless spending and said he's not afraid to "lock horns" with anyone in the state Legislature. Last year, Nass introduced a bill to expel 67th District Rep. Jeffrey Wood from the state Assembly for "contempt and disorderly behavior," including a series of drunken driving offenses.