Dylan Brogan
Ozanne addresses supporters at the Edgewater Hotel
It wasn’t even close. Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne was reelected Tuesday with 73% of the vote. He won all 115 precincts in Madison. His Democratic opponent was victorious in just two voting wards in the whole county.
Although there’s still a general election for the position in the fall, Ozanne will not have an opponent in the race. Turnout at the polls was 22%.
“[Voters] came out with a resounding statement that said we are going to go forward into the future, we are going to be national leaders, instead of moving backwards 10 years, which is a promise somebody tried to sell this community,” Ozanne said at his election party at the Edgewater Hotel.
Challenger Bob Jambois, a Dane County assistant district attorney since May 2015, was highly critical of Ozanne’s leadership during the campaign. During a debate at Isthmus, Jambois called the district attorney’s office a “hot mess” and Ozanne an “absentee landlord.”
Ozanne accused Jambois of “slander” and of playing up racial stereotypes. Despite the bitter tone, Jambois said he intends to keep going to work for his former opponent (at least until his scheduled trials are through). “There’s not going to be friction on my part,” Jambois said after conceding. “I’m just going to go in and do my job. We'll see how things work out.”
Ozanne told supporters that initiatives like a new restorative justice court and a tougher stance on child abuse will be “taking off” in his next term.
“These are things that are going to impact racial disparity and equity issues within this community,” said Ozanne. “We are tired of spending more on incarceration than education. Hopefully, we have not forgotten that Wisconsin was once was a national leader in rehabilitation and corrections. We will be a national leader again.”
It was a bad election night for challengers across the state. Incumbent Adam Gallagher won with 44% of the vote in a sleepy three-way race for Dane County treasurer. Former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold crushed his pro-life Democratic opponent Scott Harbach with 90% of the vote statewide (94% in his home county of Dane). U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) beat back an aggressive challenge from tea partier Paul Nehlen. And political newbie Jimmy Anderson prevailed in the Democratic primary race to replace outgoing Rep. Robb Kahl (D-Monona).
Ozanne supporter Masood Akhtar had the line of the night at the Edgewater Hotel. His message to those seeking public office in the future was greeted with cheers.
“Don’t mess [with] your boss. There are other ways to get the promotion.”
