Wisconsin high court challenger declares victory

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(Reuters) - The union-backed challenger in the race for a seat on Wisconsin's state Supreme Court declared victory on Wednesday in a contest that became a referendum on a new restrictions on public sector unions.

But Wisconsin's first statewide recount in 20 years was virtually certain because just 204 votes separated the two candidates out of nearly 1.5 million cast. A recount could be a complicated, drawn-out affair, experts said.

"It may become ballot-by-ballot warfare in some places," said Richard Esenberg, a former partner at Foley & Lardner who now teaches at Marquette University Law School and an expert on Wisconsin law. A statewide recount has not happened in more than 20 years."

With 100 percent of the state's precincts reporting, JoAnne Kloppenburg had edged out sitting Justice David Prosser 740,090 votes to 739,886, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel newspaper and WTMJ-TV.

Kloppenburg, an assistant state attorney specializing in environmental affairs, wasted no time claiming the win. "We owe Justice Prosser our gratitude for his more than 30 years of public service," Kloppenburg said in statement.

"Wisconsin voters have spoken and I am grateful for, and humbled by, their confidence and trust. I will be independent and impartial and I will decide cases based on the facts and the law."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/06/us-wisconsin-election-idUSTRE7350J920110406?WT.tsrc=Social%20Media&WT.z_smid=twtr-reuters_%20com&WT.z_smid_dest=Twitter

[Oceansaway]

1. Solidarity Forever !...nt