Three More Declare Candidacy For State Assembly Seat

Updated 12:30 p.m. Wednesday

Announcements for the 21st Assembly district race continued Wednesday, a day after Gov. Scott Walker set the date of the election. 

School choice advocate Jessie Rodriguez; Larry Gamble, an officer in the tea party group Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty; and South Milwaukee resident Jason "Red" Arnold have formally announced their candidacy. 


They join Oak Creek Alderman Ken Gehl as Republicans who have declared their intentions to seek the seat. No Democratic candidates have yet emerged for the position, which became open following the resignation of Mark Honadel. 

Candidates have just six days to gather 200 signatures, which is required to get on the ballot. Two or more candidates in either party would force a primary on Oct. 22. 

The general election is set for Nov. 19. 

Rodriguez said her work for Hispanics for School Choice, where she is an outreach coordinator, has helped create opportunities for "thousands of Wisconsin families on the issue of education and parental choice," according to her campaign announcement. 

She said she would apply that experience toward helping residents in the 21st District, which includes Oak Creek, South Milwaukee and a portion of Franklin. 

"I am a firm believer that while we can't always choose our circumstances, we can make our own opportunities," Rodriguez said in a statement. "Throughout my life I've turned challenges into successes and I want to take what I've learned to help make sure our government doesn't stand in the way of opportunities for small businesses, families and our children."

Rodriguez was born in El Salvador and, amid a Civil War, moved to the United States in 1986. The Capital Times reported she would be the first Hispanic Republican in the state Legislature's history if elected. 

Gamble, a businessman and veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is making his second state Assembly run. He made a primary challenge against state Rep. Jeff Stone in 2010; his home became part of the 21st District after redistricting. 

In announcing his candidacy, he laid out a platform of economic issues, including jobs and energy, as well as education, seniors and veterans. 

Gamble's first initiative would be eliminating property taxes for seniors age 65 and older, which he said would "put money back into the bank accounts of our senior citizens and enable them to use those funds for their own critical needs."

He also said he would examine laws that may hamper economic growth. 

"We need to review those laws and policies that restrict good business growth and repeal them where necessary," Gamble said. 

Arnold, who compared elections to the Dating Game television show and beauty pageants in his campaign announcement, said he was a "different kind of politician" who plans to run a "unique campaign."

"In my opinion most political races are pageants, thankfully with the omission of the swimsuit competition, but everyone wants to 'save the planet' and 'end world hunger,' blah blah blah," he said. "I say stop the politics as usual and get something done! Most politicians are afraid to be that decisive and that brutally honest." 

Arnold said he's thought about running for office for the better part of a decade, and after watching other campaigns through the years, wants to make sure voters can make an informed decision. 

"Currently it's like the Dating Game, you get 3 people, a name, and a few bullet points," Arnold said. "Great television but I have yet to see a follow up show on hundreds of 30 year marriages with grandchildren."