Racine County Sheriff Race Marks First Change in 16 Years

Election inspectors in Burlington are preparing for a Tuesday ballot that includes the first Racine County sheriff election in 16 years. The race pits two current employees of the Racine County Sheriff's Office against each other for the top law enforcement post. Cary Madrigal, a captain, and Don Vandervest, who works in courthouse security, are the candidates for the position.

Voters in the 33rd Assembly District will also choose a new state representative. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has announced his retirement, opening the seat for Republican Steve Wicklund and Democrat Maria Elena Bisabarros. The district covers parts of western Racine County, including the city of Burlington.

Jill Lodle and Mary Skwierawski have served as election inspectors in Burlington for more than a decade. They began their preparations weeks before the vote by staffing the polling place and observing the public testing of the voting machines last week. Their final setup tasks occur the day before the election.

Skwierawski noted that Veterans Terrace is the sole in-person voting location for Burlington residents. The inspectors cited traffic flow, privacy for voters, and seating for observers as key operational priorities. Their goal is to ensure the voting machines function correctly throughout the day.

Early voting turnout was described as steady as of Monday. Lodle anticipates a heavy turnout for Tuesday but noted that the final numbers are uncertain. Polls across Wisconsin open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

County residents will vote for the state governor alongside the local and state legislative contests. The sheriff race concludes a long period of continuity in the county's law enforcement leadership. The assembly race replaces a long-serving speaker with two new contenders.