Wauwatosa, Wis., hometown of Governor Scott Walker, has been blue, red and purple. Voter trends have seen a shift in recent years and that is sure to impact the November 6 election.
A majority of Wauwatosa voters lean Democratic in 2018.
Photos: Jared Cohen
“Many people in this town are tired of the constant mistakes from Walker,” said Sandy Zellmer, acting chair of the Democratic Party of Wauwatosa.
Zellmer is in charge of canvassing and organizing for State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers. The feeling around the Democratic Party of Wauwatosa is that Evers is a strong candidate to defeat Walker.
“We had a very good public school system before Scott Walker got into power,” Zellmer said. “I have seen many residents in this city change its mood of Walker over these last eight years.”
But some Wauwatosa residents believe that Gov. Walker has been good for Wisconsin. It is no surprise that Walker has made an impact, specifically in Wauwatosa, where Walker and his wife, Tonette, raised their two kids, Matt and Alex. The two sons are graduates of Wauwatosa East High School and are politically active.
Faith Schilly is a volunteer for the Wauwatosa Republicans and feels that Walker has impacted not only Wauwatosa but the entire state in a positive way. Schilly, a poll worker and registered nurse, has been a Wauwatosa resident since 1995 and stands by Gov. Walker.
“I like his policies and especially like how he is trying to bring jobs into Wisconsin,” Schilly said. “I also know that the paycheck my husband takes home has been larger with Walker in office.”
But Schilly is in the minority in Wauwatosa these days. Results of the August Partisan Primary Election show that 38 percent of registered voters are Republicans and 61 percent are Democrats.
The Residents
Gov. Walker and his wife, Tonette, raised their family in Wauwatosa. 
Alex and Matt Walker attended Wauwatosa East High School. 
Walker still has solid support in many Wauwatosa neighborhoods.
Donna Lers has been a Wauwatosa resident for over 18 years and is fed up with the complacency that she says Wisconsin residents have had regarding Walker.
“When I first came to Wauwatosa, I thought it was more liberal than it is now,” Lers said. “I don’t think Gov. Walker has the interest of the people.”
Lers, an MPS teacher, now believes the Democratic challenger will be a better advocate for schools.
Lers believes that many people are concerned for education in Wisconsin, especially in Milwaukee. Funding public schools is something that many Wauwatosa residents are passionate about.
Then there are are residents like Tammy Johnson, who is a registered Republican and former Walker supporter who has changed her views on the Governor over the years.
“It is tough to see someone you think will change our state for the good and then do the opposite,” Johnson said. “I have seen enough and am ready for a change in our state,” Johnson added.