Retiring Democratic Representative Sondy Pope (D-Mt Horeb) has endorsed Verona Common Council President Chad Kemp to succeed her representing District 80 in the Wisconsin State Assembly, the Kemp campaign announced in a press release Sunday night.
District 80 encompasses much of western Dane County as well as portions of Iowa and Green Counties, including Verona, Fitchburg, Mt. Horeb, Barneveld, New Glarus and Belleville.
“Having observed and met with the Democratic candidates seeking election for my seat in the 80th assembly district, today I am endorsing candidate Attorney Chad Kemp,” Pope said in a statement. “I believe that Chad Kemp possesses a skill set that is clearly needed among the Assembly Democrats. As an attorney and one who is serving as President of the Verona City Council, Chad comes with the full knowledge and understanding of the law, how it is written and how it is applied. I am strongly in favor of sending a highly qualified, confident, trained voice to the legislature. I encourage you to vote for Chad Kemp.”
“I am proud to accept the endorsement of Representative Pope, Kemp said in a statement. “I am grateful for her years of service and inspired by the legacy she has left. I hope to continue in her footsteps and create new paths of progress to serve the people in our district.”
Kemp’s campaign also announced the endorsement of former governor Jim Doyle, former lieutenant governor Barbara Lawton, former sheriff Dave Mahoney and current shariff Kalvin Barrett.
Mahoney also endorsed Anna Halverson in what a Kemp campaign representative called a “split endorsement.”
Pope, Doyle, Mahoney, Barrett and Lawton join a list of endorsers that already included State Rep. Shelia Stubbs, State Rep. Samba Baldeh, Dane County District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne, Town of Verona Chair Mark Geller, Current Verona Alder Christine Posey, Rye Kimmett, Kate Cronin, Phil Hoechst, Middleton Alder Lisa Janario, Former Democratic State Party Chair and Former State Senator Joe Wineke, Former Dane County Board Member Mark Opitz, Former Fitchburg Mayor Frances Huntley-Cooper, Former Middleton Alder Andy Lewis, Former Verona Alders Sarah Gaskell and Katie Kohl. Kemp is also endorsed by the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters and the IUOE Local 139 Wisconsin Operating Engineers.
The partisan primary in the race to succeed Pope, who has served in the Assembly since 2002, takes place August 9.
