Parker holds on to DA seat

Incumbent beats Damrau by 55-45% margin
By: 
Tim Ryan
Reporter

Incumbent Republican Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker held onto his seat Tuesday against a contentious election challenge from independent candidate Aaron Damrau.

Parker, who has been district attorney since 2007, emphasized his experience and modeled himself as the law and order candidate, while Tigerton-based attorney Damrau leveled numerous charges that Parker has mismanaged the office.

He claimed that mismanagement was responsible for a number of cases being dismissed.

Damrau maintained the district attorney’s office consisted of “bullies” who were unwilling the let defendants move on with their lives.

He also alleged outside attorneys refuse to come to Shawano County because of the district attorney’s office refusal to negotiate plea agreements up until the trial date.

Despite those allegations, Parker won 55% of the vote in Shawano and Menominee counties, 12,739 to Damrau’s 10,322.

The results still need to be certified by the Board of Canvass.

Parker could not be reached for a comment by press time Wednesday. In a Facebook posting, he thanked those who came out to vote and the volunteers that helped his campaign.

Damrau posted a statement on his Facebook page saying his primary objective in running for district attorney was to expose what he claims is going on the the district attorney’s office.

“This election has made clear that voters want transparency and accountability in their DA’s office and in local government,” he wrote. “Even though I won’t be district attorney, I will continue to serve on the Shawano County Board and promise to continue to work hard to ensure that all elected officials are held accountable.”

In Shawano County, Damrau had his best showings in Tigerton and the Town of Red Springs, and finished ahead of Parker in the city of Shawano, 2,101 to 1,887.

Damrau, who was elected to the Shawano County Board last spring, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2015 and has worked as a public defender in Wausau.

Shawano County Clerk Pam Schmidt, Treasurer Deb Wallace and Register of Deeds Amy Dillenberg were also on the ballot Tuesday in uncontested races.

tryan@newmedia-wi.com