Tensions were high and one man’s camera was busted in Baraboo on Thursday as supporters of Republican Sen. Luther Olsen — who is facing recall — disrupted a press conference organized by Democrats.
A room in the Baraboo Civic Center — which was rented by Sauk County Democrats — was packed with backers of Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, who announced his intention to run for Olsen’s Senate seat in the upcoming recall election.
As Sauk County social worker Jill Ellinwood introduced Clark at the podium, a few of Olsen’s supporters forced their way into the packed room and the groups traded insults.
Clark took the podium, and during a pause in Clark’s speech a tussle broke out in the back of the room.
Chuck Goranson of Portage said he was trying to take a picture when one of the Olsen supporters “reached up and grabbed the lens and twisted it.”
The lens on the small handheld camera no longer functions, Goranson said. But he doesn’t plan to file a police report.
Olsen’s campaign spokesman, Jeff Weigand, denied that his group caused a disturbance inside the Civic Center.
“I was there myself,” Weigand said. “There was no disturbance. There was people from both sides of the aisle there.”
After the press conference, Clark said he was not surprised about what happened.
“We certainly knew there was going to be a rally for Sen. Olsen, and that’s fine,” Clark said, adding that he plans on running a civil campaign. “But I hoped they’d be more respectful than that.”
A room in the Baraboo Civic Center — which was rented by Sauk County Democrats — was packed with backers of Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, who announced his intention to run for Olsen’s Senate seat in the upcoming recall election.
As Sauk County social worker Jill Ellinwood introduced Clark at the podium, a few of Olsen’s supporters forced their way into the packed room and the groups traded insults.
Clark took the podium, and during a pause in Clark’s speech a tussle broke out in the back of the room.
Chuck Goranson of Portage said he was trying to take a picture when one of the Olsen supporters “reached up and grabbed the lens and twisted it.”
The lens on the small handheld camera no longer functions, Goranson said. But he doesn’t plan to file a police report.
Olsen’s campaign spokesman, Jeff Weigand, denied that his group caused a disturbance inside the Civic Center.
“I was there myself,” Weigand said. “There was no disturbance. There was people from both sides of the aisle there.”
After the press conference, Clark said he was not surprised about what happened.
“We certainly knew there was going to be a rally for Sen. Olsen, and that’s fine,” Clark said, adding that he plans on running a civil campaign. “But I hoped they’d be more respectful than that.”
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