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At least two Democratic challengers to Republican incumbent Terry Musser have declared their intention to run, and there also may be a Republican challenger as well.
Black River Falls attorney and small business owner Mark Radcliffe said he will seek the Democratic nomination along with Curtis Miller of Sparta, a pastor who unsuccessfully challenged Musser in 2006.
Musser could not be reached Wednesday or Thursday for comment about whether he intends to seek the seat he has held since 1984.
But he may have a primary challenger as well. Former Monroe County district attorney and former 3rd District GOP Chairman Dan Hellman has registered with the Wisconsin Elections Board as a candidate. Hellman could not be reached for comment Tuesday or Thursday.
Hellman served on the State Elections Board after being appointed by Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch.
He is human resources director for Hellman Distributors in Sparta.
Radcliffe, who has opened up a campaign headquarters in downtown Black River Falls, said increasing gas prices, health care costs and rising taxes are overburdening people of the 92nd District.
“If there ever was a time for change, for a fresh look at how we serve people of Wisconsin, that time is now,” Radcliffe, 36, said.
Third District Republican Chairwoman Maripat Krueger of Menomonie said Monday she was not sure who would seek the Republican nomination in the 92nd.
“There’s lots of movement all over the place, all of the time,” Krueger said.
Candidates have until July 8 to file nomination papers. The deadline for declaring noncandidacy is June 27.
Musser perhaps is vulnerable politically after he announced last year he had misstated his service record and was not a former Green Beret, which was listed on his official biography in the state Blue Book.
The 92nd District includes most of Jackson and Monroe counties, with small sections of Clark and Eau Claire counties.
Chris Hardie is publisher of the weekly and shopper division of the River Valley Newspaper Group.
