Courts
LISTEN: Veenstra proud to take over La Crosse County judicial seat, as Ramona Gonzalez set to retire

He’s taking over for a legend.
Joe Veenstra won Tuesday in the election for judge of La Crosse County Circuit Court Branch 1.
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Veenstra takes over for Ramona Gonzalez, who was both the first woman and first minority elected to the bench in La Crosse County. She wraps up in August, a career that began in April of 1995.
“I just appreciate her and what she’s done,” Veenstra told WIZM on Tuesday night. “She’s really a legend locally, and a great person. She’s actually known statewide for a lot of the things she’s done. I’m really proud to take over the branch that she’s held for 30 years, almost.”
Veenstra defeated Eric Sanford by 4.21% out of 38,898 votes. Veenstra won 20,161-18,525.
His term begins in August.
Also on the ballot, were Judges Elliott Levine and Scott Horne, who both ran unopposed in Brach 2 and Branch 4, respectively.

Roy
April 3, 2025 at 10:58 am
All the criminals who Ramona released on bail had planned an appreciation party but they couldn’t find a hall big enough.
Cj
April 5, 2025 at 9:45 am
A local legend for all the child molesters and rapists she’s slapped on the wrists