Republicans have been dealt another crisis in trying to flip a state Senate seat in the Chippewa Valley, as reports surface that candidate Michele Magadance Skinner has been claiming residency in two states for tax purposes. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cited public documents that Skinner, a former Eau Claire television anchor, and her husband have claimed a senior homestead tax exemption for their lake house in Georgia while also claiming lottery tax credit for their home in Altoona. Both credits are legally limited only to a primary address. Skinner was a late addition to challenging Democratic Sen. Jeff Smith after Republican Sen. Jesse James decided to retire, weeks after his daughter was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his campaign. Sen. Dianne Hesselbein said Monday that if Skinner does not drop out of the race and pay back money from any fraudulently claimed tax credits, she will work with attorneys to seek repayment to the state taxpayers.
