Voters make their choices April 5

Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
By NEW Media Staff

Thanks in part to a redistricting plan that deliberately ignored where incumbent supervisors live, there is an unusual number of races for Oconto County Board in the April 5 election.
The 31-district plan adopted in October created five districts with more than one incumbent and five districts with no incumbent at all. As a result, voters in nine districts have a choice between two candidates, including one district where a deceased supervisor is on the printed ballot.
John Wittkopf and Cody Henry have both registered as write-in candidates in District 13, serving Wards 3 and 4 in the City of Oconto. They stepped forward after incumbent supervisor Dick Doeren died on Feb. 17.
Other races for County Board:
• District 3 (parts of Little Suamico and Chase): Brandon M. Dhuey, Frank Novak
• District 8 (parts of Abrams and Morgan): David Behrend, Curt Haffeman
• District 9 (parts of Abrams and Morgan): Jolene Barkhaus, Allan Stranz
• District 11 (parts of the towns of Oconto and Pensaukee): Diane Nichols, Patrick Scanlan
• District 20 (parts of the Town of Oconto Falls and Village of Lena): Keith Schneider, Richard Wood
• District 21 (parts of the Town and Village of Lena): Kenneth Linzmeyer, Char Meier
• District 22 (parts of Brazeau and Spruce): Terry Brazeau, David Parmentier
• District 28 (all of the towns of Breed and How): Carol M. Heise, Richard VandeWettering
Two registered write-ins have no official opponents: Wayne Kaczrowski is seeking the District 7 seat representing Wards 4 and 5 in the Town of Chase; and Richard Pillsbury is seeking the District 12 seat serving Ward 1 and 2 in the City of Oconto Falls.
Besides the County Board races, there are a handful of other races around Oconto County this spring election, most notably the countywide race where Judge Jay Conley is being challenged by District Attorney Edward Burke.
Oconto Falls Mayor Brad Rice is challenged by former alderman Kevin Rusch.
Four people are running for two available seats on the Oconto Falls School Board: Chad Earley, Ron Leja, Charles O’Harrow and Sarah Schindel.
In the Oconto School District, Crissy Thome Kumhala and Erin Sikora are running for a rural seat.
In the Pulaski School District, Jackie Huisman and Heidi Bukowiec are running for the Zone 1 seat representing the Village of Pulaski.
In the Suring School District, Wayne Sleeter and Rhonda Stuart are running for the seat representing the towns of Bagley, Maple Valley and Spruce.
Three people are running for two positions on the Brazeau Town Board: Rodney Gretzon, Randy Nasgovitz and David Parmentier.
In Gillett, Jon Gildemeister is unopposed on the ballot for City Council, Ward 2, but incumbent Sandy Hubbard has publicly announced she is a write-in candidate.
In Oconto, John Panetti and Cliff Martin are running for mayor, and five people are running for four positions on the City Council: Patsy Bake, Butch Mellberg, Al Schreiber, Steve Stock and John Wittkopf.
Two school districts are also asking referendum questions. The Gillett School District is asking to exceed its revenue limit by $450,000 for each of the next three years, in an extension of a referendum approved three years ago.
The Oconto Falls School District is posing a $49.9 million referendum that includes a new $31 million middle school and upgrades at its other three school buildings.
Polls will be open across the county from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 5.