Unofficial Oconto County results from the April 1 election show that local voters went with the conservative candidates for justice of the state Supreme Court and superintendent of public instruction.
Statewide, Susan Crawford defeated Brad Schimel for the open seat on the state’s high court, and Jill Underly won a second four-year term as superintendent. Local voters, however, preferred the candidates who fell short across the state.
In local races, the Suring school referendum passed by only eight votes, with 50.2% of voters in nine municipalities approving the school district’s request to exceed state-imposed revenue caps by $1.5 million annually through the 2029-30 school year and 48.8% voting no.
Two town chairmen lost their bids for reelection: In Mountain, Brenda Carey-Mielke outpolled incumbent Lindor “Skip” Maletzke; and in Underhill, incumbent Peter Vorpahl lost to Mark Winkler. Town chairs in Abrams, Bagley, Little River, Little Suamico and Oconto Falls survived challenges.
Gillett School Board member Robin Banaszynski won reelection but placed third in a four-person race behind newcomers Trisha Ondik and Lori Beyer, who will succeed Cliff Gerbers and Jamie Young on the board.
Incumbent Gillett Alderperson Irene Drake was defeated by challenger Keri Hicks.
The results from contested races across Oconto County:
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
Brad Schimel 11,279
Susan Crawford 5,386
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
Brittany Kinser 9,998
Jill Underly (inc.) 5,549
STATEWIDE REFERENDUM
Question 1. “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of Article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Yes 12,699
No 2,956
SURING SCHOOL REFERENDUM
Yes 940
No 932
GILLETT SCHOOL BOARD
Lorie Beyer 910
Robin Banaszynski (inc.) 840
Tonia Kruschke 717
Trisha Ondik 924
TOWN OF ABRAMS
Town Chairperson
Don Demeny (inc.) 722
Troy J. Frank (write-in) 110
Town Board Supervisor
Bonnie Hearley 367
Erik R. Leonhardt 437
Dennis Ferdon (inc.) 526
TOWN OF BAGLEY
Town Chairperson
Tom Bauer 1,188
Richard Knueppel (write-in) 4
TOWN OF LAKEWOOD
Town Chairperson
Mike Musil 290
Kevin L. Ballangee 164
TOWN OF LITTLE RIVER
Town Chairperson
Thomas Big T. Portier (inc.) 254
Randy Hahn 169
TOWN OF LITTLE SUAMICO
Town Chairperson
Dale Mohr (inc.) 1,357
Frank Nowak 756
Town Board Supervisor
David E. Pribyl 1,231
Liz Paape (inc.) 926
Tracey Krumrei (inc.) 981
Penny Helmle 855
Dan Herzberg 816
Frank Nowak 695
TOWN OF MOUNTAIN
Town Chairperson
Lindor “Skip” Maletzke (inc.) 194
Brenda Carey-Mielke 268
TOWN OF OCONTO FALLS
Town Chairperson
Robert Wolf 237
Dave Alsteen (inc.) 313
TOWN OF UNDERHILL
Town Chairperson
Mark Winkler 205
Peter Vorpahl (inc.) 119
CITY OF GILLETT
City Council
Ward 3
Irene Drake (inc.) 32
Keri Hicks 102
CITY OF OCONTO
City Council
Rob Gunner Daul 622
Bob LeBreck (inc.) 673
Casey Sowle 589
Wibble Sowle 523
Kim Bronikowski 754
Violet McFadden Hornick 534
Mike Feldt 461
wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com
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