Former Gillett candidate pleads not guilty

A former candidate for Gillett City Council pleaded not guilty to election fraud charges on Friday in Oconto County Circuit Court. Mark R. Bloemers, 59, entered not guilty pleas to two felony counts for allegedly declaring his candidacy on Jan. 5 for the April 7, 2014, election, despite being convicted of a felony drug offense. He also pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer. On the declaration of candidacy form, candidates must swear they have not been convicted of a felony in any court in the U.S. for which they have not been pardoned. According to a criminal complaint filed Aug. 31, City Clerk/Treasurer Beth Rank became aware of a felony conviction in which Bloemers was found guilty of possession of THC with intent to deliver, party to a crime, in 1996 in Manitowoc County. Two other felony charges were dismissed. According to the complaint, Rank “wished to pursue the matter further as there was concern that if Bloemers ran for City Council again, this could be an issue in the future.” Bloemers is free on a $2,500 signature bond. He is due back in court for a pretrial conference on Jan. 14. If convicted of false swearing, Bloemers faces a maximum sentence of six years imprisonment and a fine of $10,000. For election fraud, the maximum sentence is three years, six months imprisonment and a fine of $10,000.