No contested races for Tomahawk mayor, city council, school board
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Area voters cast ballots for a variety of local and national races in the Spring Election on Tuesday, April 2.
According to preliminary results from the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office, 7,166 (40.31%) of the county’s 17,778 registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday.
The Lincoln County Board of Canvass is slated to meet on Monday, April 8 to canvass the election results.
Presidential primaries
Statewide, Republican Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden were the top vote-getters in their respective primaries, and those results were mirrored in Lincoln County.
A total of 4,164 Lincoln County voters (63.80%) cast ballots in the Republican Presidential Primary, while 2,363 (36.20%) people voted in the Democratic Presidential Primary, according to preliminary results.
Trump garnered 3,721 votes (81.78%) in Lincoln County. A total of 437 votes (9.6%) went to Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race in early March. Other candidates longer vying for the Republican nomination who received votes in Lincoln County included Ron DeSantis (162 votes, 3.56%), Chris Christie (81 votes, 1.78%) and Vivek Ramaswamy (31votes, 0.68%). A total of 101 Uninstructed Delegation votes (2.22%) and 17 write-in votes (0.37%) were cast under the Republican ticket, according to the Clerk’s Office.
Biden tallied 2,302 votes (90.38%) in Lincoln County, while 102 votes (4.00%) went to Dean Phillips. 122 Uninstructed Delegation votes (4.79%) and 21 write-in votes (0.82%) were cast under the Democratic ticket.
State referendums
Two state referendums related to elections were approved by Wisconsin voters.
The first question, which bars municipal clerks from using private donations or grants to administer elections, was supported by about 54.4% of voters statewide.
The second question, which will allow only election officials designated by law to perform tasks to conduct elections, was approved by about 58.6% of Wisconsin voters.
In Lincoln County, question one was supported by 61.36% of voters, while question two was supported by 68.56% of voters, according to preliminary results.
City of Tomahawk Mayor
City of Tomahawk Mayor Steven E. Taskay did not face an opponent in his bid for a fifth two-year term. Seven write-in votes (1.53%) were cast, according to preliminary results.
City of Tomahawk Common Council
The makeup of the City of Tomahawk Common Council will remain the same as it has since 2019.
District 1 Alderperson Ed Nystrom, District 2 Alderperson Will Garske and District 3 Alderperson Mike Loka will each return to the council for three-year terms after running for reelection unopposed.
According to preliminary results, no write-in votes were cast in any of the three districts.
School District of Tomahawk Board of Education
Two incumbent School District of Tomahawk Board of Education members ran for reelection, while another did not run for another three-year term.
Cherie Hafeman, who previously represented the Towns of Birch, Bradley, Rock Falls, Skanawan and Tomahawk on the board, did not seek reelection. Deb Velleux ran for the seat unopposed. Velleux previously represented the City of Tomahawk, but sought the township post after relocating into the position’s footprint.
Shar Kirsch, who represents the City of Tomahawk, did not face an opponent in her bid to serve another term.
No candidates filed paperwork to run for the other City of Tomahawk seat. A total of 165 write-in votes were cast in Lincoln County, with 91 votes going to registered write-in candidate Lonny Calhoun, and 74 total votes going to all other write-in candidates, according to the Lincoln County Clerk’s Office.
Calhoun garnered 20 votes as a registered write-in candidate in Oneida County. One other write-in vote was tallied.
The School District of Tomahawk was scheduled to hold its canvassing meeting on Tuesday, April 9.
Bradley town board
Town of Bradley voters cast ballots for two Supervisors.
The only two candidates on last Tuesday’s ballots, incumbent Supervisors John Crass and Jennifer Bishop, will return to the town board. Three write-in votes (0.40%) were cast, according to preliminary results.
Lincoln County Board of Supervisors
Ten competitive races for the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors took place last week.
Seven new Supervisors will join the board, while one incumbent Supervisor was defeated, according to preliminary results.
In District 1, incumbent Supervisor William R. Bialecki did not face a challenger. Nine write-in votes (2.91%) were cast.
Incumbent District 2 Supervisor Lori Anderson-Malm narrowly defeated challenger Scott Doerr. Anderson-Malm garnered 131 votes (51.57%), while 123 votes (48.43%) went to Doerr. No write-in votes were cast.
Incumbent District 3 Supervisor Elizabeth McCrank will serve another term on the board after running for reelection unopposed. Two write-in votes (1.22%) were cast.
Former District 4 Supervisor Steve Osness Jr. did not seek reelection. Derek Woellner faced no challengers and will replace Osness Jr. on the board. Nine write-in votes (4.62%) were cast.
In District 5, Don Wendorf did not run for another term. Andrew Zelinski will join the board after running unopposed. Two write-in votes (0.94%) were cast.
Incumbent District 6 Supervisor Norbert “Nubs” Ashbeck did not face a challenger and will serve another term. Two write-in votes (1.22%) were cast.
In District 7, Donald J. Dunphy defeated Jay Downey. A total of 271 votes (60.76%) went to Dunphy, while Downey garnered 175 votes (39.24%). No write-in votes were cast.
Incumbent District 8 Supervisor Laurie J. Thiel will return to the board after defeating challenger Todd Frederick. Thiel tallied 166 votes (63.60%). A total of 95 votes (36.40%) went to Frederick. No write-in votes were cast.
In District 9, challenger Christine Vorpagel defeated incumbent Supervisor and Board Chair Don Friske. A total of 214 votes (55.87%) went to Vorpagel, while Friske garnered 169 votes (44.13%). No write-in votes were cast. Friske was the only incumbent Supervisor to be unseated last week.
Incumbent District 10 Supervisor and Board Vice-Chair Jesse Boyd will serve another term on the board after defeating challenger Sheryl Chism, 234 votes (60.00%) to 155 votes (39.74%). One write-in vote (0.26%) was cast.
Randal Detert will return to the board as District 11 Supervisor after running for reelection unopposed. 21 write-in votes (8.71%) were cast.
In District 12, incumbent Supervisor Julie DePasse (212 votes, 51.46%) defeated challenger Paul Gilk (198 votes, 48.06%). Two write-in votes (0.49%) were cast.
Former District 13 Supervisor George Brixius did not run for reelection. Alan Bishop (186 votes, 53.30%) ultimately defeated Jeffrey Fisher (161 votes, 46.13%) in the race for the seat. Two write-in votes (0.57%) were cast.
Former District 14 Supervisor Brian Hafeman did not seek another term. Marguerite Lyskawa will join the board after running unchallenged. One write-in vote (0.42%) was cast.
Incumbent District 15 Supervisor Marty R. Lemke will serve another term after running for reelection unopposed. One write-in vote (0.79%) was cast.
In District 16, incumbent Supervisor Dana Miller did not face a challenger and will return to the board. One write-in vote (0.56%) was cast.
Incumbent District 17 Supervisor James Meunier was unopposed on his way to reelection. Five write-in votes (2.70%) were cast.
In District 18, incumbent Supervisor Ken Wickham defeated challenger Sue Dierksen. A total of 345 votes (64.97%) went to Wickham, while Dierksen tallied 186 votes (35.03%). No write-in votes were cast.
Former District 19 Supervisor Julie Allen did not seek reelection. Joseph M. Dorava (210 votes, 53.98%) ultimately defeated Dan Friske (179 votes, 46.02%) to join the board. No write-in votes were cast.
Incumbent District 20 Supervisor Angela Cummings (190 votes, 58.46%) defeated challenger Doug Curtis (135 votes, 41.54%) to serve another term. No write-in votes were cast.
In District 21, incumbent Supervisor Eugene R. Simon ran for reelection unopposed. Two write-in votes (0.75%) were cast.
Incumbent District 22 Supervisor Greg Hartwig did not face a challenger in his bid for another term. One write-in vote (0.31%) was cast.
School referendums
Several school district referendums were voted on last Tuesday, with mixed results.
Merrill Area Public Schools voters rejected a referendum seeking $16 million for district-wide building and facility improvements. A total of 2,245 voters (46%) said “yes,” while 2,626 (54%) said “no,” according to preliminary results.
Voters in the Prentice School District rejected a referendum question asking if the district should be allowed to exceed revenue limits by $1.8 million next school year for operational and maintenance expenses. The referendum received 423 “yes” votes (43%) and 566 “no” votes (57%).
School District of Rhinelander voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum authorizing the district to issue up to $26 million in general obligation bonds to pay for an improvement project to include the construction of additions and renovations at Rhinelander High School and James Williams Middle School, as well as district-wide capital maintenance, infrastructure improvements and accessibility updates. A total of 3,637 (66%) voters cast ballots in favor, while 1,864 voters (34%) were opposed.
In the Rib Lake School District, voters approved a $19.5 million referendum for various upgrades to the school, including the building of a new gym and construction connecting the middle and high schools. The referendum was approved 677 votes (56%) to 522 (44%), according to preliminary results.
Oneida County Circuit Court Justice
Oneida County voters elected a new judge last week.
According to preliminary results, Mary M. Sowinski will serve as Branch II Circuit Court Justice after defeating Michael Fugle 6,833 votes (67%) to 3,386 (33%).