Today is Election Day: Local Races and Things to Know Before You Head to the Polls
Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 -- 9:36 AM
-Wisconsin voters have a tough decision today as the Spring Election continues on even with the coronavirus pandemic gripping the state: Go to the polls and vote if you haven’t already done so and risk the chance of contracting the virus or stay home and not exercise your right to vote.The polls are open until 8pm this evening. Some of the big races on the ballot include the Democratic Presidential Primary down to Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders and the State Supreme Court race between incumbent Daniel Kelly and candidate Jill Karaofsky. Taking a look at the races happening in the county and within our communities, for Board of Supervisors, with the exception of District 9 and District 25, all other county districts have the same supervisor running for re-election. In District 9 Diane Feiten filed Non-Candidacy papers and no one filed papers to run for that district. In District 25, Dan Clough did not file papers nor did he file Non-Candidacy. The deadline for that seat had been extended, with the exception of Clough, and Kenneth Gerhardt has filed papers to run for that seat. Most of the races in the county are uncontested, however, there will be a contested race in District 19 and District 24. David Williams is running against Gordon Haselow for the District 19 seat. Rhonda Witte is running against Duwayne Trunkel for the District 24 seat. Also, as a side note, Mary Denk of Greenwood is running for Register of Deeds and Peggy Walter will be retiring at the end of her current term in December of 2020. For Neillsville, Alderman Jerry Quicker will not be running again and two city residents, Dave Harnisch and Ricky Buchsteiner, have filed to fill his seat. Also, Joe Neville is up for re-election. He has filed and is running unopposed. Neillsville Mayor Charles Glassbrenner is not running for re-election and two former mayors are running to fill his seat, Diane Murphy and Dewey Poeschel.
For the Neillsville School Board, incumbents Deanna Heiman and Jake Brunette are running for re-election. Paul Opelt is running for the school board as well. For the Granton Village Board, Russell Keuhn is up for re-election. For the Granton School Board, John Richmond and Doug Eichten are up for reelection and John has chosen not to run again. Cheryl Steinbach and Doug will be on the ballot. For the City of Loyal, Curtiss Lindner is running unopposed for Ward 1 and both Tim Froeba and Dave Geier are running unopposed for seats in Ward 1. In Ward 2, both Tom Bobrofsky and Matthew Prein are running unopposed. For the Loyal School Board, Dan Zimmerman is not seeking re-election and no one has filed to run for that spot. Incumbent Tom Odeen is running unopposed and Harlan Hinkelmann is also running unopposed for the 1-year remaining in his term as he was appointed to the board just this last year. For the Greenwood City Council, Mayor Jim Schecklman is up for re-election as mayor and Tracy Nelson and Ryan Ashbeck are up for re-election for At Large and Ward II positions respectively. All three are running unopposed.
For the Greenwood School Board, incumbent Mark Shain is running for re-election unopposed. The Greenwood School District also has a referendum on the ballot. For the Withee Village Board, the incumbents are up for election including Randy Shelton Jr., John Frankewicz and Susan Kalepp. They are all running unopposed. For the Owen City Council, Joan Jalling and Allen Wagner are running unopposed for re-election in Ward 1 and 3 respectively. Incumbent Robert Wilczek is running for re-election in Ward 2. Owen resident Dan Hooks is running against him. For the Owen-Withee School Board, incumbents Charlie Milliren and Dean Schmelezer are running unopposed for re-election.
Finally, some things to know before you head to the polls. Many polling locations had to be condensed around the state because of a lack of workers, so if your usual polling place is closed, you may need to check with local clerks to see where your polling place is located. Try to maintain social distancing while at the polls, practice good hygiene by using hand sanitizers and wear a mask, even a home made one, if possible. Also, on Monday the U.S. supreme court overturned a federal judge's decision to extend absentee voting. That means absentee ballots must be postmarked by today, in order to be counted. Those mailed ballots must arrive at a municipal location no later than April 13 at 4 p.m. Absentee ballots postmarked after April 7th will not count. You can turn in your absentee ballot in person at your polling place until 8 p.m. today. If you requested an absentee ballot, but have not yet received it in the mail and you want to vote, you must vote in person at your polling place today by 8 p.m. As for results, they will not be released today. The Wisconsin Election Commission said results will be released next Monday, April 13 after 4 p.m. For more information about your polling place, go to myvote.wi.gov
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