Former Wausau Mayoral Candidate Facing Disorderly Conduct Charge

Monday, August 5th, 2024 -- 11:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) A former Wausau Mayor Candidate has been summoned to court on charges of disorderly conduct with a hate crime modifier.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, investigators say Christopher Wood approached a biracial couple at Kwik Trip on West Street, then encouraged the woman to find a White partner, saying “White babies are adorable.”

Officers indicate that Wood used racial slurs to refer to the Black person, and tried to hug the woman saying he liked her because she was White. When interviewed by police, Wood is said to have doubled down on his stance, telling them that Black people are destroying the country.

The 29-year-old remains free and has been summoned to court on August 14th for an initial appearance. He faces a misdemeanor count for disorderly conduct, which comes with a punishment of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The hate crime modifier could tack on another year in jail and $10,000 in fines.

Wood has run for local office on multiple occasions. In 2022 he ran for a seat on the Marathon County Board and lost, then ran for Mayor two years later. He received about five percent support in a three-way primary back in February and didn’t advance to the April election.

Wood’s Mayoral run was marked by controversy as he was caught making anti-Semitic comments during public meetings and in public spaces, including Wausau’s 400 Block before Concerts on the Square.

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