WAUSAU – Here’s your guide to contested races in the April 7 election in the Wausau area. The polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
A mix of races are on the ballot, including Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, Marathon County circuit court judge, Wausau Common Council alderperson, Wausau and D.C. Everest school board members, and Marathon County Board supervisors.
City of Wausau and Village of Weston voters will also see public safety referenda to fund firefighter and paramedic positions in perpetuity.
More voting resources can be found at myvote.wi.gov, including:
Here’s the list of contested races for Wausau-area voters. (i) denotes an incumbent.
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is made up of seven justices. Justices serve 10-year terms. Justice Rebecca Bradley announced she would not seek reelection to the court in August after serving one term since 2016.
More: Wisconsin Supreme Court election; Chris Taylor, Maria Lazar, date
Marathon County Branch 3 circuit court judge
Marathon County has six circuit court branches. Circuit court judges serve six-year terms. Current Judge LaMont K. Jacobson filed a declaration of noncandidacy in this race. Jacobson has served more than two terms as the Branch 3 judge as he was appointed to the seat by former Gov. Scott Walker on March 28, 2013, and elected in 2014 and 2020.
Marathon County Branch 3 judge Q&A: Douglas Bauman, Michael Hughes vie for Marathon County Branch 3 judge
Wausau Common Council
Wausau Common Council consists of 11 alderpersons. Alderpersons serve two-year terms and all 11 are up for election in even-numbered years. Current alderpersons Rebecca McElhaney (District 6) and Chad Henke (District 11) filed declarations of noncandidacy in this race.
District 1 candidate Q&A: Carol Lukens, Mary Kowatch vie for Wausau Common Council District 1
District 2 candidate Q&A: Michael Martens, Nick Nowak vie for Wausau Common Council District 2
District 4 candidate Q&A: Tom Neal, Vylius Leskys vie for Wausau Common Council District 4 seat
District 5 candidate Q&A: Aaron Griner, Andrew Wiskowski vie for Wausau Common Council District 5
District 6 candidate Q&A: Kristin Slonski, Keene Winters vie Wausau Common Council District 6
District 7 candidate Q&A: Lisa Rasmussen, Matt Hoenecke vie for Wausau Common Council District 7
District 11 candidate Q&A: Timothy Howe, Bruce Trueblood vie Wausau Common Council District 11
Wausau School Board
Wausau School Board is made up of nine members. Each year, three members are elected to three-year terms. An additional seat will be up for election for a one-year term following the early resignation of an elected member in August. Current member Jennifer Paoli filed a declaration of noncandidacy in this race.
Candidates for School Board: Charles Burger (i), John Huntington, Kathryn Ruland, Cory Sillars (i), Lance Trollop (i) and Yauo Y. Yang
Wausau School Board candidate Q&A: Meet candidates vying for 4 seats on the Wausau School Board April 7
D.C. Everest School Board
D.C. Everest School Board is made up of seven members. Members serve three-year terms and two seats are up for election in 2026. Current board member Joshua Dickerson filed a declaration of noncandidacy in the race.
Candidates for School Board: Bill Conway, Jennifer Douck, Daron Juneau and Yee Leng Xiong (i)
D.C. Everest School Board candidate Q&A: Meet 5 candidates running for DC Everest School Board in Feb. primary
D.C. Everest School Board candidate additional Q&A: Meet the candidates vying for 2 seats on the D.C. Everest School Board
Marathon County Board
Marathon County Board is made up of 38 supervisors. Supervisors serve two-year terms and all 38 seats are up for election in even-numbered years. The following supervisors filed declarations of noncandidacy in this race: John Kroll (District 1), Randy Fifrick (District 15), Gayle Marshall (District 20), Thomas Rosenberg (District 21), Jasper Hartinger (District 22) and Jordan Reynolds (District 30).
District 1 candidate Q&A: Katie Rosenberg, Dane Suleski vie for Marathon County Board District 1
District 8 candidate Q&A: Kim Ungerer, Sarah Watson vie for Marathon County Board District 8 seat
District 13 candidate Q&A: Mike Ritter, Beverly Krejci vie for Marathon County Board District 13
District 16 candidate Q&A: Bill Conway, Tony Sherfinski vie for Marathon County Board District 16
District 25 candidate Q&A: Tim Sondelski, Susan Stankowski vie Marathon County Board District 25
City of Wausau public safety referendum
City of Wausau voters will see a referendum for $1.45 million in additional ongoing property tax levy to fund 12 firefighter positions. The positions were first created following acceptance of a three-year grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency under a program called SAFER, or Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response, and an American Rescue Plan Act grant. The positions were funded by the grants through 2026.
Here’s how the question will appear on the ballot:
“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the City of Wausau for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 3.544%, which results in a levy of $36,656,773. Shall the City of Wausau be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of retaining 12 firefighter/paramedic positions and offset expiring federal grants, by a total of 3.956%, which results in a levy of $38,106,773, and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $1,450,000 for each fiscal year going forward?”
More: Wausau City Council approves language for Fire Department referendum
Village of Weston public safety referendum
Village of Weston voters will see a referendum for $400,000 in additional ongoing property tax levy to fund six full-time firefighter/paramedic positions to the South Area Fire & Emergency Response District, also commonly referred to SAFER.
Here’s how the question will appear on the ballot:
“Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Weston for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2027, is limited to 2.293%, which results in a levy of $8,670,828. Shall the Village of Weston be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2027, for the purpose of paying the Village of Weston’s share of the cost for SAFER to hire and retain six additional full-time firefighters/paramedics, by a total of 6.92%, which results in a levy of $9,270,828 and on an ongoing basis, include the increase of $600,000 for each fiscal year going forward?”
More: Weston referendum seeks $600K annual levy boost for SAFER staffing
Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: April 7 election guide for Wausau voters — races, poll hours and more
Reporting by Erik Pfantz, Wausau Daily Herald / Wausau Daily Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
