Wisconsin heads to polls Tuesday

Tuesday is election day in Wisconsin with many candidates across the state running for local offices.

In Iron County, the elections are for town offices and school boards, as well as a pair of seats on the Montreal city council.

There’s also a referendum on the Mercer ballot concerning the approval of an application for a half percent tax Premiere Resort Area Tax. Approval of the referendum is just one step in the process of creating the new tax, according to Iron County Clerk Mike Saari.

The only other items on the ballots here are a pair of races for judgeships. Brian Hagedorn and Lisa Neubauer are running for a spot on the state Supreme Court, while Lisa K. Stark is running unopposed for a seat on the District 3 Court of Appeals.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Candidates for town, city and school board positions in Iron County include:

Town of Anderson

Patrick Hanson is running unopposed for to be re-elected at town board chairman.

Newcommers Scott Heiden and Rodney Vlach are running for the two board of supervisor seats.

Town of Carey

Town Board Chairman Robert Walesewicz and board of supervisor members Thomas Bainbridge and Diane Schmidtke all running for re-election with no opposition.

Town of Gurney

Town Board Chairman Tom Innes is running unopposed for re-election. Incumbents Rick LaFortune and Kyle Thompson are the only two names on the ballot for the two supervisor seats on the town board.

Hurley School Board

There are two seats up for election on the Hurley School Board. Incumbents Michael Fontecchio and Rick Swartz are the only two names on the ballot for the three-year terms. There are also two individuals — Leslie Kolesar and Andrew “Andy” Laurin — who have filed papers declaring themselves as write-in candidates. Residents of the district can vote for up to two of the four candidates.

Town of Kimball

Town Board Chairman Ron Ahonen is facing a challenge from Joe Simonich for the chairman’s position.

Town Treasurer Pamela Backman is also facing a challenge for her position from Mae Moderson.

Also on the ballot, supervisors Randall Stoltenberg and Carol Decker are the only two people on the ballot running for the two spots; and Clerk Irene Salzmann is running un-opposed for re-election.

Town of Knight

Dan Soine faces to opposition in his re-election bid for the town board chairmanship.

Supervisors Owen Garro and Mary Koski are up for re-election and the only two names on the ballot for the two spots.

Town of Mercer

Besides the tax referendum mentioned above, Town Chair John Sendra is running for re-election against current Board of Supervisor member Jeff Stenberg.

The other supervisor, Tom Thompson Jr., is running for re-election on the board with Eric M. Snow, Christa A. Reinert and Opal Roberts. The top two vote getters will win seats.

Recently appointed town Clerk Amber Thompson hopes to retain the seat, but former Clerk Christan Brandt’s name is the only one the ballot. Brandt had intended to run, but then moved away. That’s when the board appointed Thompson, who now is campaigning as a write-in candidate to keep the clerk’s position.

On the ballot for town treasurer, incumbent Lin Miller faces a challenge from Amber Thompson, who hopes to be elected clerk instead. Thompson took out the papers for the treasurer’s position before she was appointed as clerk.

In the race for a spot on the Mercer Sanitary District Commission, incumbent Michael Vecchione faces opposition for his seat from Brandt, who, again, has moved away.

Mercer School District

Four people are running for two spots on the Mercer School Board, including incumbent Christa Reinert and newcommers Robert Davis, Paul Chaney and James Hannemann. These are three-year terms.

City of Montreal

City Council members Joan Levra, from Ward 1, and Richard Swartz, from Ward 2, face no opposition to retain their seats.

Town of Oma

All of the officials in Oma face no opposition in their bids to retain their seats, including: Town Board Chairman Steven Finco, Supervisors Larry Erickson and Robert Matz, Clerk Denise Schmitz-Enking and Treasurer Linda Kuduk.

Town of Pence

Board Chairman Michael Paternoster faces no opposition to be re-elected.

Supervisor Joe Olson is the only name on the ballot for two spots on the board. County Clerk Mike Saari said, “with the open slot on the ballot” and no one has filing papers to be a write-in candidate, all write-in votes will be considered.

Town of Saxon

Just as in Oma, all the town officials in Saxon face no opposition to be re-elected, including: Board Chairman Andrew Rowe, Supervisors Karl Krall and Kelly Thurow, Clerk Kathryn Brauer and Treasurer Stephanie Lafortune.

Town of Sherman

Board Chairman Gerald Luke has no opposition in his bid for re-election; neither do Clerk Amy J.R. Slone or Treasurer Gerard Murrin.

Gary Kessler and Robert Lepper Sr. are the only two names on the ballot for the two spots on the board of supervisors.