Upcoming election to feature gubernatorial race, local school referendum questions
by Beth Kraft
Area voters will head to the polls this coming Tuesday, Nov. 4, along with the rest of the state to cast their vote for Wisconsin governor and other statewide positions. Congressional and legislative reps, those running for county positions and referendum requests from two area schools will also appear on election ballots.
Stealing the spotlight leading up to Election Day has been the tight race between incumbent Governor Scott Walker (R) and his top challenger, Mary Burke (D). Walker is seeking a second term as Wisconsin’s governor with running mate and current Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch while Burke is on the ballot with John Lehman.
Two other candidates, Dennis Fehr of the People’s Party and Robert Burke along with running mate Joseph Brost of the Libertarian Party will also appear on the ballot.
Closer to home, the results of next week’s election will affect the financial futures for the Mondovi and Eleva-Strum school districts.
Mondovi Schools voters will be asked to give the district permission to exceed the revenue limit by $300,000 per year for three years beginning with the 2015-16 school year in order to maintain current instructional programs and technology initiatives.
Eleva-Strum district voters will have two questions to respond to. Approval of the first question would give the schools permission to exceed revenue caps by $700,000 for two years beginning in 2015-16 to cover operational expenses. The second question, for advisory purposes only, will collect local voter opinions on creating a one-site K-12 facility at E-S Central versus maintaining and continuing operations at the district’s three current buildings.
Highlighting the Buffalo County election ballot will be the race for Clerk of Circuit Court.
Longtime clerk Roselle M. Urness Schlosser (R-Mondovi) is seeking re-election over challengers Denise Hofer (D-Cochrane) and Miranda Sie Schultz (I-Mondovi).
Also up for re-election are current Buffalo County Sheriff Michael Schmidtknecht and Coroner Peter A. Samb. Both will run unopposed.
Other contested races in the local region include congressional and legislative ballot items.
Republican Tony Kurtz of Prairie du Chien will challenge Democratic incumbent Ron Kind of La Crosse for U.S. congressional rep, District 3, a position Kind has held for 18 years.
At the state level, Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) will look to defend her seat in the 31st District against Republican challenger Mel Pittman of Plum City.
Incumbent State Assembly rep Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) is also seeking re-election in District 92 against challenger Isaac Weix (R-Elmwood).
In the 93rd Assembly District, incumbent Warren Petryk (R-Eleva) will seek another four-year term with competition from challenger and former Wisconsin State Assembly member Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire).
Rounding out the statewide elections, voters will select a new Attorney General, State Treasurer and cast their ballots for Secretary of State.
Both the Attorney General and State Treasurer’s races are wide open, as incumbents J.B. Van Hollen and Kurt Schuller declined to run for another term in their respective positions.
Candidates for Attorney General are Susan V. Happ (D-Jefferson), Waukesha County resident Brad Schimel (R), and Thomas A Nelson, Sr. (L).
Running for State Treasurer are David L. Sartori (D-Cudahy), Matt Adamczyk (R-Wauwatosa), Constitution Party rep Andrew Zuelke, Green Party rep Ron Hardy, and Jerry Shidell of the Libertarian Party.
Incumbent Doug La Follette (D) will look to maintain his standing as Secretary of State against challengers Julian Bradley (R-La Crosse), Jerry Broitzman (C) and Andy Craig (L).
One final ballot item will ask voters to approve the creation of a transportation fund as part of a state referendum question.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, it should be noted that the state’s voter photo ID regulations will not be in effect for this election. The law was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 9.
