OSHKOSH, WI – (WISS & WGBW) – While the presidential primary held no drama, as President Biden and former President Donald Trump each easily took their respective primaries in Wisconsin, there were several races of local interest throughout Northeast Wisconsin.
One of the more interesting races was the contest for Mayor of Menasha. Austin Hammond defeated Rebecca Nichols by only 102 votes. Hammond will replace Incumbent Don Merkes, Menasha’s mayor of 16 years. Merkes chose not to run for re-election. At 26 years old, Hammond will be the youngest person to serve as Menasha Mayor.
Other mayoral races saw Steve Jungwirth keep his seat as Omro Mayor with 68 percent of the vote.
Several school referenda in the area were approved during the April 2nd election. However, voters denied the Shawano School District a 54.5 million dollar referendum for facility improvements, renovations, and additions to schools across the district. The referendum failed by a margin of only 75 votes.
The 15 million dollar referendum for the Seymour School District passed by an even more narrow margin. There were 32 more yes votes than nos for the operational referendum to cover operational and maintenance expenses for the district.
Freedom School District referendum to for 62.5 million dollars for building and facility improvement projects at the Middle High school passes with 60.9 percent of the voters saying yes.
The De Pere School District referendum to exceed the revenue limit by 4.75 million dollars passes with 57% of the vote.
Luxemburg Casco School district requested to exceed the revenue limit by 1.8 million dollars for three years for operational expenses. That referendum passed with 51 percent of the vote.
The winners of their respective races are listed below:
State of Wisconsin Use of Private Funds in Election Administration: Question 1
“Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of Article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?
State of Wisconsin Election Officials Referendum: Question 2
Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of Article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?
3 seats, 3-year terms
3-year term; Wards 7 & 8
2-year term
4-year term
3 seats
Referendum Question
Question 1: “Shall the person holding the office of Treasurer in the Town of Nepeuskun be appointed by the Town Board?”
Referendum Questions
Question 1: “Shall the person holding the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Utica be appointed by the Town Board?”
Question 2: “Shall the person holding the office of Town Treasurer in the Town of Utica be appointed by the Town Board?”
Shall the Unified School District of De Pere, Brown County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,750,000 per year for five years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses?”
APPROVED
Shall the Freedom Area School District, Outagamie County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $62,500,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of: construction of additions and/or renovations at the Middle-High School, including for technical education, music education, classrooms/labs, safety improvements, a cafeteria/kitchen and a fitness center; construction of a greenhouse for agriculture education; district-wide capital maintenance and site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?
APPROVED
Shall the Luxemburg-Casco School District, Kewaunee and Brown Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,800,000 per year for three years, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year and ending with the 2026-2027 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational expenses including staff wages and benefits and maintaining literacy, reading, and college and technical career programming?”
APPROVED
Shall the Seymour Community School District, Outagamie and Shawano Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $3,800,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, by $5,200,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, and by $6,000,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including expenses related to staffing and to maintain programs and services?
APPROVED
Shall the Shawano School District, Shawano County, Wisconsin be authorized tissue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $54,500,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school facility improvement project consisting of: renovations, additions, building infrastructure and systems improvements at Shawano Community High School, including for classrooms, technical education, fitness, performing arts, the outdoor athletic facility, and swimming pool; building infrastructure, systems, and ADA accessibility improvements at Olga Brener Intermediate School; renovations and building infrastructure improvements at the Hillcrest Primary School Building, including for classrooms and early childhood education space, capital maintenance improvements at Shawano Community Middles Chool; districtwide site improvements; and districtwide acquisition of furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.
FAILED
