Election results are in for the election Tuesday, April 7 for city, village, county, school board, and judge posts. With most races uncontested, turnout was lower.
“For the election there was probably a little low,” Boyd clerk Sandi Isaacs said of the turnout of 93 voters.
As for Stanley, Deputy Clerk Maggie Wurst said there were 325 voters.
“There were 325 voters,” she said for the April 7 election. Other clerks gave similar reports, with Thorp turnout estimated at 40 percent of registered city voters, or 385. Thorp saw one of the few contested races in the area with Richard “Bubba” Wnek winning reelection over Jonathan Dircks by a vote of 211-165.
As for statewide contested races, Chris Taylor defeated Maria Lazar for the state Supreme Court, with Taylor polling 537,240 votes statewide to 350,771 for Lazar. The race between Taylor and Lazar was closer locally, with Lazar receiving 6,869 votes from Chippewa County voters compared to 7,658 votes for Taylor, with 14 write-ins.
In Clark County, meanwhile, Lazar polled 3,465 votes to 2,688 for Taylor, while Eau Claire County returns saw 8,886 votes for Lazar to 18,891 for Taylor. Ballot returns from Taylor County saw 2,819 votes for Lazar to 1,710 for Taylor.
Also in judgeships, Ben Lane won the race for Chippewa Circuit Court Branch 3, polling 11,196 votes to 73 write-ins. District 4 Appeals Court Judge Rachel Graham received 4,769 votes from Clark County, there being no challenger.

City and village results
As for the city of Stanley, Ben Wald has secured election as mayor, polling 270 votes to 11 write-ins.
Morgan Marek received five votes out of seven write-ins for Ward 2, while Ward 3 Alderperson Therese Metzger polled 54 votes to three write-ins. Wards 4 to 7 and 9 Alderperson Aaron Dickson polled 46 votes to one write-in.
Newly elected Mayor Wald shared thoughts after the vote tally.
“I’d first and foremost like to thank and congratulate Maggie Wurst, Donella Christianson, the poll workers and everyone else who helped with the election,” he said. “Given some of the staffing changes in the city, this election was somewhat challenging, but they persevered and ran a safe, secure and successful election. The city is fortunate to have such a dedicated and professional group working our elections.
“I’d also like to congratulate the incumbents who were re-elected and welcome new council member-elect Morgan Marek.  
“As for being elected Mayor, it’s a massive responsibility and I’m grateful that voters trusted me with that responsibility. My focus for this term is going to be on better communication with the public, fiscal responsibility, responsible growth, strategic planning and wrapping up current projects including the D.R. Moon Library, Maple St, 345th Ave, Well 3, Well 11 and the new Central Water Treatment Plant. I look forward to the challenges and opportunities that are before us.”
Returning to election results, returns at Boyd saw Josh Walters win reelection as a village trustee, polling 64 votes, while Eric Pilgrim received 27 write-ins, becoming the second Boyd trustee. Registered write-in Samuel Sikora polled seven votes after registering just before the election.
Regarding Pilgrim, he is a self-described 53-year old roofing estimator and lifelong village resident seeking to be more involved and help the village where he can.
As for Thorp, incumbent Richard “Bubba” Wnek polled 211 votes to 165 for challenger Jonathan Dircks. The race saw Dircks take Ward 1 with 55 votes to 45 for Wnek, win Ward 2 with 45 votes to 44 for Wnek. Wnek won Wards 3 and 4, with Ward 3 results showing 69 votes for Wnek to 46 for Dircks and Ward 4 returns showing 53 votes for Wnek to 19 for Dircks.
As for council races at Thorp, Michael Einhorn received 82 votes to four write-ins, while Stanley Lawcewicz polled 81 votes to one write-in. Both races were uncontested.
Dircks shared a statement on the mayor’s race after results.
“It was a great experience and I’m thankful I made the decision to run,” he said. “Thorp is an amazing community with amazing people. We have so much potential.
“The desire for progress and change is great, my hope is that Bubba and the city council will take the time to consider things that were brought up during this campaign. As a community, we don’t need to waste money, we need to make smart decisions and smart investments in our people, and in local businesses.
“We must not forget anyone in the city. Including giving our senior citizens a sense of belonging, and we must also open up avenues for our youth to thrive!
“Lastly, it should be noted that our current Mayor, the council, citizens, and anyone I spoke to NEVER flung mud or spoke in a disrespectful way. So although national politics might be a bit nasty these days, Thorp should be proud of the way they handle themselves.
“I will be, and I encourage our citizens, to pray for our community and our leaders. May God bless Thorp.”
Wnek also shared a statement after returns were in.
“I would like to thank everyone who voted for me!” he said. “It was a challenging campaign! Please contact me with your questions or concerns, I am here to serve you! Thorp ‘A Place to Belong!’”
Returning to results, vote returns at Gilman for the three open trustee seats saw Dee Bornheimer with 98 votes, Cheryl Rosemeyer with 107 votes, and write-in Derrick Romig with 33 votes, there being zero write-ins.

School board results
Shifting to the Stanley-Boyd School Board, all incumbents won reelection, with Area 2 member Denise Hoffstatter polling 711 votes, Area 3 member Bob Geist receiving 712 votes, and Toni Seidl polling 706 votes.
As for returns from the Owen-Withee School Board race, they show Ellen Petersen with 501 votes and Dean Schmelzer with 495 votes across the district.
Results for Thorp school board, results show Jeannette Kodl with 582 votes and Amy Penterman with 578 votes across the district, there being zero write-ins.
Gilman school board meanwhile saw Valorie Kulesa, Lauren Zach, and Derrick Romig elected to school board, Kulesa polling 744 votes, Zach polling 725 votes, and Romig polling 662 votes across the district.
Also at Gilman, the district saw narrow passage of a school operational referendum, with 456 voting in favor and 450 against. The referendum allows the district to exceed the state revenue limit by $700,000 to meet educational and co-curricular program costs as well as those of services across the district.
Closing with Greenwood school board, returns show Eliza Ruzic in Area 2 with 520 votes, with Bradley Rowe polling 368 votes for an at large school board seat. Dean Volvosek polled 468 votes for an at large seat, all three getting on school board.

County Board results
As for County board results, there are as follows.
In Chippewa County, District 2 ballot returns saw Pam Guthman poll 770 votes to 21 write-ins, District 2 representing Ruby, Lake Holcombe, Cornell, and part of Estella. Chippewa County District 6 saw Timothy Goettl poll 611 votes to zero write-ins, with District 6 composed of Colburn, Goetz, Arthur, and parts of Delmar and Estella. Chippewa County District 8 representing the City of Stanley saw James Ericksen poll 267 votes to two write-ins. In Chippewa County District 10, meanwhile Matthew Peterson polled 279 votes to one write-in. Chippewa County District 10 is located in Delmar, Boyd, and Edson.
As for Clark County, election returns for District 6 saw Joe Waichulis Jr. poll 94 votes with two write-ins.
District 7 returns saw Jill Hoff receive 225 votes with 3 write ins, while in District 8 Arlene Kodl polled 191 votes, with one write in. Scott Jalling polled 185 votes with two write-ins for District 11, while Roy Tyznik received 97 votes in District 12. Returns for District 13 saw Al Bower receive 150 votes, with no write-ins.
In relevant Eau Claire County Board races, District 1 representative Caleb Aichele polled 721 votes, with 12 write-ins. District 1 represents Wilson, Ludington, Bridge Creek, and Fairchild.
Finally in Taylor County board races, Lynnette Rosemeyer polled 300 votes in District 15 to zero write-ins while District 16 representative Darrell Thompson polled 269 votes, also with zero write-ins.
District 15 represents Aurora and Ford, while District 16 represents Taft, Roosevelt, and Maplehurst.