A new mayor, and empty ward seat. Such are among the takeaways from the April 2 spring primary, which saw Ward 3 Alderman Mike Henke succeed Al Haas as mayor. Henke received 110 votes for mayor to 93 write-ins, with other names for mayor including Kevin Hendrickson (36 votes), Jody Halterman (16 votes), and Mark Fitzsimmons (10 votes).
“Mike Henke had 4 write-in votes and there were 2 additional scattered write-ins,” city administrator clerk/treasurer Nicole Pilgrim said. “But due to him also winning mayor, he has declined the 3rd ward and we will be posting it for candidates.”
Henke previously served as mayor from 2012 -2017, thus joining Harold Gregorson, L.I. Roe, L.G. Chapman and W. F. Crane in serving non-consecutive terms at the city’s helm.
As to voter turnout, Pilgrim said it was “more” than usual for a spring election, with 506 of 1,130 registered voters exercising their franchise. With technology increasingly a part of the election scene, Pilgrim said there were no computer issues.
Apart from technology, Pilgrim said more election poll workers are needed. Those interested in serving as Stanley election poll workers can email Pilgrim at pilgrim@ci.stanley.wi.gov, MyVote WI also having information on becoming a poll worker. As to vote returns apart from mayor, Ward 1 and 8 Alderperson Mark Fitzsimmons (incumbent) received 35 votes to nine write-ins. Ward 2 alderman Josh Seidl (incumbent) received eight votes to two write-ins to secure reelection, while in Wards 4-7 & 9 Aaron Dickson received 11 votes to three write-ins, another two votes for Dickson coming from Ward 4 in Clark County.
Ward 8 from Clark County had no voters.
As to Boyd, Clerk Sandi Isaacs said that 188 of 299 registered voters or 62.8 percent chose to come and vote at the village hall, a number she said was “probably a little more” than usual for spring. As a comparison, Isaacs said that voter turnout had been 200 with last year referendum on the village mill rate.
For Boyd trustee, meanwhile, incumbent Casey B. Dorn received 138 votes while Joshua Walters (running for Dale Isaacs open seat) received 96 votes, with 10 write-ins.
As for school board, Chad Verbeten (Area 1) and Ryan Lewallen (Area 4) both secured reelection, with Verbeten receiving 1,215 votes across the district as a whole, alongside 15 write-ins. Lewallen received 1,232 votes, with 17 write-ins.
In Chippewa County Board races, District 6 including West Delmar and Colburn will be represented by Timothy Goettl, receiving 639 votes to 265 for Lisa Marie Westman, with four write-ins.
For District 8 comprising most of Stanley its James Ericksen receiving 375 votes to just two write-ins. For District 10 it’s Matthew Peterson, receiving 575 votes to zero write-ins.
District 10 includes Delmar east of 320th Street, as well as Edson, and Boyd, and Wards 6 and 9 of Stanley.
For District 11 (Lafayette Sigel, Cadott) its Karen Lotts, receiving 715 votes to 11 write-ins.
Last but not least, Circuit Court Branch 1 Judge Steven Gibbs received 11,549 votes to 83 write-ins. Full results are posted at the Chippewa County website.
