by Joseph Back

The days of spirited party sentiment in the ward system of Stanley may be long gone (along with make or break organizational endorsements), but the reasons for which governments are instituted among humans continue, established as such to be “of, by, and for the people” per the Gettysburg Address, given in the midst of civil war and uncertainty some 157 years ago. In order for things to remain “of, by, and for” you and me locally though, there need to be citizens willing to serve in each generation— which brings us to the here and now.

“I haven’t seen anybody and there’s no documentation that anybody has,” City of Stanley Assistant Clerk Holly Hatlstad said in relation to filing for the spring election this upcoming April when reached last week.

With four seats (Laurie Foster; Kent Barby; Jacob Huff; and Rick Hodowanic) up for re-election. Foster said she was running while Huff and Hodowanic said they weren’t sure while Barby did not respond to phone messages in time for the story deadline Sunday.

Barby and first ward alderman Duane Booth both filed non-candidacy in the last election cycle back in 2019, with Booth going on to receive thirteen write-in votes to eighteen scattering and Barby receiving two of three write-ins. Both returned to the Common Council, with Booth later resigning to be replaced by Hodowanic. Barby is still a member, representing the Second Ward. As to local townships in Eastern Chippewa County and just beyond, the candidates are yet to be chosen via caucus, as follows: If you live in the town of Colburn, your caucus is scheduled for Tuesday January 5, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at the Colburn Town Hall. The entire board together with the “constable” (grader operator), and interested parties can find out more by calling town clerk Kathy Yeager at 715-703-9075, as listed on the town website.

If Delmar is the place you call home (all country residences located between Highway X and 130th Avenue if traveling south to north to south, with the eastern border aligning in a straight line to 370th Street and the western border roughly adhering to the Yellow River except for the northwest comer of Delmar)—that is to say, if Delmar is the place you happen to call ‘home,’ the caucus date had not been decided as of last weekend per town clerk Julie Krcma-Peterson. Delmar is set to decide its caucus date at the next regular monthly meeting.

For those readers residing in the Town of Edson, meanwhile, your caucus is scheduled for January 11 at 8:00 p.m., at the town hall located south of Boyd after turn left off D onto MM.

Shifting down to Taft, the caucus for Spring ballot nominations is scheduled for January 19, 2021 at the town hall, on the corner of Meridian Drive and County F. The caucus will start “immediately following the regular meeting which starts at 7:00 p.m.,” according to town clerk Lori Czubakowski.

For Town of Thorp residents, meanwhile, clerk Arlene Kodl said that Supervisor Jack Leja had signed a non-candidacy form, meaning that at least one spot could be open for interested parties, such races often being uncontested. Town board nominations for Thorp can be made at the caucus to be held Saturday January 9 at 1 p.m. at the town hall, located on Count Road X where Koser Avenue intersects with it.

If you live to the south and west in Wilson on the edge of Eau Claire County, your caucus will be held on January 21 at 7:00 p.m., at the town hall just west of the intersection of County Trunk G with MM. Cross a bridge, and you’ve gone too far. Back to the town hall across from the Boondocks Bar.

FinallyforWordenresidents,thelocalnominating caucus will be held Saturday January 16 at 1 p.m., in the town hall on Koser Avenue at Eddy Road.