La Crosse to have mayoral primary on February 18

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – La Crosse’s mayoral race will have enough candidates for a primary again this time around, although it will have fewer candidates than the crowded field that ran in 2021.

Four candidates – Christine Kahlow, Vicki Markussen, Ellie McLoone, and Shaundel Washington-Spivey – have filed the necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot this spring.

Current mayor Mitch Reynolds filed a notification of noncandidacy on Dec. 23.

Markussen lost to Reynolds in the 2021 election by just 205 votes. Kahlow, McLoone, and Washington-Spivey were not among the 10-candidate field in the 2021 primary.

The mayoral race is happening against the backdrop of a proposed ordinance to create a city administrator position. That position would split the duties currently held by the mayor’s office. The salary range proposed for the administrative spot is just under $200,000.

Reynolds supports the measure.

A primary will also be held for the City Council’s District 7 seat held by Mac Kiel. He’s being challenged by Gary Padesky and John Reiman.

All Wisconsin voters will take part in a primary for state superintendent, which has three candidates.

Several other La Crosse-area seats will be contested this April without a primary, including five of the eight City Council seats up for election, one Onalaska Aldersperson seat, and Branch 1 for La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge.

To learn more about the election process, to see the paperwork and candidates for state or circuit court offices, or to consider a registered write-in campaign, you can visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission website. To see your voting ward and municipality, as well as voter registration status, polling location, and more election information, you can visit MyVote Wisconsin.

Registered write-in candidates need to file by March 28 at noon, per the Wisconsin Elections Commission.