Spring Primary Is One Week Away in Fox Valley

OSHKOSH, WI- (WGBW) – The spring primary is just one week away. Following that, the April 1st ballot will be finalized. Many incumbents are running for reelection unopposed. However, there are a few races where competition will be fierce.

Everyone can vote in the spring primary on February 18th to reduce the field of candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Incumbent Jill Underly faces opposition from Brittney Kinser and Jeff Wright. The primary will reduce the number of candidates to two for the April 1st election.

Winnebago County Executive

There will be a Spring Primary in the race for Winnebago County Executive. Incumbent Jon Doemel seeks his second term. Former State representative Gordon Hintz and Winnebago County Sheriff John Matz are challenging him.

• Jon Doemel (incumbent)
• Gordon Hintz
• John Matz

Appleton Common Council (one seat)

Three newcomers are competing for the seat vacated by Kristin Dassler-Alfheim, who was elected as State Senator in November and did not seek re-election to the council. The top two finishers from the February 18th primary will advance to the April 1 ballot.

• Stuart Brehm
• Adrian Stancil-Martin
• Lesley Vogel

Appleton Area School District (two seats)

Two seats are up for election for the Appleton Area School District. James Bacon is not running for re-election. 

• Pheng Thao (incumbent)
• Oliver Zornow
• Christina Codner

Kaukauna Area School District (three seats)

• Chad Berken (incumbent)
• Christine Bouressa (incumbent)
• Melissa Kurey (incumbent)
• Kimberly Schaefer

Kimberly Area School District (two seats)

Incumbent Penny Hoh is not seeking reelection.

• Debbie Roberts (incumbent)
• David Conrad

Little Chute Area School District (one seat)

Sarah Beahm is not seeking reelection to the school board.

• Patrick Tschimperle
• Betsy Zemlock

Menasha Joint School District (two seats)

• Rob Konitzer (incumbent)
• Carol Sturm (incumbent)
• Nathan Spangenberg

Neenah Common Council District 3 (one seat)

Alderman Lee Hillstrom, who has sat on the Neenah Common Council for 18 years is not running for re-election. 

• Jeff Linski
• Frank Cuthbert

Neenah Joint School District (three seats)

• Lauri Asbury (incumbent)
• Tara Brzezinski (incumbent)
• Eric Frederickson
• Tom Hanby
• Kenneth McNeil

Oshkosh Area School District (Two seats)

Two seats are up for election for the Oshkosh Area School District. Stephanie Carlin is not running for re-election. Molly Smiltneek seeks to be elected to a full term. She has served on the school board in an interim capacity since Liz Szilagyi resigned in June.

• Molly Smiltneek (incumbent)
• Michael Ford 
• Jacob Wolf

Oshkosh Mayor and Common Council (Three Common Council Seats & Mayoral Position)

All three incumbents on the Oshkosh Common Council who are coming to the end of their terms are running for re-election, as is Mayor Matt Mugerauer, who is running for his second term as mayor.

Common Council (Three seats)

• Karl Buelow (incumbent)
• Paul Esslinger (incumbent)
• Joe Stephenson (incumbent)
• Brad Spanbauer

Mayor

• Matt Mugerauer

Referendums

Manitowoc

The Manitowoc School District is asking voters to approve a $25 million dollar referendum to fund building maintenance and upgrades. The referendum will be placed on the April 1 ballot. This would be the first time in 28 years that the Manitowoc School District has held a referendum. Interim Superintendent Lee Thennes said schools built in the 1920s and later need safety improvements, ADA compliance, security systems, repairs, and upgrades. 

Oshkosh

The Oshkosh Area School District is asking voters to approve a $197.8 million referendum to issue debt for the construction of a new middle school, facilities additions and renovations at three elementary schools, conversion of Perry Tipler Middle School to a pre-K center and recreation department, new auditorium for Oshkosh North High, and air conditioning at Emmeline Cook, Lakeside, and Read Elementary schools.

Shiocton

The Shiocton School District will ask voters to weigh in on two capital referendums on the April Ballot. The first is to issue debt of $23.5 million for district-wide school building and facility improvement projects. The second is to issue debt of $9.1 million for the construction of a new gymnasium addition, including storage space, and acquisition of related furnishings, fixtures, and equipment.