Underly, Gill Jr. win; no changes to city council; school board seat filled by write-in
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
WISCONSIN – Voters in the Badger State decided races at the state and local levels after casting their ballots in the April 6, 2021 Spring Election.
Lincoln County saw a sharp decline in voter turnout compared to last fall’s General Election. 5,151 of the county’s 22,441 registered voters (22.95) cast ballots on April 6. On Nov. 3, 2020, 16,573 voters (73.85%) cast ballots.
The results below are preliminary, with local data coming from the Lincoln County Clerk’s office.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
In the only contested statewide race, Jill Underly defeated Deborah Kerr to become the Wisconsin’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction. Underly received 526,286 votes (57.66%), while Kerr garnered 386,392 (42.34%).
The race was much tighter in Lincoln County, where 2,464 people (50.74%) voted for Underly and 2,380 (49.01%) voted for Kerr.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Judge Gregory B. Gill Jr. will serve on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals for District III after tallying 123,468 votes (55.21%). His opponent, Rick Cveykus, received 100,168 votes (44.79%).
Lincoln County’s percentages were somewhat similar to those statewide, with 2,669 voters (59.21%) casting ballots for Gill and 1,830 people (40.59%) voting for Cveykus.
City of Tomahawk Common Council
There were no competitive races for the City of Tomahawk Common Council.
District 1 alderperson Ed Nystrom (Wards 1-2), District 2 alderperson Will Garske (Wards 3-4), and District 3 alderperson Michael Loka (Wards 5-6) will return to the council after running for their respective seats unopposed.
School District of Tomahawk Board of Education
Two incumbents will return to the School District of Tomahawk’s Board of Education, and a third seat was filled by write-in.
Deb Velleux ran unopposed to represent the City of Tomahawk on the board.
The other City of Tomahawk seat, previously held by Cathy Schmit, was filled by write-in. Two write-in candidates, Tricia Hoffman and Shar Kirsch, were registered. Kirsch emerged victorious, garnering 330 votes. Hoffman tallied 235.
Cherie Hafeman did not face an opponent for the seat representing the Townships of Bradley, Birch, Skanawan, Tomahawk, and Rock Falls.
Town of Russell
In one of only three contested township races in Lincoln County, Marty Sosnovske (62 votes) and David Heller (61) defeated Nathan Roggenbuck (56) to fill the Town of Russell’s two open Supervisor posts.
Town of Skanawan
Michael J. Lucas (80 votes) and Walter H. Horabik (71) were the top two vote-getters in the Town of Skanawan’s Supervisor race, defeating John S. Lazarz (64).
Town of Wilson
The Town of Wilson will see Allen Russ (61 votes) and Dan Sennett (51) fill its two open Supervisor positions. Russ and Sennett defeated Timmothy D. Ketcham, who garnered 46 votes.
Referendums
For coverage of the School District of Tomahawk’s referendum, visit https://tomahawkleader.wpengine.com/2021/04/09/staffing-cuts-larger-class-sizes-on-horizon-after-referendums-defeat-reynolds-says/.
For coverage of Lincoln County’s referendum, visit https://tomahawkleader.wpengine.com/2021/04/09/preliminary-results-lincoln-road-maintenance-referendum-rejected/.