Few contested town board races in the Lakeland area

All town boards in Oneida and Vilas counties covered regularly by The Lakeland Times have seats up for election in 2021. 

Of those, only a handful are contested. 

Minocqua has four seats up for election, those of town chairman, two town supervisors and town clerk. 

Town clerk Roben Haggart said she is unopposed in the April 6 election, as are town chairman Mark Hartzheim and town supervisors John Thompson and Sue Heil. 

Minocqua Brewery Company owner Kirk Bangstad had papers out to run for town supervisor, but Haggart said late Tuesday just before the filing deadline of 5 p.m. Bangstad failed to provide the necessary complete nomination papers. 

Bangstad needed 20 signatures of people verified as Minocqua residents. 

Haggart said there were six sheets with “a couple signatures on each one.”

“I counted 24, but five of them are disqualified because the paperwork is not filled out that they’re signed on,” she said. “He’s technically got 19.”

In Woodruff, town chairman Mike Timmons and town supervisor Corky Sheppard are running unopposed. 

Another town supervisor, Judy Allen, has until today to file her non-candidacy papers. 

Town clerk Julie Huotari, running unopposed in the spring election, said Missy Bucklew filed for Allen’s supervisor seat and will be unopposed.

The same is the case in Lake Tomahawk for town supervisor Larry Hoffman who, from what Lake Tomahawk town clerk Sharon Lintereur told The Lakeland Times, never filed any papers for the election and if someone wishes to run for town board, they have until the end of the business day today, Jan. 8.  

Otherwise, both Woodruff and Lake Tomahawk have incumbents running unopposed. 

In the town of Hazelhurst, town chairman Ted Cushing and his wife, Betty, the town clerk, are running unopposed for what Ted Cushing has told The Times will be the final time. Also unopposed are town supervisors Harland Lee and Gilbert Ketner. 

There will be a contest, however, for town treasurer; incumbent Carla Murdoss will face Cierra Tullberg in the April election. 

Vilas County contested races are in Arbor Vitae, where incumbent town supervisors Jeff Hunter and Ashley Roach will face challenger Lawrence Haling, who ran for town supervisor last year. 

Running unopposed are town chairman Frank Bauers and town clerk Mary Reuland. 

In Winchester, incumbent town chairman Joe Discianno, town clerk Joan Wainio and town treasurer are all unopposed. 

However, the two incumbent town supervisors, Sulo Wainio and Galen Brownewell, are being challenged by John Grimmer and Jeff Whitney. 

There will be three candidates on the ballot for the two town supervisor seats on the Lac du Flambeau town board; incumbents Gloria Cobb and Chris Mayer will be challenged by former town supervisor Bob Hansen. 

The two incumbent town supervisors in Manitowish Waters, Mike Kramer and Bob Becker, will be running against Lynn Schroeder. 

In Presque Isle, town chairman Marshall Reckard will face off against John McClane. 

Brian Jopek may be reached via email at [email protected].