The following candidates for the Portage County Board of Supervisors have filed candidate questionnaires with the County Clerk's office within the last week.
Tony Patton, District 8
Tony Patton, District 8, has announced his re-election bid for the Portage County Board of Supervisors.
Patton, 39, has served on the County Board since 2001. He is the general manager of Shoney's Restaurant.
He is a member of or has served on the Telecommunications Board, Portage County and South Central library committees, Health and Human Services Board, Food Safety Committee, Portage Economic Development Committee and the Stevens Point Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Sports Committee.
Patton is a 1983 graduate of Pacelli High School and past president of the Lions Club. He lists no political party affiliation.
He and his wife, Carleen, live at 3917 Jordan Lane, Stevens Point, and have two children. He has lived in the district for 14 years.
O. Philip Idsvoog, District 16
O. Philip Idsvoog, District 16 supervisor and County Board chairman, has announced his re-election bid.
Idsvoog, 57, has served on the County Board since 1982, including as chairman from 1988 to 1990 and as first vice chairman from 1994 until the death of County Board Chairman Clarence Hintz in 2003. Idsvoog is principal of P.J. Jacobs Junior High School.
"Counties in Wisconsin are having to increase spending and services because they are required by the state to provide more services that are not funded by the state," Idsvoog said. "The Portage County Board will have to face the difficult choice of raising taxes or cutting programs. I believe I have the experience and resolve to make tough decisions, be an advocate for critical need services and help develop and pass fiscally responsible budgets."
Idsvoog earned a bachelor's of science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1968, a master's of arts in history degree from UW-River Falls in 1974, a specialists degree in educational administration from UW-Madison in 1986 and a doctorate in educational administration from UW-Madison in 1990. He was a village of Plover trustee from 1974 to 1982 and a member of the Plover Police and Fire Commission from 1996 to 2002.
"I very much support maintaining a strong committee system of government at the county level," Idsvoog said. "I will also be an advocate for developing an open working relationship with the Portage County Business Council for the purpose of stimulating future economic growth."
Idsvoog is a member of the Association of Wisconsin School Administration and Elks Lodge 641. He is a Democrat.
He and his wife, Elaine, live at 3541 Evergreen Court, Plover, and have three children. He has lived in the district for 32 years.
Charles Gussel, District 18
Charles Gussel has announced his bid for the District 18 supervisor's seat.
Gussel, 60, is self-employed as the operator of Modern Cabinet.
He has served as a town of Grant Zoning Administrator since 1980, a town Zoning Committee member and a town Smart Growth representative.
Gussell is a graduate of Lincoln High School. He lists no political party affiliation.
He and his wife, Trish, live at 9021 Lake Road, Wisconsin Rapids. He has lived in the district for 60 years.
Mary Kiedrowski, District 18
Mary Kiedrowski has announced her bid for the District 18 supervisor's seat.
"The office I'm running for will give me a chance to give support to county and local town planning," said Kiedrowski. "Since I do attend meetings and try to learn in other ways, I've decided to offer my service to government in our County Board. I want to keep the citizens up to date on what is acted upon by the county."
Kiedrowski, 68, is a graduate of Messmer High School. She lists no political party affiliation.
"Having known (incumbent District 18 Supervisor) Mel Steinke while he was supervisor, it now seems urgent that he have a continuation of his dedication to the job," Kiedrowski said. "Knowledge of the County Board's work is also familiar to me, from my husband (the late Anthony Kiedrowski) when he served on it. Since he died, Mel was in that job.
The supervisor position requires a lot of time, besides the meetings. I'm able to give of my time to serve the local people. I guess government by the people and for the people would apply here."
Kiedrowski is a widow and lives at 9251 Evergreen Ave., town of Grant. She has lived in the district for more than 30 years.
Doug Radtke, District 19
Doug Radtke, a town of Belmont supervisor, has announced his bid for the District 19 supervisor's seat on the Portage County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent District 19 Supervisor John Rendall earlier announced he will seek re-election.
Radtke, 65, is a retired University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP) chemistry professor, who now raises beef cattle on an 80-acre farm in the town of Belmont.
"After retiring in 1995, I taught part time at the university in the spring semester for five years while dedicating the summers and falls to learning how to farm," Radtke said. "After election to the Belmont Town Board in 1999, I was part of getting a new town hall built in Belmont, getting the town to join Portage County zoning and getting curbside garbage pickup in our town beginning in January of 2003."
Radtke is 1956 graduate of Little Wolf High School in Manawa. He earned a bachelor's of science degree in chemistry and mathematics from UW-SP in 1961 and a doctorate in physical chemistry from UW-Madison in 1966.
"Over the last three years, I have become more interested in and involved with the county governance," Radtke said. "I have attended Solid Waste Management Board meetings regularly for over a year, have attended several recent County Board meetings and have become interested in county budget and personnel issues."
While at UW-SP, Radtke served as assistant to the vice chancellor for academic affairs and coordinator of the North Central Accreditation Review from 1976 to 1978, chairman of the Faculty Senate from 1979 to 1981 and assistant to the vice chancellor for academic affairs from 1981 to 1987, holding the title of associate vice chancellor for personnel and budget. He also served as acting vice chancellor for several months in 1984.
Radtke is a past member of the Stevens Point Kiwanis and its board of directors and was a member of the Intergovernmental Steering Committee for the Portage County Board of Supervisors. He lists no political party affiliation.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1958, achieving the rank of airman second class.
Radtke and his wife, Marcy, live at 8675 16th Road, Almond, and have six children. He has lived in the district for 11 years.
Ronald J. Borski, District 22
Ronald J. Borski, District 22, has announced his re-election bid for the Portage County Board of Supervisors.
Borski, 63, has served on the County Board since 1996. He is retired, having served as a Portage County Sheriff's Department deputy from 1972 to 1993 and sheriff from 1993 to 1995.
He is a 1958 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School and a 1968 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, with a bachelor's of science degree in math and physics. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963, achieving the rank of corporal.
Borski is a member of the Lions Club and Marine Corps League.
He and his wife, Germaine, live at 8366 Highway B, town of Stockton, and have five children. He has lived in the district for 38 years.
Jeanne Dodge, District 24
Jeanne Dodge, District 24, has announced her re-election bid for the Portage County Board of Supervisors.
Dodge, 61, has represented District 24 since 2002 following a redistricting of County Board districts. She represented District 22 from 1990 to 1996.
"I currently serve as chair of the Portage County Solid Waste Board," Dodge said. "Initially I was appointed as a citizen in 1979 and bring over 20 years of knowledge to solid waste issues. My experience will be important as we move toward closure of the county landfill in the town of Stockton."
She serves on the Health and Human Services Board and associated committees.
"The budget process, with elimination of 4.5 fulltime positions, was very difficult this year," she said. "It will be a great challenge to deal with future budget cuts and still maintain the services county residents need.
"As a member of the Space and Properties Committee, I pushed for a study of future space needs for county offices and personnel. I believe a systematic review and prioritization of space needs are necessary before investing tax dollars in any building project. We must also look at alternatives to building, such as flex time work from home and programs other than incarceration."
Dodge is a 1960 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School, a 1964 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a bachelor's of science degree and a 1995 graduate of the Portage County Leadership Institute.
"I believe citizens and town and county officials must work together to influence change at the state level of government," Dodge said. "State legislators need to amend the Smart Growth Law to clarify and revise provisions to address concerns raised throughout the state and, in particular, the rural areas of Portage County. Planning for the future is a good thing and county staff is competent and professional. We elected officials are responsible for making changes to the law."
Dodge served on the Stockton Town Board from 1996 to 2003. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Custer and a member and past president of the St. Mary Altar Society.
She and her husband, Jim, live at 1714 Highway K, town of Stockton, and have two children. She is a lifelong resident of the area.
Gerry Steltenpohl, District 25
Gerry Steltenpohl has announced his bid for the District 25 seat and will face incumbent Jerry Borski in the April election.
Steltenpohl, 49, is a delivery driver for United Parcel Service.
"As a native of central Wisconsin and a resident of Stevens Point since 1980, I've witnessed both good and bad decision making in Portage County," Steltenpohl said. "During this time the county also experienced economic expansion and redevelopment - not all positive."
Steltenpohl graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1986 with a bachelor's of science degree. He served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1977 as a sergeant, including duty from 1975 to 1977 as a member of the 3rd Infantry Regiment "Old Guard" official ceremonial unit and escort to the president. From 1977 to 1983, he served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard as a staff sergeant in an air defense unit.
"I feel the time has come to bring fresh voices to our county government and re-examine the direction we're headed as the county's economic base continues to grow and we tackle the problems associated with growth," Steltenpohl said.
Steltenpohl is past president of the Stevens Point Jaycees and a union steward for Teamsters Local 344. He is co-spokesperson for the Portage County Greens.
He and his wife, Chaz, live at 660 Fox Ridge Road, town of Hull, and have two children. He has lived in the district for 18 years.
Robert Brilowski, District 26
Robert Brilowski, District 26, has announced his re-election bid for the Portage County Board of Supervisors.
Brilowski, 79, has served on the County Board since 1994. He is a retired farmer.
He is a member of St. Stanislaus Church, Elks Lodge 641, Moose Lodge 1572, Knights of Columbus 1170 and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau. He lists no political party affiliation.
He has served on the Hull Town Board since 1969.
Brilowski, a widower, lives at 899 N. Brilowski Road, town of Hull, and has three children. He has lived in the district for 77 years.
Greg Chelcun, District 29
Greg Chelcun has announced his bid for the District 29 supervisor's seat. Chelcun will face incumbent Supervisor Wally Zywicki in the April election.
Chelcun, 53, is a teacher in the Stevens Point Area Public School District.
He is a founder and past president of the Stevens Point Area Education Association Foundation; past teachers union president, chief negotiator and national assembly delegate; and past board of director's member of the Community Child Care Center, Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater, Point Dance Ensemble and Children's Museum.
Chelcun attended the University of Illinois-Urbana from 1968 to 1973, earning bachelor's of arts and master's of education degrees. He has participated in the Community Foundation of Portage County fund-raiser play for five years and is treasurer of the Stevens Point Area Education Association. He lists no political party affiliation.
He and his wife, Cindy, live at 3157 North Shore Drive, town of Linwood, and have two children. He has lived in the district for 24 years.
District 2 Supervisor Jesse Higgins and District 4 Supervisor Kevin Ruehl have not filed candidate questionnaires with the County Clerk's office. Challengers Philip Peterson, District 2, Douglas Stingle, District 9, and Chris Pehoski, District 24, also have not filed candidate questionnaires.
Candidate questionnaires for the following candidates appeared in previous editions of The Gazette:
Bob Woehr, District 1; Bill Zimdars, District 3; Marion "Bud" Flood and Ann M. Kulinski, District 5; Richard Purcell, District 6; James E. Clark, District 7; Eugene R. Symkowiak and David A. Medin, District 9; Dwight Stevens, District 10; William H. Peterson, District 12; Donald J. Jankowski, District 13; James Gifford, District 14; Douglas J. Warner, District 15; Robert J. Steinke, District 17; John O. Rendall, District 19; Lonnie Krogwold, District 20; Harvey Olson, District 21; James Zdroik, District 23; Jerry Borski, District 25; James F. Krems, District 27; Leif Erickson, District 28; and Wally Zywicki, District 29.