News - pcgazette.com

News

Voters head to the polls on Tuesday

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Portage County voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with only a few local contests to decide.

The lone race for county office is for county clerk, where Republican Hans Walther is challenging incumbent Roger Wrycza. Walther is a Stevens Point alderman and former Portage County Board supervisor. Wrycza has been county clerk since 1979. The position is for a two-year term.

Running unopposed for the other county offices are the incumbents, Treasurer Alice Dorshak, Sheriff Stan Potocki, Coroner Scott Rifleman, Circuit Court Clerk Bernadette Flatoff, District Attorney Thomas Eagon, Register of Deeds Cynthia Wisinski and Surveyor Joseph Glodowski.
Election results will be posted on the Portage County Gazette Web site at www.pcgazette.com and the Portage County Web site at www.co.portage.wi.us.

The only other county issue on the ballot is an advisory referendum, asking voters if they support legislation to reform the state campaign finance system to limit campaign spending, require stricter contribution limits and require full and prompt disclosure of election-related activities.

The town of Belmont has the only other local item on the ballot, a referendum on whether the town should come under county zoning. Belmont is one of the last towns in the county that isn't under the county zoning ordinance.

The four Assembly districts in the county have contests.

In the 36th District, incumbent Lorraine M. Seratti, R-Florence, faces a challenge from Democrat Ginger Jazdzewski, Crandon. Seratti has been elected to the Assembly since 1992. Jazdzewski is the Crandon city attorney.

The 36th District includes the town of Alban and the village of Rosholt in Portage County. The district stretches from Alban up to the Michigan border and includes portions of Waupaca, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Forest and Florence counties.

In the 70th, Republican Mary Ann Lippert, Pittsville, and Democrat Amy Vruwink, town of Sherry (Wood County), are running to succeed state Rep. Donald Hasenohrl, D-Pittsville, who is retiring. Lippert is a supervisor in the town of Wood in Wood County, and Vruwink worked in U.S. Rep. Dave Obey's Wausau office.

The 70th District includes the towns of Carson, Dewey, Eau Pleine, Linwood and Sharon, wards 1-7 in the town of Hull, ward 4 in the town of Plover, the village of Junction City and the portion of the village of Milladore in the county. Most of the area in the district is in Wood County.

In the 71st District, incumbent Julie Lassa, D-Plover, faces a challenge from Republican Leo Harris, town of Pine Grove. Lassa is completing her first term in the Assembly, while Harris, 54, has served on the Tri-County School Board for 18 years, including 10 years as president. Harris is a certified water specialist for Maher Water Corp.

The 71st District includes the towns of Almond, Amherst, Belmont, Buena Vista, Lanark, New Hope, Pine Grove and Stockton, ward 3 in the town of Grant, ward 8 in the town of Hull, wards 1-3 in the town of Plover, the villages of Almond, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Nelsonville, Park Ridge, Plover and Whiting, and the city of Stevens Point, plus the towns of Oasis, Plainfield and Rose and the village of Plainfield in Waushara County.

In the 72nd, incumbent state Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, faces a challenge from Republican Todd Huebler, Wisconsin Rapids. Schneider has been elected to the Assembly since 1970.

The 72nd district includes wards 1 and 2 in the town of Grant, with the remainder of the area in Adams and Wood counties.

In the state Senate, District 24 includes all of Portage County except the section in Assembly District 36 and incumbent Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, is unopposed for re-election.

In Senate District 12, which includes Assembly District 36, incumbent Roger Breske, D-Eland, faces a challenge by John Bailey, Gleason, of the Libertarian Party. Breske has served in the Senate since 1990.

In addition to contests for president and the U.S. Senate, the state has a referendum question, asking voters to decide whether to extend the right to vote in federal elections in the state to adult children of U.S. citizens who resided in the state prior to establishing residency abroad.

That means the children, who are U.S. citizens because their parents are, even if they were born abroad and had never been in Wisconsin, could vote in a federal election in Wisconsin.

The state Legislature approved the proposal during the last session but it needs approval from the electorate in a referendum.



	Voters head to the polls on Tuesday By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Portage County voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, with only a few local contests to decide. The lone race for county office is for county clerk, where Republican Hans Walther is challenging incumbent Roger Wrycza. Walther is a Stevens Point alderman and former Portage County Board supervisor. Wrycza has been county clerk since 1979. The position is for a two-year term. Running unopposed for the other county offices are the incumbents, Treasurer Alice Dorshak, Sheriff Stan Potocki, Coroner Scott Rifleman, Circuit Court Clerk Bernadette Flatoff, District Attorney Thomas Eagon, Register of Deeds Cynthia Wisinski and Surveyor Joseph Glodowski. Election results will be posted on the Portage County Gazette Web site at www.pcgazette.com and the Portage County Web site at www.co.portage.wi.us. The only other county issue on the ballot is an advisory referendum, asking voters if they support legislation to reform the state campaign finance system to limit campaign spending, require stricter contribution limits and require full and prompt disclosure of election-related activities. The town of Belmont has the only other local item on the ballot, a referendum on whether the town should come under county zoning. Belmont is one of the last towns in the county that isn't under the county zoning ordinance. The four Assembly districts in the county have contests. In the 36th District, incumbent Lorraine M. Seratti, R-Florence, faces a challenge from Democrat Ginger Jazdzewski, Crandon. Seratti has been elected to the Assembly since 1992. Jazdzewski is the Crandon city attorney. The 36th District includes the town of Alban and the village of Rosholt in Portage County. The district stretches from Alban up to the Michigan border and includes portions of Waupaca, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Forest and Florence counties. In the 70th, Republican Mary Ann Lippert, Pittsville, and Democrat Amy Vruwink, town of Sherry (Wood County), are running to succeed state Rep. Donald Hasenohrl, D-Pittsville, who is retiring. Lippert is a supervisor in the town of Wood in Wood County, and Vruwink worked in U.S. Rep. Dave Obey's Wausau office. The 70th District includes the towns of Carson, Dewey, Eau Pleine, Linwood and Sharon, wards 1-7 in the town of Hull, ward 4 in the town of Plover, the village of Junction City and the portion of the village of Milladore in the county. Most of the area in the district is in Wood County. In the 71st District, incumbent Julie Lassa, D-Plover, faces a challenge from Republican Leo Harris, town of Pine Grove. Lassa is completing her first term in the Assembly, while Harris, 54, has served on the Tri-County School Board for 18 years, including 10 years as president. Harris is a certified water specialist for Maher Water Corp. The 71st District includes the towns of Almond, Amherst, Belmont, Buena Vista, Lanark, New Hope, Pine Grove and Stockton, ward 3 in the town of Grant, ward 8 in the town of Hull, wards 1-3 in the town of Plover, the villages of Almond, Amherst, Amherst Junction, Nelsonville, Park Ridge, Plover and Whiting, and the city of Stevens Point, plus the towns of Oasis, Plainfield and Rose and the village of Plainfield in Waushara County. In the 72nd, incumbent state Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, faces a challenge from Republican Todd Huebler, Wisconsin Rapids. Schneider has been elected to the Assembly since 1970. The 72nd district includes wards 1 and 2 in the town of Grant, with the remainder of the area in Adams and Wood counties. In the state Senate, District 24 includes all of Portage County except the section in Assembly District 36 and incumbent Kevin Shibilski, D-Stevens Point, is unopposed for re-election. In Senate District 12, which includes Assembly District 36, incumbent Roger Breske, D-Eland, faces a challenge by John Bailey, Gleason, of the Libertarian Party. Breske has served in the Senate since 1990. In addition to contests for president and the U.S. Senate, the state has a referendum question, asking voters to decide whether to extend the right to vote in federal elections in the state to adult children of U.S. citizens who resided in the state prior to establishing residency abroad. That means the children, who are U.S. citizens because their parents are, even if they were born abroad and had never been in Wisconsin, could vote in a federal election in Wisconsin. The state Legislature approved the proposal during the last session but it needs approval from the electorate in a referendum.