A race f or president of the village of Plover tops the contests in Portage County in the April election.
The deadline for filing nomination papers in many communities in the county was Tuesday, while other communities will hold caucuses in the next several weeks to select candidates for local offices.
In Plover, incumbent Village President Ken Shibilski is being challenged by 3rd Ward Trustee Gary Krause. Candidates are still being sought for another 3rd Ward trustee position. Incumbent Steven Eckels did not file nomination or noncandidacy papers, so the deadline for nomination papers was extended to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5. In the 2nd Ward, Tom Davis is challenging incumbent Orville Damrau. In the 1st Ward, incumbent Fred LaRosa is the lone candidate.
Stevens Point will have four races for aldermanic positions.
In the 1st Ward, incumbent Bernice E. Sevenich is being challenged by Kim L. Krayecki.
In the 3rd Ward, incumbent Perry J. Pazdernik faces a challenge by Matt Filipiak.
Incumbent John Kedrowski is not seeking re-election in the 5th Ward. Rhody R. Mallick and David Sowieja are seeking the position. Mallick is manager of Rhody's, 2301 Church St. He graduated from Pacelli High School, attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972. He served as commander of AMVETS Post 1051 and was president of the Portage County Tavern League for three years, helping to initiate the Home Free Program.
Incumbent Neal Nealis is facing a challenge from two persons in the 9th Ward, Jim Maas, 701 Franklin St., and Fred E. Hopfensperger, 1924 W. River Drive.
Maas pledges to work to preserve quality services to city residents while keeping city tax rates low, preserving and improving the quality of life offered by the Stevens Point parks, managed growth which maintains water quality and protecting city residents by refocusing law enforcement on real crime.
He said he intends to work with city staff and the other alderpersons to address the 9th Ward residents concerns about heavy traffic in residential areas and quality city services to the people living on the west side of the river.
Maas, 57, has worked as a media specialist in the UW-SP library for 20 years. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from UW-SP and a master's degree in audiovisual communications from UW-Stout. He has two sons, Nathan and Kyle, who are graduates of Stevens Point Area Senior High School.
His community and service activities include past-commander of AMVETS Post 1051, legislative chairman of Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars District 7, member of Stevens Point Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship, Elks Lodge 641, Point Boat Club, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 584, and past-chair of the Media & Technology Section of the Wisconsin Library Association.
Two incumbent aldermen are unopposed, Elbert J. Rackow in the 7th Ward and Jerry R. Moore in the 11th Ward.
Incumbent city officials are also unopposed: John J. Schlice for comptroller-treasurer, Victoria L. Zdroik for city clerk and Louis J. Molepske for city attorney.
In the town of Hull, the incumbents are seeking re-election without challenges. They are Town Chairman John Holdridge, Supervisors Robert Brilowski and Jack Elsinger, Clerk Janet Wolle and Treasurer Darlene Kropidlowski.
Incumbents in the village of Junction City are also seeking re-election without competition. They are Village President James Winch, Trustees Conrad Mallek and Bert Martens, Clerk Betty Bruski Mallek and Treasurer Nancy Steuck.
Other municipal contests were unavailable.
The town of Stockton will hold its town caucus at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, to nominate candidates for town offices in the April 3 election.
Nominations will be taken for town treasurer, town clerk, town chairman and two town supervisors.
Anyone interested in running for a town position or nominating someone for a position, should attend the caucus. Any questions about the information, can be directed to Town Clerk Sharon Reichert at 592-4712.