Candidates begin campaigns for County Board of Supervisors The following persons have announced their candidacy for the Portage County Board of Supervisors: District 6 Incumbent Richard M. Purcell has announced his re-election bid. Purcell, 63, has served on the County Board for 28 years. He and his wife, Barbara, live at 2925 Indiana Ave. and have four children. He retired from Sentry Insurance and has lived in the district for 30 years. He currently serves as chairman of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Highway, Public Safety/Emergency Management, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Business Council committees and as a liaison to the Emergency Medical Service Committee. He is vice chairman of the Justice Committee. Purcell is a 1954 graduate of Edgewood High School, Madison, and a 1960 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1958 as a corporal at Camp Pendelton, Calif. He is a member of the Elks Club and St. Stephen Catholic Church. He lists no political party affiliation. In his own words: "I have served on the board for 28 years," Purcell said. "Major assignments have included vice chairman of the County Board, committee chair positions of Health and Human Services, Judicial/General Government and Planning/Zoning committees. Also, in the past, have served on almost all county committees. Major topics that must be addressed in the near future are jail expansion, waste disposal, Business Park occupancy and highway corridor issues. My hope is to see that these issues are addressed with the taxpayers' interest and concerns given full and complete consideration." District 9 Incumbent Gene Szymkowiak has announced his re-election bid. Szymkowiak, 51, has served on the County Board since 1980. He has four children and lives at 872 Oak Ridge Lane. He has lived in the district for 23 years. He is the deputy chief for Emergency Medical Services at the Stevens Point Fire Department. He is chairman of the Judicial/General Government and Legislative committees and a member and past chairman of the Space and Properties Committee. He is a 1966 graduate of Pacelli High School and a 1994 graduate of Lakeland College. Szymkowiak has served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard since 1967. He now holds the rank of first sergeant. He is a member of the Elks Club, Polish Legion of American Veterans and AMVETS. He is a Democrat. In his own words: "I hope to continue serving on a board that has been providing quality services to its residents and keeping our tax rate considerably lower than the state average. We have a lot to be proud of in Portage County. The Business Park is a feather in our hat. We have excellent recreational facilities. The county has done an outstanding job of maintaining its facilities. I feel the board as a whole is responsive to the needs and wishes of its residents. I will continue to focus on senior citizen issues and provide quality services and facilities for them. We have completed some major road projects and built a County Annex, while staying within budget. As I travel to other counties and compare them to Portage, we can feel very proud." District 13 Incumbent Donald Jankowski has announced his re-election bid. Jankowski, 52, has served on the County Board since 1995. He and his wife, Betty, live at 2500 Butternut Drive. He has lived in the district for 28 years. He works as a safety consultant for Sentry Insurance. He is a Pacelli High School graduate and has an associate's degree in loss control management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Jankowski was appointed to the County Board in May 1995, and re-elected twice. He also served as chairman of the Plover Police and Fire Commission for five years. He lists no political affiliation. In his own words: "I have served on the Personnel Committee, Ethic Committee, Space and Properties, Jail Study Committee, General/Judicial Committee, Risk Management Committee, Americans with Disability Committee. There are several major issues coming before the board in the next two years. I hope to be able to serve another term and see these issues addressed, keeping the citizens of Portage County in mind we make the final decision. We need to look for the best solution in keeping the tax implication in control." District 18 Incumbent Melvin Steinke has announced his re-election bid. Steinke, 61, has served on the County Board since 1996 and from 1978 to 1982. He and his wife, Kelley, live at 10951 Grant St., town of Grant, and have four children. He has lived in the district all his life. He is a 1956 graduate of Lincoln High School, Wisconsin Rapids. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve from October 1955 to January 1998 as a private E-2. Steinke was the town of Grant clerk from 1969 to 1977, town chairman from 1977 to 1983 and 1991-1997. He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Kellner, and the Grand Rapids Lions Club. He currently serves as chairman of the Commission on Aging and on the Planning and Zoning and Land Records committees. He lists no political affiliation. District 19 Incumbent John O. Rendall has announced his re-election bid. Rendall, 44, has served on the County Board for two terms. He and his wife, Sue Marie, live at 10097 Fifth St., Almond, and have two children. He works part time as a mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office. He has lived in the district for 44 years. He is a 1973 graduate of Almond High School. He served on the Almond School Board from 1992 to 1996. He lists no political affiliation. District 20 Incumbent Lonnie Krogwold has announced his re-election bid. Krogwold, 55, has served on the County Board for two terms. He and his wife, Jo, live at 4997 Highway A, Amherst, and have two children. He is the owner of Potato Plant Inc. He has lived in the district all his life. He is a 1962 graduate of Amherst High School and a 1966 graduate of Northland College. He is a member of Peace Lutheran Church and the Tomorrow River Lions Club. He is treasurer of the Portage County Fair Association. Krogwold serves on the Finance, Land Conservation, Jail Study, Business Park and Land Records committees. He is chairman of the Agriculture and Extension Education Committee. He is a member of the Wisconsin Counties Association Agriculture Advisory Committee. He lists no political affiliation. District 21 Incumbent Harvey Olson has announced his re-election bid. Olson, 60, has served on the County Board since 1996. He and his wife, Sonja, live at 101 Highway 10, Amherst, and have two children. He has lived in the district for 40 years. He is the owner of OK Realty and OK Hardware and Rental. He attended Northland Grade School, Iola Grade and High School, graduating in 1957. He served as a private in the Army Reserve. Olson served on Amherst Village Board from 1968 to 1970 and the Amherst Village Plan Commission since 1991. He is member and past president of Peace Lutheran Church and Tomorrow River Lions Club, past secretary and treasurer of the Portage County Fair Association, a retired member of the Amherst Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Tomorrow River Conservation Department, Amherst Area Business Association, National and Wisconsin Realtors Associations, Central Wisconsin Board of Realtors, Stevens Point Area Multiple Listing Service, Mid-West Hardware Association, board of directors and secretary of The International Bank of Amherst. In his own words: "I am presently serving as secretary of the Portage County Public Safety/Emergency Management Committee. The duties are supervising the activities of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, jail, juvenile detention and all areas related to public safety, including the office of Emergency Management. This committee also has the responsibility of working together under Portage County's contract to provide the best paramedic and ambulance service to Portage County. I also serve on the Judicial/General Government Committee, which supervises the activities of all the Portage County government offices. I serve on the Portage County Business Council, which has seen excellent growth in the Portage County Business Park and excellent opportunities for employees in Portage County. I have had the opportunity of working with the Portage County Health and Human Services Board presently on the Portage County Foster Care Program. There has been and is an increasing need for additional foster care homes for adults and juveniles in Portage County." District 29 Incumbent Clarence S. Hintz has announced his re-election bid. Hintz, 75, has served on the County Board since 1986 and also served on the board from 1975 to 1975. He and his wife, Ardene, live at 2253 Highway P, town of Linwood. He has lived in the district for 68 years. He retired from Consolidated Papers. He is a 1944 graduate of P.J. Jacobs High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946 as a corporal in the 6th Armored Division. Hintz served as a town of Linwood supervisor from 1966 to 1968 and as the town chairman from 1968 to 1994. He is a member of the Wisconsin River Lions Club, Elks Club, Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 568, Polish Legion of American Veterans Post 185 and Pacelli Cardinal Club. He lists no political affiliation. In his own words: "I have represented District 29 as its County Board supervisor for 16 years. For the past 10 years, I have served as chairperson of the County Board. My wife, Ardene, and I are longtime residents of the town of Linwood. I have worked hard to ensure the development of the Portage County Business Park. With this industrial venue now a reality, many businesses have shown strong interest in locating in the park. Attracting new business to the area will provide a continued strong economy for the county for years to come. Selection of suitable tenants, providing good quality jobs continue to be important steps in this process. The county 911 system has been enhanced. Emergency personnel are able to better locate and respond to situations. I have enjoyed representing District 29 as your County Board supervisor. I have always brought my best abilities to the job. I will continue to work hard in your best interest if re-elected."