Voter turnout in Lincoln County was about 27 percent Tuesday as a new circuit court judge and Merrill school board members were elected.
In the race for Lincoln County Branch II Circuit Court Judge, Merrill attorney Rob Russell narrowly defeated appointed incumbent John Yackel. Russell received 3,084 votes to Yackel’s 2,911.
Three new faces were elected to the Merrill Area Public Schools Board of Education as incumbents Lin Kautza and Chuck Bolder were defeated by challengers John Shull, Jeff Verdoorn and Norbert “Nubs” Ashbeck. Incumbent Meredith Prebeg did not seek re-election. Shull was the top vote-getter with 2,198 votes, followed by Ashbeck (2,081) and Verdoorn (2,061). Unsuccessful candidates were Linda Yingling (1,951), Bolder (1,606) and Kautza (1,378).
Along with the races for Merrill School Board and Lincoln County Judge, many townships also had contested races for their local boards.
Town of Birch
All incumbent town board members were re-elected without opposition, including: Chair Dave Fox, Supervisors Debra Gano and Terry Lokemoen, Clerk Cynthia Lokemoen and Treasurer Marlene Fox.
Town of Bradley
All incumbent town board members were re-elected without opposition, including: Chair Kevin Koth, Supervisor Joan Hilgendorf, Treasurer Phyllis Evans and Constable Terry Hagar.
Town of Corning
Incumbent Town Chairman John Kudick defeated challenger Brad Kanitz by a 156-38 vote. All other town board members were unopposed in their bids for re-election, including: Supervisors Darwin Berndt and Fritz Hilfiker, Clerk Rick Hass and Treasurer Richard Berndt.
Town of Harding
Incumbent Town Chair Lori Schilz did not seek re-election. Ronald Hornischer was elected to the open seat. For the town’s two supervisor seats, incumbents Donald Graap Sr. and John Tomajcik Sr. fended off challenger Geraldine Fox. Incumbent Clerk Kristy Ament and Treasurer Tim R. Sandholm were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Harrison
For the town’s two supervisor seats, challenger Lawrence Schoone was the top vote-getter with 118. The second seat would go to either incumbent Paul Schoone or challenger Charles R. Phelps, who tied with 106 votes each. Challenger Laurie Groskopf finished out of the running with 77 votes. Incumbent supervisor Steve Schoone did not seek re-election. Incumbent Clerk Lora Walters did not seek re-election and Kathy Voermans was elected without opposition for the open position. Incumbent Treasurer Barbara Dunst also did not seek re-election; challengers Matt Doyle and Sheila Pudelko ran for the position with Doyle coming out on top, 117-109.
Town of King
Incumbent Town Chair Bob Steigerwaldt was re-elected over challenger Dennis J. Day, 153-85. One candidate, Jon Nieman, was on the ballot for the two town supervisor seats. Nieman received 168 votes and there were 79 write-in votes from which to select the second supervisor. Incumbents, Clerk Andrea Michaud and Treasurer Julie Allen, were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Merrill
Incumbent town chair William Burgener did not seek re-election. Current supervisor Michael Matushak was elected without opposition to replace Burgener. Matushak’s supervisor seat will go to Kortney Pike, who was elected along with incumbent Supervisor Larry Simon over challenger Larry Wenning. Constable Mark Handlin was re-elected without opposition.
Town of Pine River
Town chair Bill Zeitz was re-elected without opposition. Incumbent Supervisors David Breunig and Larry Langbecker were re-elected over challenger Kraig Jaeger. Incumbents, Clerk Amy Duley, Treasurer Donna Opper and Constable Phil Sadowski, were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Rock Falls
All Rock Falls incumbents were unopposed for re-election, including Chair Rudolph Burgener, Supervisors Graham Rankin and George Amelse, Clerk Judith Buch and Treasurer Cindy Puhl.
Town of Russell
Town Chair Norman Hodgson was unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Supervisor Larry Steinfest did not seek re-election. Incumbent Supervisor Robert Kressel was re-elected, along with David Heller who will replace Steinfest on the town board. Incumbents, Clerk Linda Dorgan and Treasurer Susan Fisher, were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Schley
Incumbent town Chair Rick Dorn was unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Supervisors Bonita Pruesser and Gerald Plamann were re-elected over challenger Kelly Collins. Incumbents, Clerk Diana Petruzates and Treasurer Susan Podeweltz, were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Scott
Incumbent town Chair Michael Woller was unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Supervisors Gerald Schmidt and Charles Reinhardt were re-elected over challenger Terry Gaeu. Incumbents, Clerk Debbie Raymer and Treasurer Ann Krueger, were unopposed for re-election.
Town of Skanawan
Incumbent town Chair Karen Olson did not seek re-election, with Benjamin Mehring winning the seat over fellow challenger Beth Schwartz. Incumbent supervisors Michael Sievert and Michael Lucas were re-elected without opposition. Incumbent Clerk Betty Lucas did not seek re-election, with Donna Stenberg elected to replace her. Treasurer Jean Zoellner was unopposed for re-election.
Town of Somo
There were no candidates on the ballot for town chair, with 36 write-in votes recorded. Incumbents re-elected without opposition were Supervisors Steven Isaacson and Larry Coulthurst, Clerk Heather Marheine and Treasurer Jody Isaacson.
Town of Tomahawk
Incumbent Clerk Louis Israel did not seek re-election, with Jesse Hoffman elected to replace him. Incumbents unopposed for re-election were Chair Gary Jaecks, Supervisors Dona Jahn and Richard Guerts, and Treasurer Violet Herman.
Town of Wilson
Incumbent Chair Fran Pflum was unopposed for re-election. Incumbent Supervisors Phil Rausch and Adam Felser retained their positions over challenger Keith Miller. Incumbents, Clerk Mary Baltich and Treasurer Dorothy Rausch, were unopposed for re-election.
City of Tomahawk
Incumbent Mike Loka defeated challenger Clarann Stocker for a District 1 aldermanic post. Jeff Kahle (District 2) and Jim Graeber (District 3) were unopposed for re-election.