Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
Voter numbers soared Tuesday, as nearly 14,000 registered Lincoln County voters made their way to local polling places to weigh in on the 2018 midterm elections. Of 22,441 registered voters county-wide, 13,607 ballots were cast.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Ken Schneider appears to be the victor of the Lincoln County Sheriff race, surpassing write-in opponent Pete Borchardt 8,577-3,614.
As of midnight Tuesday, detailed write-in results had not yet been reported.
Schneider and Borchardt both ran as Republican candidates in the Aug. 14 primary, as current Lincoln County Sheriff Jeff Jaeger had previously announced plans for retirement. Schneider topped Borchardt in that race as well, by 422 votes (2,864-2,422).
Schneider entered Tuesday’s bout with 28 years of experience as an employee of the Sheriff’s Office, and current patrol Lieutenant. Borchardt entered the race as a 20-year employee of the Merrill Police Department, as a patrol officer.
In addition to local races, county voters were asked to weigh in on two advisory referendums regarding gerrymandering and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes,
The gerrymandering referendum read: Should the Wisconsin legislature create a nonpartisan procedure for the preparation of legislative and congressional redistricting plans? Lincoln county voters favored the measure by a considerable margin (7,836-4,157).
In terms of legalizing the use of marijuna for medical purposes; voters were asked: “Should the State of Wisconsin allow individuals with debilitating medical conditions to use and safely access marijuana for medical purposes, if those individuals have a written recommendation from a licensed Wisconsin physician?” Once again, voter approval was definitive; 10,612 voting in favor vs 2,517 opposed.
City of Merrill voters were tasked with an advisory referendum question regarding the “dark store” tax loophole. City voters favored legislation to close the loophole with over 75 percent (2,594) voting yes, to 825 voting no.
Below are other Lincoln County results from Tuesday’s Fall General Election:
Governor/Lieutenant Governor
Walker / Kleefisch (REP) . . . . . 7,846 (58.20%)
Evers / Barnes (DEM). . . . . . . 5,328 (39.52%)
Anderson / Baird (LIB) . . . . . . 98 (.73%)
White / Anderson (WGR) . . . . . . 52 (.39%)
Turnball / Losch (IND) . . . . . . 137 (1.02%)
Enz / No Candidate (IND) . . . . . 13 (10%)
Attorney General
Brad Schimel (REP) . . . . . . . 7,715 (58.63%)
Josh Kaul (DEM) . . . . . . . . 5,177 (39.34%)
Terry Larson (CON) . . . . . . . 261 (1.98%)
Secretary of State
Jay Schroeder (REP) . . . . . . . 7,421 (56.71%)
Doug La Follette (DEM) . . . . . . 5,653 (43.20%)
State Treasurer
Travis Hartwig (REP). . . . . . . 7,111 (54.95%)
Sarah Godlewski (DEM) . . . . . . 5,522 (42.67%)
Andrew Zuelke (CON) . . . . . . . 303 (2.34%)
United States Senator
Leah Vukmir (REP). . . . . . . . 6,887 (51.58%)
Tammy Baldwin (DEM) . . . . . . . 6,449 (48.30%)
Representative in Congress Dist 7
Sean P. Duffy (REP) . . . . . . . 8,686 (64.83%)
Margaret Engebretson (DEM). . . . . 4,572 (34.12%)
Ken Driessen (IND) . . . . . . . 135 (1.01%)
Representative to the Assembly Dist 35
Mary Czaja-Felzkowski (REP) . . . . 7,722 (59.03%)
Mark A. Martello (DEM) . . . . . . 5,352 (40.91%)
The Lincoln County Board of Canvass will convene 9 a.m. Monday morning at the Lincoln County Service Center for official canvassing of ballots.