Spring 2025 Election in Lincoln County

The Spring Election is this coming Tuesday, April 1, 2025. If you haven’t already voted early, mark your calendar to head to the polls.

Statewide ballot items
The big statewide items on the ballot include the hotly-contested race for Justice of the Supreme Court between candidates Brad Shimel and Susan Crawford and the race for State Superintendent where Brittany Kinser is vying for the position currently held by incumbent Jill Underly. Both moved forward after receiving the highest number of votes in the February primary.
One referendum question will also be on ballots statewide: “Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Voters will weigh in with a Yes or No vote.

School Board and Lincoln County Judge
Locally four candidates are competing for three open positions on the Merrill Area Public Schools Board: Paul Proulx, Jon Smith, Brady Loos, and Jacqueline Gremler [see separate article].
Lincoln County Circuit Court Branch 2 incumbent Judge Robert Russell filed a Notification of Non-Candidacy and is not seeking re-election. While only one name will be on the ballot, Jessica Fehrenbach’s profile is included here so readers can get to know her.

Name: Jessica (Schuster) Fehrenbach
Age: 42

Family: My husband, Travis Fehrenbach, is a teaching assistant at the Nels P. Evjue Merrill School Forest. We have three children together. My parents are Linda and the late Gary Schuster, and my brother is Matt Schuster.
Employment/position: I became an attorney in 2008, and my current employment is as the Local Attorney Manager at the State Public Defender’s Office in Merrill.
Past or present elected offices held, dates served: None.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held, dates served: I am currently on the MAC Homes Board of Directors, the Trinity Early Learning Center Advisory Team, and I am Vice President of the Trinity School PTO. In addition, I volunteer for Backpacks for Kids and Food for Kids.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: The retirement of the Honorable Judge Rob Russell created an opportunity for me to continue my commitment to public service and to the fair administration of justice.

Municipal races
Due to the large number of municipal elections taking place in area townships, most of which are uncontested with incumbents running for another term in office, only candidates who are running in a contested race were sent questionnaires, and those who responded have their responses included in their profiles below.

Town of Russell
In the Town of Russell, three candidates are vying for two open positions on the Town Board of Supervisors. Ivan Dorgan is challenging Marty Sosnovske and Lori Studinski. Voters will vote for two of the three candidates.

Name: Marty B. Sosnovske (no photo)

Age: 57
Family: Wife Mary, son Ben, deceased daughter Aly
Employment/position: Self-employed dairy farmer and logger
Past or present elected offices held, dates served: 3+terms as Town of Russell Supervisor
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held, dates served: Foremost Farms Milk Coop District Delegate 25+ years; Customer 1 Coop Board of Directors 12 years; and Merrill FFA alumni 1986-current.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I think it’s very important to keep a voice for agriculture on the Town Board.

Town of Scott
Likewise, in the Town of Scott, three candidates are vying for two open positions on the Town Board of Supervisors. Jeff Krall is new on the ballot, competing against incumbents Gerald Engel and Ron Lemmer. Voters will vote for two of the three candidates.

Name: Jeffrey Krall (no photo)
Age: 63

Family: Wife Priscilla, dog Andy, cat Imelda; no children
Employment: Disabled/Retired
Past or present elected offices held, dates served: None
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held, dates served: Town of Scott Cemetery Committee volunteer, current President of Devil’s Creek Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club; conservative Christian, follow/attend Mountain Faith Bible Church
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: This will be a very unconventional introduction, but I want to be completely honest. My name is Jeff Krall, and I’m on the ballot for a position of Town Supervisor.
I did not actively seek this position ... I was nominated by one of the current Town officers. I am a concerned citizen who has recently been attending Town of Scott meetings. I sit right up front, take notes and participate when appropriate.
I have been a very involved long-time member of the Devil’s Creek Stump Jumpers Snowmobile Club. If you’ve ever attended one of our Club fundraisers over the years, you have probably met me. I’m very proud of the many things I helped to accomplish in the roughly 20 years of my involvement ... all volunteer. During my time as a Club officer, we purchased and paid for upgraded grooming equipment, acquired land, and built a new heated and insulated groomer shed ... all paid for without borrowing a single dime. I will soon be finishing what I expect may be my final term as President for that wonderful organization. For the last 16 years of my working life, I drove a Redi-mix concrete truck for County Materials. During that time, I sustained a severe back injury that eventually required extensive surgery. That, along with a heart attack and a hip replacement, forced my early retirement a couple years ago. Despite all of that, I try to remain active as possible.
I admire the efforts of our current Town officers and personnel. Much like those good people, I am a person who realizes if somebody doesn’t step up, nothing will get done. That said, I feel there are more capable persons in our Township for this position than myself ... but good help is hard to get. My physical abilities, along with my computer skills, are somewhat limited. My strengths are honesty, integrity, the ability to communicate, and a strong sense of duty. If selected, I’ll strive to quickly find the best way I can serve. If that appeals to you, I may be your man. Regardless, please vote conservative on Tuesday, April 1st.

Town of Schley
In the Town of Schley, two candidates are vying for the position of Town Chairman. Kelly Collins is challenging incumbent Timothy Klimek for the position.

Name: Kelly Collins
Age: 68
Family: Married with two adult children and two grandchildren
Employment/position:
Past or present elected offices held, dates served:
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held, dates served:
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I’ve lived in the Town of Schley for almost 40 years. The Township had been debt free. Today our monthly payments on a new Town Hall are going to total over $400,000 for a building used approximately 15 times a year for meetings that barely last a half hour, and two to four elections a year. Our Board Chairman gets paid $740 a month with a few months over $1,000. There are numerous expenses that could be reduced, and the Township has many expenses to be addressed. I will volunteer my time as a member of the Board if elected and work to pay down this debt.
We need a one-year and five-year plan for the Township to grow effectively. I hope to get more people involved in the management of the Township in the future on a volunteer basis. Public service should mean serving the public rather than benefitting from it. Thanks.

Name: Timothy Klimek
Age: 43
Family: Wife Heather and our five children, Zachary, Katelyn, Trenton, Kayla, and Kimberly.
Employment/position: I am currently employed at the Lincoln County Highway Department and also manage our family farm, where we raise cattle and grow crops.
Past or present elected offices held, dates served: I previously held the position of Supervisor of the Town of Schley from 2021 to 2023. I am currently serving as the Chairman of the Town of Schley for the term 2023-2025.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held, dates served: I am a member of the Gleason Area Lions Club for four years and currently serve as the Vice President, a position I have held since 2023.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I participate in all required training programs, as well as additional training opportunities to enhance my skills. I also attend quarterly unit meetings to gain insights into the initiatives of other townships and to expand my professional network across the state. Having resided in the Town of Schley for the past 25 years, I am motivated to run for the position of Town Chairman because of my commitment to the community and my desire to serve the Township to the best of my ability

Town of Rock Falls
In the Town of Rock Falls, voters will weigh in on two referendum questions specific to their municipality:
“Shall the person holding the office of Town Treasurer in the Town of Rock Falls be appointed by the Town Board?” and “Shall the person holding the office of Town Clerk in the Town of Rock Falls be appointed by the Town Board?” This is a simple Yes or No vote.

City of Tomahawk
Tomahawk residents will also vote on a referendum: “Shall the City of Tomahawk fluoridate the municipal water supply?” And in the City of Tomahawk, Alderpersons for Districts 1, 2, and 3 are on the ballot, all running unopposed.

Additional referendum questions on some Lincoln County ballots
Some Lincoln County voters who live within other school districts will find additional items on their ballots. The School District of Tomahawk and the Prentice School District both have Board elections on the ballot, but all candidates are running unopposed in those races.
Additionally, the School Districts of Rhinelander and Prentice will have referendum questions on their ballots:
• “Shall the School District of Rhinelander, Oneida, Lincoln and Langlade Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $3,000,000 per year for the 2025-2026 school year and the 2026-2027 school year and by $7,000,000 per year for the 2027-2028 school year and the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of ongoing operational expenses?”
• “Shall the School District of Prentice, Price, Oneida and Lincoln Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $950,000 per year for 4 years, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and ending with the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses, including student programming, facility maintenance and staff salaries and benefits?”