Spring election: Election profiles

The Spring Election will take place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Supreme Court race
On the Spring Election ballot, two candidates are vying for the single position available as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Chris Taylor and Maria S. Lazar are both in the running. While our newspaper does not include candidate profiles for races that are not local, voters should be aware that this is a key race on the April 7 ballot.

City of Merrill - Uncontested races
In the city of Merrill, the race for City Clerk is an uncontested race, with incumbent Lori Anderson-Malm the only candidate on the ballot. As such, we did not ask her to complete a candidate profile questionnaire for publication.

Likewise, the races for Alderperson of all Districts within the city are all uncontested. In Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8, incumbents Andrew Caylor, Michael “Gus” Caylor, Nathan Meyer, LaDonna Fermanich, Mark Weix Jr., and Rebecca Rutkowski, respectively, are the only candidates running for those offices. In Districts 5 and 6, there is only one candidate running for Alderperson in each District, so those races are also uncontested; however, the candidates have never held office before, so we asked them to complete candidate profile questionnaires so their future constituents can get to know them a bit better. Jewell Holdorf is running unopposed for the position of Alderperson of District 5, and Derrick Sukow is running unopposed for the position of Alderperson of District 6.

Full name: Jewell Ann Holdorf
Age: 28
Family: Husband - Landis Holdorf; children - Landis, Florence, and Clara.
Employment/position: Homemaker.

Past or present elected offices held: None.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations: Member of Zion Lutheran Church.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I chose to run for the District 5 Alderperson position because I know how important it is to be involved with our local government. I grew up in Merrill, met my husband in middle school, and we’re raising our children here. Merrill holds a special place in my heart. I want to see our town thrive, and I believe one of the most effective ways to do that is through getting involved at the local level. I will deliver to the residents of District 5 efficient, responsive, and effective core municipal services.

Full name: Derrick Lance Sukow
Age: 56

Family: Married, 5 children, 8 grandchildren.
Employment/position: Manager of Pyro City Merrill (formerly Fireworks Depot) for 20+ years.
Past or present elected offices held: --
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations: --
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: As a member of our community for over 20 years, my hope and goals are to become a strong advocate not only for District 6, but also for the City of Merrill. I look forward to helping advance our community in its safety and stability. District 6 has recently seen a lot of growth. I want to become a reliable spokesperson as we continue to grow. I believe I have the ability to help with questions and concerns as they arise in our community.

City of Merrill - Race for Mayor
The race for Merrill Mayor is a contested race between incumbent and current Mayor Steve Hass, challenger and former Mayor Derek Woellner, and Bob Lass, who is challenging both as a registered write-in candidate.

Full name: Steve J. Hass (Incumbent)
Age: 56
Family: Wife - Lisa, son - Andrew.

Employment/position: Salesman at Miller Furniture for 34 years; Mayor, City of Merrill for 4 years.
Past or present elected offices held: In 2004, I was elected to the City Council and served until 2014. During this time, I served on many City committees. From 2008-2014, I was elected by my fellow Council members to be the City Council President. In 2018, after Alderperson Lokemoen resigned, I was appointed to be the 2nd District Alderperson by the Council and re-elected in 2020. In 2022, I was honored to be elected as Mayor.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held: I am a lifelong member of St. Francis Church and previously served on the St. Francis Cemetery Committee. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for both the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation and the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce, and I also serve as an ex officio member of the Merrill Area Development Corporation.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: As a lifelong resident of Merrill, I’m proud to call this community home. I live here with my wife and our son. For the past 34 years, I’ve worked at Miller Furniture, where I’ve built strong connections and a real understanding of the people who make Merrill what it is.
I’m running for re-election because I believe Merrill is on the right track, and I want to keep that momentum going. Over the past few years, we’ve seen real growth in housing, with 47 new homes, 7 duplexes, and multiple apartment buildings taking shape across the city. Projects like The River apartments and new developments near the hospital and Riverbend Trail are helping meet demand and keep our community moving forward.
We’ve also brought new energy to our community spaces. The fairgrounds have become more active than ever, hosting events like ATV races, flea markets, and Food Truck-a-Palooza. With the addition of a new campground and upgraded facilities, we’re making Merrill a more welcoming place for visitors and residents alike.
Local businesses continue to grow and invest here. Companies like Lincoln Windows and Zastrow the Beer Man have expanded, and new businesses like A&W, Louis Alberto’s Taco Shop, and Emerald Boba Café have opened their doors. We’re also looking ahead to more additions, including Dunkin’ and Ace Hardware. That growth is proof that our community is moving in the right direction.
A big part of our progress comes from working together. We’ve partnered with groups like the Boys & Girls Club, the Bierman Foundation, and local organizations such as the Rotary, Lions, and Optimist Clubs to support programs that benefit our families and kids. We’ve also worked with the Merrill High School Fab Lab on projects that bring creativity and pride into our city.
As Mayor, I’ve focused on leading with respect, common sense, and accountability. I believe in being accessible with set office hours, an open door policy, listening to residents, and making sure City Hall works for the people. Strong communication and teamwork have been key priorities for me.
Looking ahead, we need to keep growing while staying responsible with taxpayer dollars. That means smart planning, careful spending, and making decisions that set Merrill up for long-term success.
Merrill is making real progress, and I’m ready to keep doing the work. I’d appreciate your support and your vote on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

Full name: Derek Woellner (Challenger)
Age: 33
Family: Irrelevant.
Employment/position: Harley-Davidson/Production Technician.

Past or present elected offices held: Merrill Mayor, 2018-2022.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held: Merrill Disc Golf.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I’m running for mayor to lower taxes, to build housing, and to make more things to do in Merrill.
Lower Taxes - We can’t afford rising grocery prices, gas prices, and city taxes. Something has to give. The current Mayor’s last budget raised taxes 5.3%. To ease the burden, I will cut taxes 5% in my first year.
I will cut taxes three ways, starting with the Mayor’s salary. The current Mayor doubled his own salary; I will cut it back in half. It’s a small gesture, but I felt it was wrong that he doubled his own pay while making cuts to the Police and Fire Departments. I will not reduce staffing; we have good workers and too much to do. The second way will be by looking for efficiencies. For example, I saved a ton of money long-term by automating our garbage trucks. The big blue bins we put out on the curb are my weekly reminder that we can find new ways to run the City more efficiently. The third way is by easing up on how aggressively we’re paying off debt. During my term, we lowered our debt by $1.5 million. We did that by aggressively making payments. Given the times we’re in, I want to reassess how aggressive we need to be. People can’t afford groceries; now isn’t the time for the City to be raising taxes just to pay the bank more quickly.
Build Housing - The average number of new houses built per year in the eight years before me was less than two. The average in my four years was seven. I more than tripled it. I was proud of our momentum, and the current Mayor killed it.
A previous Foto News article gave credit to my opponent for projects that my administration created. I bought the land, I made the deals with the developers, the construction just wasn’t completed until after I left office. This is why the Foto News only referenced projects built in 2022 and 2023. My administration paved new streets and built entire neighborhoods. It takes a year or two to do that. The paper didn’t include anything from 2024 or 2025 because the current Mayor hasn’t matched my success. He lost our momentum, and I want it back.
Make More to Do - Merrill has so much potential, with one major problem — there’s not much to do. It’s the number one complaint I hear, especially from young people. I want to create more things for us to do.
It’s still my dream to make Merrill the Disc Golf Capital. Courses are low cost and draw a lot of visitors. I want to find the grant money that will allow us to build the skatepark we designed. I want a curling facility. I want an indoor rodeo arena. I have a long list of projects, and I want to get all the low-cost ones built and find ways to fund the ambitious ones.

Full name: Robert W. Lass (Write-In Challenger)
Age: --
Family: Wife - Wendy, children - Eric, Michael, and Krista.
Employment/position: Employment-Retired Navy; Small Business Owner of Jokin’ Joes Bait & Tackle and Kozy Corner Kitchen.
Past or present elected offices held: Merrill 5th Ward Alderperson, 2024.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held: Lifetime member VFW, member Lions Club, member Disabled American Veterans, member AMVets, member American Legion, and lifelong Lutheran church member.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: Smaller government, i.e., no Administrator and part-time Building Inspector. Transparency - “No secrets” in government. Add many part-time positions with benefits, to replace current full-time positions. Suspend five full-time positions until we see growth and tax reduction. Pursue re-evaluations of all property values. I will be available every day, not just Fridays. Small business recruitment will be my #1 priority. Update “all” City ordinances. Will advocate for “no fees” on permits. Write-In
“Lass” for Mayor.

Most candidates running unopposed
In the vast majority of races on Lincoln County voters’ ballots, most candidates are running for offices unopposed.
Both the Tomahawk School District and Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) will elect members to their respective Boards of Education.
For the Tomahawk School District, only certain apportioned areas will have a candidate on their ballots, and those candidates are running unopposed.
For the MAPS Board of Education, three positions are vacant, but only two candidates are in the running. Voters will see incumbents Norbert “Nubs” Ashbeck and Kevin J. Blake on their ballots, with each running for another term on the Board. Voters will be asked to vote for three, but only two candidates are listed.
Thomas Hayden is the lone candidate running for the position of Multi-Jurisdictional Judge, so he was not asked to complete a candidate profile questionnaire for publication.
Throughout Lincoln County, candidates are running for the positions of County Supervisor for their Districts; however, in most Districts, those candidates are running unopposed and almost all of those candidates are either incumbents or previous County Supervisors. William R. Bialecki is running unopposed in District 1, Elizabeth McCrank is running unopposed in District 3, Andrew Zelinski is running unopposed in District 5, Norbert Ashbeck is running unopposed in District 6, Donald Dunphy is running unopposed in District 7, Laurie J. Thiel is running unopposed in District 8, Don Friske is running unopposed in District 9, Randal John Detert is running unopposed in District 11, Julie DePasse is running unopposed in District 12, Marguerite Lyskawa is running unopposed in District 14, Marty R. Lemke is running unopposed in District 15, Dana Miller is running unopposed in District 16, Andrew Tomaszewski is running unopposed in District 18, Joseph Dorava is running unopposed in District 19, Angela Cummings is running unopposed in District 20, Eugene Simon is running unopposed in District 21, and Greg Hartwig is running unopposed in District 22.
In County Board District 4, Scott Pergolski will be the only candidate on the ballot, as incumbent Derek Woellner filed neither non-candidacy paperwork, nor papers to again run for the office in this election.
As such, we did not ask these unopposed candidates to complete candidate profile questionnaires for publication.
In County Board District 13, no candidates are on the ballot after incumbent Alan Bishop filed non-candidacy paperwork declining to run again for the office.
Two Districts have contested races for Lincoln County Supervisor
Only two Districts have races with multiple candidates running for the position of County Supervisor. In District 2, Mark Bares and Scott Doerr are both vying for the position after Lori Anderson-Malm filed papers for non-candidacy, declining to run for another term. And in District 10, Joshua Oxborrow is challenging incumbent Jesse Boyd for the position.

Full name: Mark Bares 
Age: 50
Family: Spouse - Laura Bares; children - Ethan (married to Anne), Cole, Olivia (married to Riley Peterson), Adam, Ryan, Luke, Benjamin, and Louis Bares; grandchild - Aspen (son of Olivia and Riley Peterson).
Employment/position: Owner Les & Jim’s Lincoln Lanes, owner Mark Bares Marketing, LLC.
Past or present elected offices held: None.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations, and offices held: Member, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church - current; member, St. Mary’s Catholic Oratory - current; member, Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce - current; appointed member, Merrill Redevelopment Authority - May 2022 to present; and appointed member, Merrill Police & Fire Commission - June 2024 to present.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I am running for Lincoln County Supervisor to help ensure that Lincoln County remains an affordable place to live while maintaining the services residents depend on.
Over the past few years, property taxes have increased significantly, and most families, retirees, and working individuals are feeling the financial strain. I believe county government has a responsibility to carefully manage taxpayer dollars and to make decisions that reflect the realities people face in their everyday lives.
Fiscal responsibility is at the core of why I am running. To me, that means treating every tax dollar as if it came directly out of your pocket—because it does. It means avoiding wasteful spending, asking tough questions before approving new expenses, and making sure county government operates within its means while still providing essential services.
As the owner of Les & Jim’s Lincoln Lanes, I manage a staff of over 30 employees and make daily decisions involving budgeting, planning, and long-term sustainability. In addition, my service on the Merrill Redevelopment Authority and the Police & Fire Commission has given me experience working with public funds and understanding the importance of accountability and transparency in government.
I have lived in Merrill my entire life. My wife, Laura, and I are raising our family here, and this community means a great deal to us. I am invested in Lincoln County, not just as a business owner, but as a parent and lifelong resident who wants to see our area remain a great place to live and raise a family — not only today, but for future generations.
I am running to bring common-sense, practical leadership to the County Board — leadership that focuses on responsible budgeting, maintaining and updating infrastructure as needed, and listening to the concerns of the people who live and work here.

Full name: Scott A. Doerr
Age: 68
Family: Married to Linda, 2 adult children, 1 grandchild.
Employment/position: Retired Bar and Restaurant Manager, Merrill Eagles Club.
Past or present elected offices held: None.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations: I am currently State Treasurer, Past State and Regional President for the State Eagles. I have been Secretary since 2004 and Past President of the Merrill Eagles Club. I was a Member of the Merrill Optimist Club from 2016 -2025. I was Co-chair for the Merrill Relay For Life for eight years. I also was an advocate for the American Cancer Society for four years, 2002-2006. I visited Representatives in Washington DC and Madison to secure or maintain funding for cancer research and other issues related to cancer. I am a past Elder of St. John Lutheran Church, serving 2019-2022. I was also President and Treasurer for Carpenters Local 2344, serving from about 1996 until 2007.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I have held leadership positions in many organizations. I have represented people throughout my tenure in the above-named organizations. I chose to run for the County Board because I feel the people’s voice is not being heard. I feel it is important for citizens to be involved in the decision making. It seems like the only time you hear from citizens is when they get their tax bill. The current County Board has eliminated Lincoln Industries which enabled developmentally disabled citizens to have meaningful employment and develop skills to be a productive member of our community. They sold our beloved Pine Crest Nursing Home (despite overwhelming support to keep it County owned) to a corporate entity that will look out for the shareholders rather than the care of our elderly citizens. They have defunded the UW Extension, which in my experience has provided valuable education and programs to the people of Lincoln County. A lot of this has been done quietly. I intend to involve my constituents by communicating issues before the Board and seek their input, so I can vote for the will of the people I represent. I am also concerned about the $40 million the County will need to spend on new County highway garage buildings in Merrill and Tomahawk. There have been studies and discussion for the last 10 years. Action should have been taken years ago, Now this expenditure is going to be implemented at a much higher cost. The cost to Taxpayers is estimated to add $34 per $100,000 of your home’s value. The buildings are in total disrepair and replacement is now the only option.

Full name: Jesse Boyd (Incumbent)
Age: 43
Family: Married 23 years to Ashley; three daughters.
Employment/position: Sales Representative, County Materials Corporation. For the past nine years, I have worked for County Materials Corporation, where I currently serve as a Sales Representative for pipe and precast structures throughout Northern Wisconsin. My responsibilities focus on infrastructure and wastewater‑management projects.
Past or present elected offices held: I was elected to the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors in 2022 and re‑elected in 2024. I served as Vice Chair during my first term and was elected Chair by fellow Supervisors in 2024.
My work on the Board has included efforts to improve transparency and administrative processes. This includes online meeting access, recorded sessions, updates to County Board rules, and support for various modernization efforts. These have included changes within the Sheriff’s Office, upgrades to the 911 Call Center, and improvements to County parks and reservation systems.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, or other organizations: My family and I have been members of Trinity Lutheran Church of Merrill for more than 30 years.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek? I served 16 years in the United States Army Reserves with the 428th Engineer Company in Wausau. My service included two deployments: one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and one in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Those experiences — marked by both loss and accomplishment — continue to shape my leadership, focus, and dedication to service.
Lincoln County faces real challenges: population stagnation, economic pressures, and the difficulty of retaining younger generations. I believe our community can thrive through responsible growth, collaboration, and a willingness to plan for the future while honoring our county’s heritage.
My decision-making is guided by core values: respecting the impact of taxes on residents, supporting economic vitality, ensuring safe and healthy communities, and balancing development with conservation. I value open communication, thoughtful problem‑solving, and solutions that reflect the needs of our diverse residents.
Born and raised here, I care deeply about Lincoln County’s future. As a veteran and public servant, I remain committed to providing steady leadership, supporting innovative ideas, and working alongside taxpayers, businesses, and local governments to strengthen the community we call home.

Full name: Josh Oxborrow (Challenger)
Age: 39
Family: Married with two children.
Employment/position: IT Field Service Engineer at Louisiana Pacific in Tomahawk.
Past or present elected offices held: None.
Membership in religious, service, fraternal, etc., clubs or organizations: 4-H Robotics Spin Club Leader - 2023-present.
Why have you chosen to run for the office you seek: I don’t know anybody who is happy with the direction our county is headed in. Like many of you, I had been ignoring anything but national politics because it was uncouth or rude. That changed when the County Board tried to get rid of the UW Extension office and 4-H. I saw that their actions were having a real effect on the lives of the people here in ways that national politics didn’t. I worked with People for Pine Crest to try to defend our highly rated care facility from private interests whose only concern is profit rather than the dignity of our elderly. I’ve heard from friends in the community how services at Pine Crest have degraded and their family members have to be sent elsewhere, making it harder on them to visit and care for them. I have been attending Board meetings and heard short-sighted arguments, concerned with petty politics and posturing rather than helping people. Needed infrastructure projects have been ignored and fundamental parts of our community are being sacrificed.
The preamble to the Constitution lists the purposes of government. Locally, our primary concern should be to “promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” This isn’t going to be easy. I will not sugar coat this. There will likely be tax increases, because we need to fix the problems that have been caused by neglect, but these are needed. If you ignore maintenance on a house until something fails, then it is more expensive to fix than if you’d just cared for it in the first place. We need to start investing in our community. We need to learn from other locations that have struggled with the same things. A school district in Arkansas went from a deficit in their budget to a surplus from installing solar panels; one in Lancaster, Wis., doubled their math proficiency by changing their curriculum; Portugal massively lowered drug deaths and addictions by treating it as a health care crisis instead of a criminal one. What worked there might not work here, but if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, then we’ll keep getting what we’ve gotten. I’m not satisfied with that, and you shouldn’t be either.
So why am I running? One of my favorite books to read to my children was the Lorax. For those who have forgotten, it’s the story of a town with no trees, full of pollution, drab and dreary because all of its natural resources were cut down for profit, driving away all of the things that made it wonderful in the first place. At the end of the book, the Once-ler, who is telling the story of how it all happened, speaks to a young man and tells him: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”