Election Day for the spring election will soon be here. Arriving Tuesday, April 7, residents will have the chance to weigh in on candidates for city, village, and county board. Voters will need to have photo ID and/or proof of residency if different from their address in order to vote. Proof of residence can include a utility bill, lease, bank statement, pay stub, student ID, military ID, employee ID, as well as residential care.
Most candidate races are uncontested. Gilman has a school operational referendum, asking district residents if the district shall exceed the revenue limit, with wording as follows:
“Shall the School District of Gilman, Taylor, Chippewa and Rusk Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $700,000 per year for four years, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and ending with the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of educational programming, expenditures and operations?”
The referendum requires a simple majority to pass. So, who’s on the ballot for candidates this spring?
Starting with the Owen-Withee School Board, candidates for the two open seats include incumbent Dean Schmelzer and newcomer Ellen Petersen.
As for the city of Owen, the candidates are Jason Thornton for Ward 1, Bob Wilczek for Ward 2, and Ray Kilty for Ward 3 running as a registered write-in, all incumbents.
Candidates for Withee trustee include incumbents Susan Kalepp, Bill Kroeplin, and Randy Shelton.
At Thorp, incumbent mayor Richard Week is being challenged by Jonathan Dircks. While Ward 1 is sought by Michael Einhorn unopposed. Ward 2 at Thorp is being sought by Stanley Lawcewicz, also unopposed, while Brian Abramczak is seeking Ward 3 and Josh Rosemeyer is seeking Ward 4. Rodney Enkers is seeking Alderperson at large for the City of Thorp.
Candidates at Greenwood include Dave Hansen for mayor, Tracy Nelson for Ward 1, and Ryan Ashbeck for Ward 2, all unopposed.
At Gilman meanwhile there are three ballot candidates for three trustee seats, these being Dee Bornheimer, Cheryl Rosemeyer, and registered write-in Derek Romig. Gilman also has three school board candidates (Valerie Kulesa, Lauren Zach, and Derrick Romig) .
There are no official ballot candidates at Lublin.
As for county board seats, relevant seats are as follows:
Clark County Board
District 5 (Village of Withee and part of Hixon township) – Larry Klabon
District 6 (Withee township and part of Hixon) - Joe Waichulis Jr.
District 7 (City of Thorp) - Jill Hoff
District 8 (Thorp township, parts of cities of Stanley and Thorp) - Arlene Kodl
District 11 (City of Owen, part of Longwood township) – Scott Jalling
District 12 (Reseburg) - Roy Tyznik
District 13 (Worden, Butler, Foster North, Foster South, Part of Thorp township) - Al Bower
Taylor County Board
District 15 (Aurora, Ford and Village of Gilman) - Lynette Rosemeyer
District 16 (Taft, Roosevelt, Maplehurst and Village of Lublin) - Darrell Thompson
The Enterprise Sentinel sent candidates a questionnaire to fill out, with the following responses.

Starting with Thorp Mayor, the race is contested between Jonathan Dircks and Richard “Bubba” Wnek. Dircks is the challenger while Wnek is the incumbent.
Dircks is 38 and a resident of Thorp on Maple Street. A resident of Thorp as a child until his mom remarried, he moved to Withee and attended Owen-Withee School from fifth grade until graduating. He shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Jonathan (Jon) Dircks
Age: 38
Address: 301 E. Maple Street. Thorp, WI 54771
Seat sought: Candidate for Mayor of Thorp, WI
Background/Education: As a child, I lived in Thorp until my mom remarried. We moved to Withee and I went to Owen-Withee Schools from 5th grade until my graduation.
After graduating, I went to Purpose Institute (Bible College) and studied Ministry. I married my wife, Christin, in 2008 and we have two children. Our daughter, Charlee is 8 and enrolled in Thorp Public School, and our son, Addler, is 3.
I have no degrees but currently work for Spectrum Insurance Group as a Risk Manager/Safety Consultant.
What inspired you to run: Timing is everything and the time to run is right. I am 38, almost 39. So while I don't say I am an old man, I do have some life experience I can lean on. I believe it is the best time because I have a daughter enrolled in the Thorp School, we own a home in Thorp, and we are invested in not just living in Thorp but in wanting to see Thorp thrive. It is time for new leadership, not because existing leadership has done a bad job, but because a fresh set of ideas is needed.
Anything else: What I lack in experience I will make up for in the ability to bring people together. This run isn't about me being Mayor, it is about giving a voice back to the community of Thorp and truly, making Thorp a place to belong for EVERYONE.

As for Wnek, he is 65 years old, with residence at 308 West Rusch Street. He grew up in rural Thorp on a dairy farm and graduated from Thorp High School in 1979, then taking computer classes to meet qualifications. Wnek shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Richard “Bubba” Wnek
Age: 65
Address: 308 West Rusch Street, Thorp
Seat Sought: Mayor of Thorp
Background/Education: I grew up in rural Thorp on a dairy farm and graduated from Thorp High School in 1979. I took computer classes to meet job qualifications. I worked for a machinery repair, was the parts manager. After the business closed, I went to work for Larson Feed Mill here in Thorp as a feed mixer and truck driver, which was later sold to Spooner Mills. I was employed at Spooner Mills for 20 years. In 2006, I applied and received the Assistant Manager position at Doboy and became the plant manager. I left the feed business in 2012 and went to work for LaGrander’s Hillside Dairy as their field representative.
I have been on the City Council for 20-plus years, including the last eight as Mayor. Organizations I belong to include Goggle Eye Trap Club and Thorp Sportsman’s Club. Other organizations are Rock Dam Rod and Gun Club, Roosevelt Rod and Gun Club, Stanley Sportsman’s Club, Rock Creek Disabled Outdoors and I am a coach for the Thorp High School Trap Team and Stanley-Boyd High School Trap Team.
What inspired you to run: I believe the city has three major issues: budgeting for street repairs, hiring police officers, and budgeting to renovate city hall. Street projects we do one every other year. We need to do five to six city blocks to get the best price and also have to have grant money for lead service repairs which have to be completed by 2035. There are not many individuals going into law enforcement. We need to get an officer when available, fresh out of school and keep them in our city. City hall renovation was quoted at a cost of $1.5 million dollars, for that quote a new city hall could be built with all the requirements. We are looking at different options to secure funds for needed updates. Nothing is etched in stone, just planning stages.
Anything Else: A strength I have is I always had jobs working with the public. I have knowledge of our budgets and services which always need to be reviewed to make taxes affordable to the constituents of Thorp.
When I first ran for office 20-plus years ago I wanted to be the voice for the people, young and old generations. Now I can say I even qualify for the older generation.
I feel I am the right candidates for this position as I started as an Alderperson, was elected Alderperson at Large and was City Council President which has given me many years of experience being on the City Council. I am open and always listen to suggestions from my constituents. “Thorp A Place to Belong” a standing motto for the city and community.

Also in a contested race is the State Supreme Court, sought by Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor.
Starting with Lazar, she is 62 years old, lives in Waukesha County, and earned her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, after undergraduate at Mount Mary College. Lazar shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Hon. Maria Lazar, Court of Appeals Judge, District 2
Seat sought: Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice
Background/Education:
• Waukesha Circuit Court Judge, 7 years
• Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District 2 Judge, 4 years
• Georgetown University Law Center, JD, Deans List
• Mount Mary College, BA with minors, Magna Cum Laude
• Long Island University, United Nations Semester
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Member, United States Supreme Court Bar
• Fellow, Wisconsin Law Foundation
• Marquette University Law School, Associate Professor (2 years)
• Presenter, State Courts, DOJ, MBA, Waukesha County Bar
• Recent Training: NYU Law School – Appellate Judge Seminar
What inspired you to run: I am running for the State Supreme Court to restore justice, independence, impartiality, and integrity to the courts. I believe every case deserves a fair hearing, free from political influence or partisanship. I have grown increasingly concerned that our judicial elections have turned into bitter, partisan political campaigns where the qualifications and judicial experience of the candidates is ignored and special interest and political parties vie to seat their preferred justice. My home state of Wisconsin deserves better. It deserves a Justice who will remember that the sole purpose of the courts is interpret the Constitution and laws not to legislate from the bench. The goal of justice is not to please any party, but to serve the people.
I have lived my entire professional career with the sole purpose to serve justice, to respect the laws, and to protect the rights of the people of my state. This is a race to restore to the Supreme Court that sense of fairness and integrity that appears to have faltered. Every day that I enter my courthouse or place on my black robe, I remember that obligation – that I owe a solemn duty to the people who have elected me as their judge. I believe that I am the better candidate in this race, that I can do much good for the people of this state, and that my determination and dedication to the law will enhance my service.
The short answer to this question, is that I am running because I believe, in my heart, that this the right thing to do at this time.
Anything else: I have the background both legally and judicially that make me exceedingly qualified for the position of Justice. After graduating from Mount Mary College, I received my law degree, with honors, from Georgetown University Law Center. I spent two decades as a litigator in a small law firm representing middle class businesses and people to secure their rights, followed by five years as an Assistant Attorney General at the DOJ where I represented agencies and officials. It was my work representing the Department of Children and Families in a foster care case where I was devastated when a Dane County Judge told me that the law did not matter. Knowing I could do better, I ran for circuit judge in Waukesha County and served seven years on that bench in many rotations and as presiding judge in two. I then ran for Court of Appeals Judge in District 2, where I have served for four years. My opponent spent two years on the criminal bench after her appointment and has only been on the appellate court for about three years.
During my 11 years as a judge, I have faithfully applied the law to ensure justice for all parties. Unlike a politician, I have never (and will never) legislate from the bench. I presided over Drug Treatment Court. I have taught literacy to adults and served on community boards. I have been active in my church, my children’s schools, and I consistently educate students, lawyers and judges about the courts and our legal system.
My years in private practice, public service, on the trial bench and now as an appellate judge make me the more qualified candidate in this race. I have never been a member of a political party; I have never been appointed to any judicial position.

Running against Lazar for State Supreme Court is Chris Taylor, 58 years old and from Madison. Taylor earned her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School after earning an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Chris Taylor
Seat sought: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Background/Education: I earned my law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and my undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
I bring more than 30 years of legal experience across every level of Wisconsin’s justice system. I started my career in private practice, focusing on family law and civil litigation. I then served for eight years as the law and policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, working to protect and expand access to healthcare.
After that, I spent nearly a decade in the Wisconsin State Assembly, where I co-authored approximately 250 bills, including bipartisan legislation to protect survivors of domestic violence. Since 2020, I have served as a judge—first on the Dane County Circuit Court and, since 2023, on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, where I was elected by voters across 24 counties.
What inspired you to run: I’m running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court because I care deeply about people and about protecting their rights and freedoms. I am committed to applying the rule of law in the most fair and independent way possible, and I am passionate about delivering justice to the people of this state. Throughout my career—as an attorney, law and policy director for Planned Parenthood, former legislator, and now as a judge—I have worked to protect Wisconsinites’ rights and freedoms, defend our democracy, and strengthen our fair and independent courts. I hope to continue that work on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and protect the independence of our great state.
Anything else: I would be honored to earn your support on April 7.

Also responding to candidate questionnaires meanwhile were Clark County Board candidates Arlene Kodl and Jill Hoff, Kodl in District 8 and Hoff in District 7.
Both are running unopposed as incumbents. Kodl has lived at her address in the Town of Thorp for 45 years and is the longtime clerk for the Town of Thorp. She shared more in a questionnaire.
Name: Arlene Kodl
Address: I have lived in the Town of Thorp at my current address for 45 years.
Position sought: I am seeking the seat of Clark County Board Supervisor District 8 which includes the Town of Thorp Ward 1, City of Thorp Ward 3 and the City of Stanley Ward 8.
Background: I have been the Town Clerk for the Town of Thorp for 31 years. I have been a County Board Supervisor since 2000. I currently serve on the Community Services Committee, Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center Committee, Social Services Committee and Personnel Committee. In the past I have also served on the Finance Committee.
What inspired you to run: I enjoy serving my community and all residents of Clark County.

Hoff shared her questionnaire responses in paragraph form.
“My name is Jill Hoff, and I am honored to be seeking reelection as Clark County District 7 Supervisor, representing a large portion of the City of Thorp. Thorp has been my home for over 60 years, where I raised a family of seven children alongside my late husband. This community is home, and it has been a privilege to give back through public service.
“Over the past two years, I have had the opportunity to serve on the Community Services Committee, the Clark County Rehab and Living Center Committee, and the Housing Committee. I was also grateful to be part of the Ad Hoc Committee tasked with evaluating the merger of Community and Social Services into a unified Human Services Department. I am pleased to share that this initiative was recently approved with an unanimous vote, a step I believe will greatly strengthen the support and care available to Clark County residents.
“Serving on the board has been an incredibly meaningful experience. It has allowed me to be part of something bigger, working together to make a positive impact in our community. I would be truly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving and representing District 7.”