Park Ridge caucus results in four candidates for trustee

By Brandi Makuski

The village of Park Ridge has decided who will be on the spring ballot.

Thirty-eight villagers appeared for the Jan. 20 caucus, which was held at Washington Elementary School. A total of five people were nominated for three seats up for election in April.

Steve Menzel was the sole nominee for village president. Menzel is currently serving his first month in the seat, having been elected in place of former Village President Steve Bergin, who was ousted in a Dec. 8 recall.

Gordon Renfert, another winner in the Dec. 8 recall, was also nominated for one of two trustee terms that expire in April. Renfert previously served on the board for a decade before stepping down.

Brian Kozlowski is just completing his first term as a village trustee and has been nominated for a second.

Two other village residents were also nominated. Kristin Paulson and Matt Chitwood. Chitwood filed the paperwork with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to recall Bergin and Trustee Gert Nueundorf.

Outgoing Village Clerk Kathy Bemowski described the caucus as having a good turnout.

“I know 38 people isn’t a lot, but it’s a better turnout than we’ve ever had before,” she said.

Park Ridge is one of 11 municipalities in Portage Co. that conducts a caucus to determine candidates that will appear on a ballot.

Winners of the Park Ridge spring election on April 6 will assume their roles on April 20, Bemowski said.