Challengers emerge for Portage Co. Executive, Board races

By Brandi Makuski

Portage Co. residents will head to the polls in February for a spring election primary.

Two county races have three candidates. Portage County Executive Chris Holman will run for a second term and has been challenged by Stevens Point resident Eric Olson, who is an educator at the UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, and John Pavelski, who previously operated Pavelski Farms and Ortho Molecular, and now works part-time as an organic farmer and corporate communications consultant.

The Portage Co. Board of Supervisors could look very different in April, as 14 of the 25 seats up for election are being contested.

In District 14, which is currently vacant, candidates Pat Keller, Edward Morganroth, Jr., and Charles Grugel be on the ballot.

Other contested Board seats follow:

District 3

Kevin Flatoff
Lionel Weaver

District 4

David Medin (I)
Aline Kosloski

District 6

Shaun V. Przybylski
Jess Cornett

District 8

Joan Honl (I)
Fred Kalkofen

District 9

David Eiden
Andrew Rockman

District 10

Bob Gifford (I)
Brian Biga

District 14

Pat Keller
Edward H. Morganroth, Jr.
Charles Grugel

District 15

Al Haga (I)
Lee Lukaszewicz

District 16

Mike A. Olson
Steve Fritz

District 17

Suzanne Oehlke
Jacalyn Szehner

District 19

Amberle Schwartz
Scott Soik (I)

District 20

Greg Hakala
Charles Gussel (I)

District 24

Steve Cieslewicz
Gerry Zastrow (I)

District 25

Rey Reser (I)
David L. Peterson

The primary election will be held on Feb. 15.

The Metro Wire will conduct interviews with each candidate in the coming weeks. Check back for updates.