City to hold primary election on Feb. 21
By Brandi Makuski
The city of Stevens Point has scheduled a primary for the April election.
Stevens Point does not automatically hold a primary election if three or more candidates run for the same office. Prior to each municipal election, the city council votes on whether or not to hold a primary, which eliminates some candidates from the regular ballot.
“I looked back to 2015, and typically if we had three or more candidates we always had a primary election,” City Clerk Kari Yenter said at the Dec. 19 city council meeting.
Yenter said if a primary is not held, a candidate could win with less than 50 percent of the vote.
The council unanimously approved holding a primary on Feb. 21.
The majority of the Stevens Point City Council, also known as the common council, is up for re-election in April. The following offices will be on the ballot:
- Mayor. Mike Wiza currently is serving his second term in the four-year role.
- City Council, District 1. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Marc Christianson.
- City Council, District 3. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Ginger Keymer.
- City Council, District 5. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Meleesa Johnson.
- City Council, District 7. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Mary Kneebone.
- City Council, Direct 9. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Polly Dalton.
- City Council, District 11. The seat has a two-year term and is currently held by Shaun Morrow.
Candidates running in the spring election could begin circulating nomination papers on Dec. 1. The final day for filing is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
Candidates can obtain paperwork from their municipal clerk or by visiting the Wisconsin Elections Commission website at https://elections.wi.gov/candidates.