The Portage Co. Annex, 1462 Strongs Ave. (Metro Wire photo)

One primary scheduled as final filings signal Portage County Board turnover

By Brandi Makuski

PORTAGE COUNTY — A wave of departures and finalized candidate filings has reshaped Portage County’s political landscape ahead of the April 7 spring election, setting the stage for major turnover on the County Board and a contested race for county executive.

In total, nine County Board supervisors and the sitting county executive filed paperwork indicating they will not seek re-election, guaranteeing changes in county leadership regardless of April’s outcomes.

All races on the spring ballot are nonpartisan.

Nine County Board members won’t return

The following County Board supervisors filed official notifications of noncandidacy and will not return after the April election:

  • District 1: Vincent Miresse

  • District 2: Chris Doubek

  • District 4: David Medin

  • District 5: Julie Morrow

  • District 6: Shaun V. Przybylski

  • District 8: Joan M. Honl

  • District 9: Andrew Rockman

  • District 13: Don Jankowski

  • District 20: James Yetter

Miresse, who served nine years on the board, previously described the role as “deeply impactful” and said he was disappointed he “could not convince more of my County Board colleagues to believe in the inherent value of maintaining the Portage County Healthcare Center.”

All 25 County Board seats appear on the spring ballot.

County executive race set

County Executive John Pavelski filed noncandidacy paperwork, confirming he will not seek another four-year term when his current term ends April 20.

County Board Chair Ray Reser, who also declined to run again for his District 25 seat, has filed to run for county executive. Pavelski has endorsed Reser’s candidacy.

Eric Olson has also qualified for the ballot, setting up a contested race for the county’s top administrative office.

Final list of candidates on file

The following candidates are certified for the April ballot:

County executive

  • Eric Olson

  • Ray Reser

County Board supervisor candidates

  • District 1: Doug Stingle; Stephen Klein

  • District 2: Landon Elgersma

  • District 3: Janell Wehr

  • District 4: Nathan Sandwick

  • District 5: David J. Wysocki

  • District 6: Joe Bachman

  • District 7: Dave Ladick

  • District 8: Dax Burroughs; Desiree Redditt

  • District 9: Jonathan Schlice

  • District 10: Bob Gifford

  • District 11: Stan Potocki

  • District 12: Michael J. Splinter; Danny Mercer

  • District 13: Robin Falk

  • District 14: Chris Randazzo; Kevin Ebel

  • District 15: Nancy Eggleston; Al Haga

  • District 16: Steve Fritz

  • District 17: Suzanne Oehlke; Bambi Pinkerton

  • District 18: Larry Raikowski

  • District 19: Amberle Schwartz; Scott Soik

  • District 20: Greg Hakala; Richard Duerr

  • District 21: Jeanne Dodge

  • District 22: Matt Jacowski

  • District 23: Barry Jacowski

  • District 24: Steve Cieslewicz

  • District 25: Walter Leppen; Jerald D. Trzebiatowski; Travis Bassett

Election timeline

Only one race will appear on the Feb. 17 spring primary ballot: the County Board supervisor race in District 25, where three candidates filed.

All other county races — including the county executive contest and the remaining County Board seats — will appear only on the April 7 spring election ballot, as no other races drew more than two candidates.