Chairman defeated in Holton

By Kevin O’Brien

Two town of Holton officials lost their positions Tuesday, as voters decided to deny new terms for chairman Richard Gumz and clerk Jennifer Schreiber. Gumz lost to challenger Dennis Venzke, who earned 182 votes compared to 97 for the incumbent. Gumz had been chairman since 2003, and before that, he served two terms as town supervisor, starting in 1999. Schreiber was defeated by Taylor Ensign, a former Colby High School teacher and FFA advisor who was nominated at the village caucus in January. Ensign earned 157 votes, compared to 122 for Schreiber.

Both of the town supervisors kept their seats on the board, easily fending off challenges from two town residents nominated at the caucus. Incumbent Gene Peissig earned the most votes, 184, followed by Pat Tischendorf with 144, Marty Schwantes with 108 and Ken Tesch with 46.

In other local election news, Ward 1 Ald. Frankie Soto lost his seat on the Abbotsford City Council to write-in candidate Sara Diedrich. The margin of victory was just three votes, with Diedrich earning 21, compared to 18 for Soto. Ald. Jim Weix won an uncontested race for mayor, earning 82 votes across the city, compared to eight write-ins. Weix will take over for Lori Voss, who did not seek reelection.

Weix also ran unopposed for another term as a Ward 3 representative on the council. He earned 13 votes in that race, compared to nine write-in votes. The council will likely have to appoint someone to replace Weix in the Ward 3 seat.

Alds. Mason Rachu and Dale Rachu, both running unopposed, also won new two-year terms on the city council. Dale Rachu was appointed to fill a vacancy last May.

In Colby, Ward 2 Ald. Dan Hederer defeated his opponent, Matthew Schnabel, with the incumbent earning 38 votes, compared to 24 for the challenger.

Also, Ward 1 resident Jason Lindeman won a seat on the council that was vacated by longtime Ald. Mark Kaiser, who filed a notice of non-candidacy.

Ward 3 Lony Oestreich and Ward 4 Randy Hesgard, both ran unopposed and won new two-year terms on the council.

In the village of Curtiss, trustee Betty Rettig ran as write-in candidate for the village president position being vacated by Randy Busse. Rettig won the race with 13 votes, compared to five votes that went to other scattered write-ins.

Rettig was also running unopposed for reelection as a board trustee, winning that race with six votes. If she decides to accept the president’s position, the board will need to appoint someone to fill her vacant trustee spot.

In the village of Dorchester, village president Kurt Schwoch won a new term and so did trustees Clem Klimpke and Keith Lageman. All three were running unopposed. Trustee Eric Klemetson won another as a write-in candidate.

In Marathon County, corporation counsel Scott Corbett defeated Daniel T. Cveykus in a contested race for circuit court judge. Suzanne C. O’Neill also won an uncontested race for Marathon County Circuit Court judge.