Cabrera wins seat on Marathon City Board

By Kevin O’Brien

A newcomer to local politics has earned a seat on the Marathon City Board of Trustees after winning one of three available trustee seats in Tuesday’s election.

Alex Cabrera, owner of the 3 Amigos Mexican restaurant in Marathon, earned 265 votes, putting him in third place out of four candidates and securing him a two-year term.

Cabrera will replace longtime trustee Connie Ruplinger, who decided not to run for another term. Incumbents Mark Ahrens and Kevin Sorenson will also be returning to the board for new terms.

Ahrens earned more votes than any other candidate, 468, with Sorenson coming in second with 390 votes. Challenger Andrew Goergen came in fourth place with 234 votes - just 11 votes under Cabrera.

Village president Kurt Handrick, who ran unopposed for a new term, earned 519 votes, with 15 write-in ballots cast.

During an interview last month, Cabrera said he decided to get his name on the ballot after someone asked him if he was interested in running. As someone who is bilingual, Cabrera said he believes he can be a voice on the board for the village’s growing population of Hispanic residents.

Ahrens has been on the board since 2007, and Sorensen first became a trustee in 2019.

Alex Cabrera

Mark Ahrens

Kevin Sorenson