Ladysmith mayor faces opposition; Flambeau school primary required

Ladysmith residents will have a choice in the race for mayor come the spring election on April 6 and the race for District 2 aderman in the city is wide open.

Candidates wishing to have their names placed on the ballot had until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, to submit their candidacy papers. Many towns and villages that do not require candidacy papers will rely on caucuses during the coming weeks to nominate their candidates.

Jan Carter, the current district 2 alderman in Ladysmith, did not file candidacy papers by the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline.

According to Wisconsin Statutes, if an incumbent candidate fails to file a Notification of Noncandidacy (EB- 163) on time, and does not file the appropriate documents to qualify for the ballot on time:

a. The deadline for filing ballot access documents is extended 72 hours for that office.

b. This means that anyone, except the incumbent, can file the required ballot access documents and sufficient nomination papers within the extension period and qualify for placement on the ballot.

For Ladysmith mayor, incumbent Dan Gudis will face off against challenger James West, owner of West Cove Lanes.

In other City of Ladysmith races:

— Municipal judge Terry Carter filed and will run unopposed.

— District 4 ald. Ken Brown filed and will run unopposed.

— District 6 ald. Al Hraban filed and will run unopposed.

In the School District of Ladysmith, incumbents Otis Hamilton and Jeff Wallin filed to run for two seats up for re-election.

In the Flambeau School District, a primary will be required as five candidates have filed to run for two positions. Running are incumbents Sam Stewart and Linda Izdepski and challengers Nancy Augustine, Darrell Gago and Laurie D’Amico.

The date for the primary election is Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Bruce School District reported that Ben Host, who is current Bruce School Board president, had previously filed a declaration of candidacy and Ernest Gerber, who has formerly served on the board, filed a declaration of candidacy on Tuesday afternoon. Ken Bartels, a current board member, has filed a declaration of non-candidacy. Two seats were up for election in the Bruce School District.

Two candidates are seeking terms starting July 1 representing the Weyerhaeuser School District on the new consolidated Weyerhaeuser-Chetek school district board. They are Carri Traczyk and David Wierzba.

Jason Prorok is the lone candidate for the one seat that is up for election for the present Weyerhaeuser School Board. He is seeking re-election for his term that ends June 30.

Six candidates are seeking election to represent the Chetek School District on the new school board that will take over July 1. There are five seats available.

Three of these six, all incumbents, are also seeking re-election to finish Chetek School Board terms that end June 30.

Later, school board members for the new consolidated district will be elected at large.