2026 April Election - Fort Atkinson City Council Candidates Express Views

Ahead of the March 19th Fort Atkinson City Council Candidate Forum and the April 7th Spring General Election, Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter asked the four qualifying council candidates for their backgrounds, their views and positions on what they perceive as key local governance issues, and how they propose to address those issues if elected.

Who’s running, who’s not, who are the incumbents?

City council structure and election cycles are governed by city ordinance, which states that the “council consists of five members elected at large, who shall serve for terms of two years. Of the five members of the council, two shall be elected in each of the even-numbered years and three in each of the odd-numbered years” (Fort Atkinson Municipal Code, Sec. 2-51, Membership).

This being an even-numbered year, council members Bruce Johnson and Eric Schultz currently hold the two seats up for election. Only Johnson is re-running. Schultz earlier filed a Notification of Non-Candidacy. The other three seats - not up for election this year - are held by incumbents Peggy Huckabee, Kyle Jaeckel, and Davin Lescohier. These three seats are unaffected by this 2026 election cycle, but will be up for election in April 2027.

Candidate placement on the April 7th ballot

Candidate placement was determined on Friday January 9th for the four candidates for the two seats who met qualifications. According to City Clerk Michelle Ebbert, the order of candidate placement on the April 7th ballot will be John Ciccarelli, Nathan Friedl, Jena Price, and Bruce Johnson. The four candidates provided the following information.

Statement by John Ciccarelli, Candidate

• Age: 70

• Occupation: Retired Transportation Planner / Designer / Safety Evaluator

• Years as Resident of Fort Atkinson: 2 years, 4 months. However, my wife grew up in Fort Atkinson through high school, and her family lived in Fort, Cold Spring and Jefferson since the early 1900s).

• Education: B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Maryland College Park

• Civic Organization Affiliations: Habitat for Humanity construction volunteer, Fort Atkinson, 2025-present; Jefferson County Literacy Council, volunteer English teacher, 2024-2025; Habitat for Humanity construction volunteer, San Francisco, 2021-2023.

Public Service Experience: Fort Atkinson Plan Commission, May 2025-present; Caltrans (CA DOT) District 4 Pedestrian Advisory Committee (D4 PAC), 2021-2023; California [State] Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC) 2011-2015; National Council on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Bicycle Technical Committee (NCUTCD-BTC), 2002-2014; College Terrace Residents Association, (Palo Alto, CA) Government Affairs Liaison, 2001-2006; Santa Clara County (CA) Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 1993-1995; Caltrain (3-county S.F. Peninsula Commuter Rail line) Bicycle Advisory Committee, Alternate Member (Santa Clara County), 1992-1995; and City of Mountain View (CA) Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee, 1992-1995.

Why do you Seek Election to This Office? “My wife and I very much enjoy Fort and are amazed by and grateful for all the people who contribute to keeping our City a good place to live, raise a family, and grow up. My background and experience uniquely qualifies me to be of service.”

Most Pressing Issues Facing Fort Atkinson and How I Propose to Address Them:

First: “Housing affordability and supply, with appropriate housing types and options for all life stages. Explore options for incentivizing residential and mixed-use development with housing types that are affordable for our demographics and appropriate for all life stages.”

Second: “Keeping Fort affordable regarding taxes and user fees. Through the annual budget process and Tax Increment District (TID) development options, seek to limit and if feasible reduce personal and business tax burdens while maintaining the service levels we expect.”

What specific local conditions (inefficiencies, etc.) would you like to improve and how will you do it?

First: “Review and expand available options and incentives, and address or remove disincentives, for attracting and retaining businesses in: Klement Business Park near the south end of Janesville Avenue; Downtown; the northeast industrial area between Jefferson Street and the railroad line when vacant parcels are environmentally remediated.”

Second: “Explore options for working with Wisconsin DOT (Department of Transportation) on ways to reduce heavy truck traffic on Main Street through Downtown without impacting the City’s ability to maintain the Rock River street bridges.”

Third: “Also with Wisconsin DOT, explore the feasibility of reconstructing Riverside Drive west of Robert Street earlier than the end of the decade.”

What unique perspective do you bring to the office of Fort Atkinson Councilperson? “25+ years of career and committee volunteer experience in transportation planning, design and traffic safety for all travel modes (drivers, pedestrians, persons with disabilities, and bicycle users); Strong interest in maintaining and enhancing our City’s neighborhood quality, walkability and business vitality so Fort continues to be a viable place to live, work, and grow up.”

Additional comments or insights: “My wife and I have very much enjoyed becoming involved in municipal and Arts activities since choosing Fort as our place to retire. We look forward to many active years helping our City to thrive.”

Statement by Nathan Friedl, Candidate

Candidate Friedl had not responded to the Candidate Questionnaire as of publication time.

Statement by Jena Price, Candidate

• Age: 40

• Occupation: Ambulatory Access Supervisor

• Years as Resident of Fort Atkinson: 3

• Education: University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

• Civic Organization Affiliations: None.

• Public Service Experience: None.

Why do you Seek Election to This Office?

“Although I am a newer resident, I have a history with this city. I grew up fishing across the river from the very house I eventually bought, and my family has called this area home for generations. This history gives me a unique perspective: I have the fresh energy of a new homeowner combined with a lifelong respect for our traditions.

“I’m running because I want to champion the momentum we’ve seen recently. Our city is attracting incredible new businesses, and I want to ensure that growth continues - but not at the expense of what makes us special. We must be responsible stewards of our natural resources to ensure they remain a draw for recreation and a treasure for our families. Most importantly, I will be a voice for our residents and city staff, ensuring our council remains focused on local needs while being disciplined and transparent with every tax dollar spent.”

Most Pressing Issues Facing Fort Atkinson and How I Propose to Address Them:

“I think some of the most pressing issues we face as a community are maintaining strong infrastructure, supporting local businesses, and ensuring the city continues to provide reliable services as it grows. To do this, I believe we also need to ensure we are addressing housing availability, so we are not just a commuter city. Our recent retail study showed that we have a large influx of people that are commuting to Fort for work, we started a housing development behind the high school, but we need to be sure we are able to meet the demand.

“In order to maintain strong infrastructure we need to prioritize investing in preventative maintenance. We need to look at thoughtfully updating our roads and the utilities while we are working to pursue state and federal help to reduce the burden on taxpayers.

“Supporting local businesses and continue to attract new businesses that will be a benefit to the community and not just a drain on resources. We’ve had a lot of new shops opening downtown, and are bringing in vibrancy there, but we also need to ensure we are utilizing the south side of town as well.

“The best way to ensure the city is able to provide reliable services is by ensuring we have more open communication between the city council, city departments, and residents. This ensures we focus on the most impactful needs of the community, while keeping an eye to our future goals and fiscal responsibilities.”

What specific local conditions (inefficiencies, etc.) would you like to improve and how will you do it?

“I would like to improve communication and efficiency between residents, city staff, and the council. In our community, it’s important that residents feel informed and heard about decisions that affect their daily lives. I would support clearer communication, consistent public updates, and opportunities for community feedback so concerns can be addressed early and projects can move forward with strong support.

“I also believe the Fort Atkinson City Council should focus on setting clear priorities and supporting city staff so they can work as efficiently as possible. By encouraging collaboration and regularly reviewing processes for ways to streamline services, we can maintain high-quality services while

continuing to support thoughtful economic development that strengthens our local businesses and community.”

What unique perspective do you bring to the office of Fort Atkinson Councilperson?

“I bring a perspective rooted in curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration. My professional background has focused on analyzing systems, improving workflows, and identifying opportunities to make processes more efficient and effective. That experience has taught me how to step back, understand how different parts of a system connect, and work with others to find practical solutions.

“I am also a strong listener and a thoughtful communicator who values engaging with people from all backgrounds. I believe good leadership starts with understanding different perspectives and working collaboratively to move ideas forward in a way that benefits the whole community.”

Statement by Bruce Johnson, Incumbent & Candidate

• Age: 67

• Occupation: Self-employed

• Education: Educated in the Fort Atkinson School System; and 2-year vocational degree in auto body mechanics.

• Civic Organization Affiliations: Jacks Card Club

Why do you Seek Election to This Office?

“My fellow city residents. I am Bruce Johnson, a lifelong Fort Atkinson native, and I am writing to ask for your vote for City Council. Having been born and raised here and having operated Lucky B Auto Body for 45 years, I am deeply committed to our community. For the last eight years, I have had the privilege of serving as your Councilman. During this time, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of how our city government operates, and I want to continue utilizing that experience to serve another term.

“My priorities for the upcoming term include:

First: Managing the Cost of Living: I am dedicated to finding ways to slow the constant increase in the cost of living for our residents.

Second: Supporting Local Business: As a pro-business candidate, I intend to make it easier for businesses to thrive in Fort Atkinson.

Third: Preserving Our Community: I value our small-town ambiance and will do my best to protect the unique character of our city.

“I believe the role of Councilman is a non-partisan position, and I take great pride in serving all members of our community fairly. Thank you for your consideration and for your support.”