2026 Spring Election - Jefferson County Board Candidates for Fort Atkinson District 29 Provide Insights on Qualifications

The Wisconsin 2026 Spring Election is on Tuesday, April 7th. Included on the ballot are Jefferson County Board of Supervisors races. More information about the candidates follows.

Jefferson County Board of Supervisors Races

Here are useful facts regarding county board structure and what county board supervisors are expected to do once elected:

• The Jefferson County Board is comprised of 30 supervisory districts, each representing specific villages, towns, and cities within the county.

• All County Board seats are nonpartisan, meaning that candidates do not run on any political party affiliation. Nonpartisan campaigns and elections are issue-focused where candidates must articulate specific public policy positions rather than relying on political party platforms. Get details.

• According to the National League of Cities, “Proponents of nonpartisan ballots suggest that political parties are irrelevant to providing public services; and cooperation between elected officials belonging to different parties is more likely.”

• Six of the 30 Jefferson County Board districts represent parts of Fort Atkinson. These districts include 23, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

• Fort Atkinson is comprised of 13 wards which then comprise the 6 county board districts that represent the city.

• In this April 7th election, supervisory seats for 5 of the 6 Fort Atkinson-based districts are uncontested. These are districts 23, 26, 27, 28 and 30.

• The only contested race is in Fort Atkinson’s District 29 where two candidates are competing for the seat held by Supervisor Mary Roberts who is not seeking re-election. Supervisor Roberts served on the County Board for 9 years.

Following is the breakdown of candidates by name and relevant county board district, who will represent, or are competing to represent, parts of Fort Atkinson:

• District 23: George Jaeckel, uncontested (part of which includes Fort Atkinson Wards 8, 10 & 12).

• District 26: Amanda Golson, uncontested (Fort Atkinson Wards 1 & 2).

• District 27: Joan Callan, uncontested (Fort Atkinson Wards 3 & 4).

• District 28: Anthony Gulig, uncontested (Fort Atkinson Wards 7, 9 & 13).

• District 29: Contested (in order of ballot placement) - Amanda Kaiser & Ron Martin (Fort Atkinson Wards 5 & 6).

• District 30: Walt Christenson, uncontested (part of which includes Fort Atkinson Ward 11).

Introducing Candidates for Jefferson County Board, District 29

District 29 is the only county administrative district involving Fort Atkinson that is contested. The two candidates in order of ballot placement are Amanda Kaiser and Ron Martin.

Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter asked each of the two candidates about previous civic involvement and public service, motivations for running for office, their views on county priorities and pressing issues, what they most desire to improve, and their unique perspectives. Following are their responses.

Candidate Amanda Kaiser

Amanda Kaiser, age 37, is seeking election for the District 29 seat currently held by Mary Roberts.

• Occupation: Trade Compliance Analyst- Exports/ Sanctions Specialist

• Number of Years as Resident of Fort Atkinson: 3.5

• Education: 2 degrees - 1 in Marketing/Advertisement & 1 in Global Business

• Past or Current Civic Organizations and Memberships: Professionally, I am a member of the American Association of Exporters & Importers. Within the community, I have been involved with the Unity Project, my child’s school PTO, and local Cub Scouts. I also support youth activities as a dugout mom. I have also, in the past, participated in Toys for Tots and assembling Easter baskets for families in need.

• Past or Current Public Service (i.e. elected or appointed) Experience: I have not previously held an elected or appointed public office. However, I bring extensive professional experience in decision-making, risk assessment, and oversight through my professional role. I routinely manage complex situations involving shipments valued in the tens of millions of dollars.

• Why do you seek this office/position? I seek this position because I care deeply about the community my family lives in and I want to be more directly involved in the decisions that impact it. As a parent with a child currently in elementary school here, I’m actively experiencing the day-to-day realities of this county- our schools, our resources, and the decisions that directly impact families. My husband has also been a member of this community for almost 15 years and THIS is where we’ve chosen to build our life. I believe our community benefits from leadership that understands the realities families are facing today and brings fresh perspective and new ideas to the board.

• Who are your constituents? This is a nonpartisan position and I take that seriously. My constituents are ALL residents of District 29 and because I want to represent everyone, I am entirely self-funded and have not accepted ANY partisan support. District 29 is made up of families, individuals, and neighbors with a wide range of perspectives, and each one of them deserves to be heard and represented fairly. At the end of the day, this position isn’t about choosing sides- it’s about showing up for everyone.

• What are the most pressing issues facing your constituents and how do you propose to address and/or resolve them? Some of the most pressing issues facing District 29 come down to responsible use of taxpayer dollars, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring our community continues to support families effectively. Residents want to know that their tax dollars are being used wisely. In my professional role, I regularly work with high-value decisions that require accountability and attention to detail, and I would bring that same level of oversight to the county budget- asking questions, reviewing spending carefully, and ensuring transparency in how funds are allocated. Infrastructure is another key concern, particularly maintaining roads and public services that people rely on every day. Addressing this requires practical planning, prioritization, and making sure resources are directed where they are needed most. I also believe we need to be thoughtful about the types of development we allow in our community. I am absolutely opposed to large-scale data center development in our area. While they are sometimes presented as economic opportunities, they often place significant strain on local resources without long-term benefits to citizens. I believe we should prioritize development that supports workers, families, strengthens our local economy, and aligns with long-term interests of community.

• What specific conditions (inefficiencies, etc.) would you like to improve and how will you do it? One area I believe can be improved is how information is communicated to the public. Currently, board minutes and official documents contain important information, but they can be lengthy and difficult for the average resident to easily review. As a result, based off of what I’ve learned while canvassing for this role, many people feel disconnected from what is actually happening at the county level. In my professional role, I regularly work with complex regulatory information and have focused on translating that into clear, practical resources others can quickly review. I’d like to do the same in this board position. I would like to see more accessible summaries of board decisions/meetings- such as a concise, one-page overview that highlights what was discussed, what decisions were made, and how those decisions impact residents. This could be shared through county communication channels AND community platforms (Fort Facebook Group) to make information more readily available. Improving how we communicate doesn’t change the decisions themselves, but it does make government more transparent, more accessible, and more engaging. If we want more people involved in local government-especially younger residents- we need to meet them where they are and making information accessible and understandable is the first step.

• What unique perspective do you bring to the office/position for which you seek? My perspective combines real-world professional experience with active, day-to-day involvement in this community. In my career, I make decisions involving complex regulations, compliance, and risk management for Fortune Global 500 company. This work requires attention to detail, accountability, and the ability to ask the right questions before moving forward. I don’t approach decisions by simply accepting the way things have always been done- I look for clarity, efficiency, and improved outcomes. At the same time, I’m a mom with a child currently in school here, and my family is a VERY active part of this community. That means I’m not just thinking about policies in theory-I’m living the impact of those decisions everyday. I also place a strong emphasis on communication and accessibility. I believe residents should be able to easily understand what their local government is doing, and I would bring a focus on making information more clear, transparent, and engaging.

• Additional comments or insights you would like the public to know about you: At the end of the day, I’m someone who is genuinely part of this community- not just in name, but in how I live my everyday life. My husband and I are raising our child here and we’re actively involved in the things that make this community special. Whether it’s biking to Frosty Freeze, attending Concerts in the Park, supporting small businesses like Lava Clothing or Sarahndipity on Main Street, or even volunteering to be the Easter Bunny this Saturday at PaddyShack, this is where we choose to spend our time. My son has declared his intent to be president one day and I see this as an opportunity to show him what it means to be involved, to care about your community, and to step up when you have a chance to make a difference. We take him to vote with us every election to show him how important it is. So this is for you, William. I want you to see that your mom showed up, led with honesty, and set an example to be proud of. I love you and I care deeply about the community you and your friends grow up in. I want you to see that no matter the outcome, what matters most is showing up, doing your best, and carrying yourself with integrity and leading with strength.

Candidate Ron Martin

Ron Martin, age 63, seeks election for the District 29 seat currently held by Mary Roberts.

• Occupation: Retired.

• Number of Years as Resident of Fort Atkinson: 33.

• Education: University of Wisconsin-Platteville, Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness with a Communications minor.

• Past or Current Civic Organizations and Memberships: Fort Atkinson FFA Alumni (past Secretary, Director); Fort Atkinson Optimist Club (past President, Director).

• Past or Current Public Service (i.e. elected or appointed) Experience: None

• Why do you seek this office/position? I’m running for Jefferson County Board Supervisor to offer District 29 a clear choice in the April election. I’m a 33-year Fort Atkinson resident, and my wife Beth and I have raised two great kids here. It’s our hometown now and we love it. I want to give something back to our community and be your voice for our children and our people in Jefferson County.

• Who are your constituents? The people living in District 29, which includes Wards 5 and 6 in the city of Fort Atkinson.

• What are the most pressing issues facing your constituents and how do you propose to address and/or resolve them? The number one issue I’ve been discussing with voters is taxes and, by extension, affordability. The cost of everything keeps going up, and taxes seem to go up every year, but never down. If elected, I will do my best to analyze every part of the county budget and look for areas to reduce spending. There is always room for improvement in budgeting and spending priorities. I want to be a watchdog for taxpayers and help control our ever-increasing tax burden.

• What specific conditions (inefficiencies, etc.) would you like to improve and how will you do it? Jefferson County’s population is growing very slowly, and Fort Atkinson has lost about 1% (est.) of its population since 2020. We need to balance planned growth in our communities with the reality of flat or declining population. We must continue to attract new businesses, both industrial and retail, to expand our tax base. We need more housing for the workers in our industrial base now and yet to come. In recent years Fort Atkinson has been left out when new industry has come into Jefferson County. We need to invest more in our infrastructure and make it easier for new businesses to locate here. We must cut red tape and reduce rules and costs that make it more difficult for business to locate here Jefferson County and our local municipalities already work together for economic development, and we compete with counties and communities in Wisconsin and other states. We should take advantage of every opportunity to market Fort Atkinson and Jefferson County as great places for companies and families to grow.

• What unique perspective do you bring to the office/position for which you seek? I’ve never held elected office. Some might view that as a plus. I also have 35+ years of real-world business experience, mostly in marketing and sales. My life experience is rooted in agriculture, having grown up on a dairy farm. Hard work and persistence are needed in anything to be successful. I will use my background in strategic planning and communications to help promote Jefferson County as a great place to live and work.

• Provide any additional comments or insights you would like the public to know about you: I strongly believe in a few basic conservative principles: Individual liberty, faith, family, limited government, law and order, and public safety. Without these, I don’t see how we can remain a prosperous and peaceful society. If you believe in these same principles, I ask for your vote. For more information or if you have questions about Jefferson County or Fort Atkinson issues, please email: Ron4Fort@gmail.com

What the County Board Does

The county board is the legislative branch of county government. It serves as a leadership body which makes policy determinations with regard to services and programs the county provides. The largest area of county board leadership is in budgeting, a process of setting property taxes or approving borrowings adequate to fund expenditures, allocation of those revenues and borrowings, and controlling expenses.

Other leadership duties touch upon (but certainly not limited to) overall county economic development, housing, public safety, transportation, health, recreation and tourism, education, and environmental protection.

Individual board members contribute to policy making through information gathering and analysis, constituent contacts, public hearings, public debate and voting on policy issues. Many county board members also serve on committees such as public works, judiciary or health services.

Remember to vote Tuesday, April 7th.