Looking Ahead to the April 1, 2025 General Election – Local and State Races

Here is a preview of what Fort Atkinson voters will see on the Spring General Election ballot on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. As we get closer to election – around March 10 according to local officials – voters can view an “official” ballot for all local and statewide contests at www.myvote.wi.gov.

For the moment, let’s focus first on our Fort Atkinson races. Registered voters in all 13 wards will

have the opportunity to choose among candidates for the Fort Atkinson City Council and School

Board, School District of Fort Atkinson.

To keep things simple for the present, we will provide local candidates’ responses to our written

questionnaire in a separate upcoming news article.

Also, details on a Candidate Forum tentatively scheduled for March 20, hosted by Citizen

Leadership Forum and Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter, will be forthcoming.

Fort Atkinson City Council

The Candidates

Local voters will have the opportunity to choose from a field of four registered candidates to fill three open City Council seats. Certified candidates are (in order of appearance on the ballot):

• Davin Lescohier (incumbent)

• Kyle Jaeckel (incumbent)

• Nathan Friedl

• Peggy Huckabee

Composition and Term

As stated in city ordinance, “The council shall consist of five members elected at large [council members represent the city as a whole], 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.”

By state law, newly elected city council members will be sworn, and will officially begin their term of office on the third Tuesday in April (April 15). This “first meeting” is also when the council shall select by majority vote one of its members to act as president, who by state law, shall be the presiding officer of the council and shall have a vote but shall have no veto power.

School Board, School District of Fort Atkinson

The Candidates

Voters will choose from a field of three candidates to fill two open school board seats. Certified candidates are (in order of appearance on the ballot):

• Robynn Selle (incumbent)

• Kurt P. Lewis

• Chevon N. Bowen

According to the school board website, incumbent member at-large Christopher Rogers filed a Notification of Noncandidacy on November 21, 2024. Rogers’ term of office would expire in April 2025. The Notification of Noncandidacy gives advanced notice that an incumbent does not intend to be a candidate for reelection to their school board office.

Composition and Term

The school board consists of five total at-large seats, meaning that school board members represent the school district as a whole. Members serve for a term of three years each. Newly elected school board members will be sworn and will take office on Monday, April 28.

No Referendums

According to city and school district sources, no referendums will appear on the April ballot for either the city or school district.

Statewide Offices

Two statewide offices will appear on the April 1 General Election ballot, according to the Jefferson County Clerk’s office, those being State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Justice of the Supreme Court.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Three career educators are vying to lead the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction:

• Brittany Kinser

• Dr. Jill Underly (incumbent)

• Jeff Wright

  
  

As described by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, “The Department of Public Instruction is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. It is headed by the state superintendent of public instruction, a nonpartisan, constitutional officer elected every four years. State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly, the current officeholder, is 28th person to hold the post.”

Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel are running for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, one of the court’s liberal members, is retiring. A primary contest was scheduled for February 18, but was canceled after only two candidates filed to run. As described by the Wisconsin Court System, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the state of Wisconsin - the state's court of last resort - the Wisconsin Supreme Court has seven justices selected in nonpartisan elections for 10-year terms. The court has jurisdiction over all other Wisconsin courts and can also hear original actions. See more details.

Local Judicial Offices

• Court of Appeals Judge, District 4: For a term of 6 years, to succeed the present incumbent, Jennifer Nashold, whose term of office will expire on July 31, 2025.

• County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 1: For a term of 6 years, to succeed the present incumbent, Will Gruber, whose term of office will expire on July 31, 2025.

• County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 2: For a term of 6 years, to succeed the present incumbent, Theresa Beck, whose term of office will expire on July 31, 2025.

Information from the Wisconsin Court System states that voters across the state will choose 37 circuit court judges, each of whom will serve a six-year term. As of the December 17 update from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, only five of the races are currently contested, including those in Racine, St. Croix, and Waukesha counties.

Sample Ballot

According to local officials, a complete ballot for the April 1 election will be available for review around March 10 by visiting www.MyVote.wi.gov.

In-Person Voting Location

The polling place for all 13 Fort Atkinson wards is the gymnasium of the municipal building, located at 101 North Main Street.

Absentee Voting

We will provide additional information on mail-in and in-person absentee voting as April 1 approaches. The Fort Atkinson Independent Reporter will also provide in-depth local candidate information in an

upcoming article, as well as more information on the local Candidate Forums.