By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
A number of partisan primary elections are on the ballot for the Tuesday, Aug. 13, election.
In addition to the primaries for seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, a number of important local races are on the ballot.
A number of referendum questions, however, are getting a great deal of attention.
Area referendums
A pair of local villages have referendum questions on the Aug. 13 ballot, both addressing the need to contract for EMS services.
- For the Village of Sharon: Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Sharon for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year 2025, is limited to 3.729%, which results in a levy of $946,612.
Shall the Village of Sharon be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the 4 levy for the next fiscal year 2025, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a contract for full-time paramedic-level Emergency Medical Service in the Village of Darien, Town of Darien, Village of Sharon, Town of Sharon, by a total of 12.677%, which results in a levy of $1,066,612, and include the increase of $120,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2029?
- For the Village of Walworth: Under state law, the increase in the levy of the Village of Walworth for the tax to be imposed for the next fiscal year, 2025, is limited to 1.603%, which results in a levy of $1,787,985.
Shall the Village of Walworth be allowed to exceed this limit and increase the levy for the next fiscal year, 2025 and in future years, for the purpose of establishing onsite 24/7 local Fire & EMS services and allow other Village departments to hire additional staff and offer to current employees pay comparable to the statewide average, by a total of 32.718%, which results in a levy of $2,372,985, and include the increase of $585,000 for fiscal year 2025 and all future years?
State referendums
The two State of Wisconsin referendum questions are as follows:
- Question 1: Delegation of appropriation power. Shall section 35 (1) of article IV of the constitution be created to provide that the legislature may not delegate its sole power to determine how moneys shall be appropriated?
- Question 2: Allocation of federal moneys. Shall section 35 (2) of article IV of the constitution be created to prohibit the governor from allocating any federal moneys the governor accepts on behalf of the state without the approval of the legislature by joint resolution or as provided by legislative rule?
U.S. Senate
There are three Republican challengers for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat Tammy Baldwin, who is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.
Eric Hovde, Charles E. Barman and Rejani Raveedran are all fighting for the Republican spot. Hovde has been advertising extensively, and appears to be the frontrunner to challenge Baldwin – a two-term senator.
House of Representatives
While none of the primaries are contested, there are three candidates for the District 1 Representative and two for District 5.
For District 1, Peter Barca (Dem.), incumbent Bryan Steil (Rep.) and Wisconsin Green Party’s Chester Todd, Jr., are running unopposed.
In District 5, Ben Steinhoff is unopposed for the Democratic nomination, while incumbent Scott Fitzgerald is running for the Republicans.
State seats
All state representative seats will be voted on in Walworth County. A number of the races are part of the state’s redistricting:
- District 31: John H. Henderson (Dem.) and Tyler August (Rep.) run unopposed. Current incumbent Ellen Schutt is not running for reelection, while August moves to District 31 from 32 due to remapping.
- District 32: Michael Dhindsa (Dem.) and Amanda Nedweski (Rep.) run unopposed. This is the seat vacated when August moved to District 31.
- District 33: Alan Kupsik runs unopposed for the Democrats, but Andrew Cegielski is challenging incumbent Robin Vos.
- District 43: With incumbent Jenna Jacobson moving to District 50, Brienne Brown is running unopposed for the Democrats, while Scott Johnson is being challenged by Dylan Kurtz for the Republican nomination.
- District 83: Both challengers are running unopposed – Zach Roper as a Democrat and Chuck Wichgers as a Republican.
For state senator, Megan Lach (Dem.) and Julian Bradley (Rep.) are running unopposed for their party’s nomination for District 28.
Other races
Walworth County’s Zeke Wiedenfeld is running for the state district attorney position, unopposed.
County Clerk Susi Pike is also running unopposed, as is treasurer Valerie Etzel.
There are a pair of Republicans running for Register of Deeds: Kathy Kostock and Michael Domino.
