By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The ballot for the April 7 election will include not only contested races for the Village of Sharon Board of Trustees, but also Walworth County’s Branch 3 Circuit Court Judge.
Village of Sharon seats
In the Village of Sharon, incumbents Lawrence Diderich, 186 Martin St., Pam Woodrich, 157 Seymour St., and Michael Brooke, 126 Pearl St., are all pursuing re-election to their village trustee seats for the upcoming term. In addition, Zachary Cantwell, 236 Center St., will also be on Tuesday’s ballot. Voters will be asked to choose no more than three of the four candidates.
In addition, Mark Ruosch is again running for Village President. According to information provided by the Village of Sharon Clerk’s Office, Ruosch is the only candidate who filed papers for the village president seat.
Branch 3 Circuit Judge
As for the Walworth County Branch 3 Circuit Court Judge, two names will appear on Tuesday’s ballot.
Kristine Drettwan, 47, and John Peterson, 46, are both running for the Branch 3 seat, focusing on family, juvenile and probate court.
Drettwan has served as an assistant district attorney, beginning in 1996, and court commissioner in Walworth County, beginning in 2005. Drettwan was appointed to the seat by Gov. Scott Walker in January 2014 after the retirement of former Branch 3 Circuit Court Judge John Race.
Peterson has served as the municipal judge in the Village of Walworth since 2008 and has additionally been a private sector attorney for 15 years.
Drettwan said based on previous experience and having served as the Branch 3 judge for the past year, she feels she has the experience, dedication and integrity imperative to continue to serve as a county judge.
Peterson said over his years in the Village of Walworth, he has gained years of courtroom experience and he holds his ground when politics try to influence justice.
Peterson said his well-rounded wealth of experience and desire to help people through the process will help him in serving the public in a more direct fashion as a judge.
Drettwan too said her experience as a Gateway Technical College adjunct teacher has prepared her to help people through the system a little better, making her able to connect with people regardless of their ability and understanding.
Where to vote
The polls are open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, at the Sharon Community Center, located next to the Sharon Village Hall, 125 Plain St.
For those not living within the Village of Walworth, more information on where and when to vote is available at myvote.wi.gov.
