In the middle of several potential contested races this spring for Door County supervisory positions, one district could be lacking a candidate.
District 7 Supervisor Megan Lundahl submitted her declaration of non-candidacy on Monday, joining Susan Kohout (District 6) and Richard “Biz” Virlee (District 14) in not running for re-election this spring. No one has taken out nomination papers to run for her seat while Kenneth Fisher (District 6) and Darrick DeMeuse (District 14) have turned in the necessary paperwork to replace their predecessor. Fisher, DeMeuse, David Englebert (District 1), Rodney Beardsley (District 8), Alexis Heim Peter (District 10), Nissa Norton (District 12), Dale Vogel (District 13), Elizabeth Gauger (District 15), David M Enigl (District 16), Bob Bultman (District 17), David Lienau (District 19), and Joel Gunnlaugsson (District 21) are the sole people circulating nomination papers in their respective districts.
That sets up potentially eight contested elections this spring. Lora Jorgensen looks to challenge District 2 supervisor Todd Thayse who just joined the board last year. District 3 Supervisor Roy Englebert is poised to face Patrick Olson. District 4 will feature a pair of current supervisors with Kara Counard and Nancy Robillard running against each other. Redistricting is part of the reason why the two incumbents are positioned to run against each other while either Jeff Miller or Timothy Smith will become the new District 5 supervisor. Jonathan Kruse is planning to challenge District 9 Supervisor Dan Austad while Helen Bacon looks to rejoin the Door County Board by challenging current District 11 supervisor Morgan Rusnak. District 18 Supervisor Vinni Chomeau recently took out her nomination papers, joining Holly Runquist in the race for the seat.
The seat with the most interest is District 20 located in the Liberty Grove area. Nate Bell, Walter Kalms, Janet Johnson, and Abby Duebler are all circulating nomination papers in efforts to capture the seat. Of the 30 people to take out nomination papers, only Gauger, DeMeuse, Vogel, Rusnak, Austad, Fisher, Robillard, and Englebert have returned them as of Tuesday morning.
Potential candidates have until January 5th to return their nomination papers to the Door County Clerk’s office.
