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Seven contested races for Green County Board
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MONROE - Seven of 31 Green County Board supervisor races will be contested in April. One district will have no one on the ballot.

Wednesday at 5 p.m. was the deadline for candidates to submit nomination papers for candidacy in all government elections.

Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said the seven contested races are more than usual. He said that's probably due to four incumbents not seeking re-election.

There will be at least three new supervisors after the April 1 elections. District 4 incumbent David Rufenacht chose not to seek re-election, meaning the Monroe seat will go to either John Frantz or Randall Iverson.

In District 14, based in Brodhead, Sherry Condon chose not to seek re-election. Her husband, Peter Condon, will face off against Gary Davis.

"My wife has done a pretty good darn job," Condon said. "And I would like to continue that."

Patrick Davis is running unopposed for the District 12 seat held by incumbent Donald Timm, who is not running again.

In at least five races, the county's handling of the new justice center spurned interest in new candidates to run.

"I didn't like the decision to move the judicial functions from downtown to the city's outskirts," said John Glynn, who will oppose incumbent Gene Curran in District 3 (Monroe). "There was no promotion of meaningful public input."

Glynn said other issues that he wants to tackle are a green new justice center, making sure the city and county work together on Monroe Main Street's master plan for the downtown, a feasibility study to reduce the size of the county board and controlling residential development in the countryside, especially around New Glarus.

Condon is concerned with how the cost for a new justice center increased by more than $4 million to over $12 million, "without much discussion."

Patrick O'Brien announced Dec. 14 he would square off against incumbent Russ Torkelson in District 23 (Monticello/New Glarus). O'Brien said his focus will be on the new justice center planned for construction on the northeast side of Monroe.

"It is my intention to see this project stopped now, and go no further until a referendum is held for the citizens of Green County," O'Brien said in his news release.

Glynn said Stewart Strait, who will oppose incumbent Michael Furgal in District 6 (Monroe) and Patrick Davis also cite disappointment with the justice center issue as reasons they're running.

Another contested race features Kelly Bartels facing incumbent Oscar Olson in District 11 (Browntown).

"I feel quite strongly that our county needs to be fiscally responsible in these turbulent economic times," Bartels said in an e-mail to the Times announcing her candidacy. "I think we really need to be in tune with the wishes of the taxpayers we represent."

"An elected official should be willing to listen to what the taxpayers want, even when it might not agree with their personal views."

The other contested race features Sherri Fiduccia facing incumbent Jeff Thomm in District 16 (Town of Monroe).

The District 29 (New Glarus) seat vacated by Gary Keegan when he moved from the district will have no candidates on the ballot.

The write-in candidate who receives the most votes will be offered the supervisor seat, but does not have to accept it.

Monroe Mayor Ron Marsh and five aldermen will have no opposition in April, other than perhaps from write-in challengers.

Marsh and fellow incumbents Neal Hunter (Ward 1), Mark Coplien (3), Chuck Koch (5) and Thurston Hanson (7) will secure another term should no write-in candidates receive more votes.

Kent Kallembach, who the City Council appointed Ninth Ward alderman Wednesday night to replace Mike Capesius, also will run unopposed.

Larry Eakins and Mary Frantz intend to run again for their Monroe school board seats. John Mulhall filed for non-candidacy, leaving one seat open.

Newcomer Heidi Zander of Monroe also returned nomination papers to run.