MONROE — Preliminary results from the April 2 Wisconsin Spring Election are in, and Green County voters showed up in strong numbers to support Pleasant View Nursing Home. Green County Supervisors will canvas and certify the results on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
The Pleasant View referendum sought to continue funding of $790,000 a year in order to keep staffing operations going. With all 34 precincts reporting, 5,601 (65.01%) out of 8,615 voters approved the measure.
In all races across Green County, 8,920 voters cast a ballot. In Lafayette County, more than 2,600 voters turned out.
Brodhead’s school referendum passed by 65 votes, 889-824. The voter-approved measure gives district officials nearly $17.5 million for facility and maintenance upgrades. However, the Juda schools operational referendum of $500,000 failed by just 33 votes, 233-200.
There were 102 school district referendums statewide on Tuesday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Instruction (DPI). Those questions asked voters for additional funding for either operational budget or improvement projects. According to the DPI website, 68 contests — 2/3 — had results posted as of 12:30 p.m. on April 4, with 42 passing and 26 failing.
“Wisconsin communities value our public schools and the future of our kids, but they are being put in an impossible position,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said in a statement regarding school referendums on the ballot across Wisconsin. “While billions of dollars sit in the state’s coffers in the form of a surplus, voters are making the difficult decision whether to raise their own taxes just so their public schools can survive. Tonight’s referendum results are further proof that our state is not living up to its responsibility.”
Underly said that for far too long, Wisconsin politicians have willfully underfunded the state’s public schools and that has led to severe financial constraints and difficult choices.
“Local families are choosing whether they can fill the hole,” Underly said. “We need to reinvest in our public schools and our kids, and we have the means to do so. We owe it to our kids to make the necessary investments, and to stop forcing local communities to make impossible choices.”
In local contested races, School District of Monroe voters selected all three incumbents back onto the school board — Jim Curran (1,999), Teresa Keehn (1,890) and Phil Vosberg (1,646). Challenger Nick Baker (1,489) came up 157 votes shy of Vosberg.
Juda’s school board race had five challengers for three spots. Jennifer Brooks (269), Rustin Whitney (256), and Dennis Pfingsten (218) secured spots on the board. Suzanne Trotter (183) and Courtney Martins (152) were the other two challengers.
Black Hawk also had five challengers for three spots on its school board. Mindy Stauffacher (318), Jason Figi (328) and Cali Schliem (267) were elected. Brenda Peterson (259) and Jason Herbst (156) were also on the ballot.
Voters in the Argyle School District selected three to the school board. Mandy Johnsen (243), Jonathan Stoeger (221) and Stephanie Holmes (235) outperformed John Leigh (211).
In the City of Brodhead Alderperson at large race, Jill Baxter (433), Benjamin Gritzmaker (354) and Paul Naramore (352) were re-elected. J. Michael Lowery was short with just 262 votes. Brodhead also chose a new mayor, electing alderperson Thomas Simpson (354) over incumbent Casey Jones (317).
The Village of Albany voted in three Trustees in a four person field. Tonya Stephan (123) was the leading vote-getter, followed by Fred Johnson (102), Kimberly Klein (87) and Bert Hefty (85).