Dave Peterson is running as a write-in candidate in next week’s spring election for the 1st Aldermanic District seat on the Waupaca Common Council.
He is one of two people running as a write-in candidate for the council seat. The other one is Randy Thern.
Ald. Dave Shambeau is not seeking re-election in the April 1 election, and no one filed nomination papers by the Jan. 7 deadline to be a candidate for the district he represents.
As a result, there will not be any names on the April 1 ballot for the 1st Aldermanic District. Voters in that district will have to write in a name.
Peterson is a lifelong resident of Waupaca.
This is the first time he is running for public office.
Peterson said he decided to run as a write-in candidate, because there “was an opening and a need and a chance to get involved in something. I have time for it.”
He is getting the word out about his candidacy mostly by word of mouth. In addition, he has some signs and flyers.
Peterson is a graduate of Waupaca High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in education.
After his student teaching, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent a little over a year in Vietnam.
For 30-plus years, he was a history teacher at Weyauwega-Fremont High School. He also taught driver’s education there. In addition, he was a freshmen football coach, junior varsity basketball coach and the head baseball coach.
Peterson has been playing with or coaching the Waupaca Lakemen since 1965 and is the president of the South-Central Division of the Badger Amateur Baseball Association.
Retired since 2002, Peterson has been a behind-the-wheel instructor at Driver’s 2 B since that time.
Peterson’s wife, Laura, is also a lifelong Waupaca resident. She taught English at Waupaca Middle School and is retired. The couple has three grown children and three grandchildren.
Peterson is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he has served several terms on the council, including a term as president.
Of his desire to serve on the Waupaca Common Council, he said, “I’m not going to be a big spender. I have no hidden agenda.”