Three candidates for president, five for trustee
By John Faucher
Village of Hortonville residents will see a contested spring election in 2017.
Hortonville Police Chief Michael Sullivan is one of five candidates to file election papers for a village board position in the 2017 April election.
There are three available trustee seats up for election.
Sullivan has said he is running because he is a village resident and has always had a desire to serve in public office.
If elected, Sullivan would have to choose between his position as police chief or village trustee. State law prohibits a village employee from holding office as a village trustee.
Sullivan can run for office even though he is currently on paid administrative leave.
He was placed on administrative leave Oct. 20, following allegations made against him by village officials.
Sullivan’s attorney Greg Gill Sr. contests that the alleged misconduct allegations are wrong, and that Sullivan was singled out in a “witch hunt” by certain officials.
The Hortonville Police and Fire Commission held evidentiary hearings in late December. They are expected to make a ruling by the end of this month.
Sullivan has served as village police chief since 2003.
Martens, Schuh stepping down
Current village president Traci Martens will not seek re-election in April.
Trustee Jeff Schuh has also filed non-candidacy papers.
Former village trustee Al Habeck and current trustee Jack Kuhnke have both filed papers to run for the Village President position. Hortonville resident Michael Mischker has also filed his candidacy papers for president.
There will be a Feb. 21 primary election to narrow the list of village president candidates to two.
The five candidates running for three village trustee positions will not be involved in a primary.
Incumbent trustees Peter Olk and Kelly Schleif will both seek re-election in April.
Residents Nick Knuth, Sullivan, and former trustee Dawn Vollbrecht are also on the ballot. Voters will select three of the five.
Hortonville Area School District
Hortonville Area School District voters residing in the Town of Ellington and Town of Greenville will see contested school board races on April 4.
Incumbent school board member Paul Thome is being challenged by Andrea M. Marcks in the Town of Ellington.
Incumbent school board member Varsha Shah is being challenged by Brett Eidahl in the Town of Greenville.