GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The polls are officially closed for the 2021 Spring Election.
Major races on the ballot included those for State Superintendent and State Assembly District 89.
A number of sources are now reporting that Pecatonica Superintendent Jill Underly has defeated former Brown Deer Superintendent Deb Kerr in the race to become Wisconsin’s next superintendent of schools, based on unofficial results from Tuesday.
RACE CALL:
DDHQ projects Jill Underly (@underlyforwi) has won the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction election.https://t.co/A12qXOlZPe
Call time: 10:12:19 PM(EDT) pic.twitter.com/bX3i93VjTt
— Decision Desk HQ (@DecisionDeskHQ) April 7, 2021
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic-backed Pecatonica schools leader Jill Underly elected Wisconsin state superintendent, defeating Deb Kerr.
More election results: https://t.co/1tcdiWMH0k #wipolitics
— WLUK-TV FOX 11 (@fox11news) April 7, 2021
In the 89th Assembly District, which includes the city of Marinette, Republican Elijah Behnke defeated Democrat Karl Jaeger. That race was called with just 50% of precincts reporting. That seat was open after Republican John Nygren resigned from the Legislature.
More local races included the county executive contests in Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties, city council contests in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac, and school board races – including the contest in Green Bay.
One incumbent will stay, another will leave the Green Bay School Board. Incumbent Andrew Becker received the second most votes behind newcomer Nancy Welch. Incumbent Rhonda Sitnikau received the fewest votes of the four candidates on the ballot.
Appleton’s School Board will retain the only incumbent on their ballot. Kay Eggert led all candidates with 9,777 votes (34%). She’ll be joined by Edward Ruffolo, who received 7,777 votes (27%).
Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri held her seat by just a few hundred votes over challenger and local businessman, Kris Larson. Palmeri received 4,517 votes, or about 52%. Larson saw significant support with 4,183 votes (48%) for a campaign that focused mainly on social media, taking no contributions and spending no money.
Larson conceded in a post on Facebook:
The Oshkosh City Council, meanwhile, will be full of new faces. Bill Miller and Aaron Wojciechowski led the six-person field with 18% of the votes each. Courtney Hansen edged out the only incumbent in the race, Jake Krause, by just 26 total votes.
The Appleton City Council didn’t lose any incumbents as William Siebers, Brad Firkus, Katie Van Zeeland, and Kyle Lobner each held on to their respective districts. They’ll be joined by Kristin Alfheim in District 11 and former city communications coordinator Chad Doran in District 15.
A new face will take on the role of Winnebago County Executive. Local businessman Jon Doemel defeated long-time incumbent Mark Harris 54%-46%. Doemel declared victory in just a few short words.
Fond du Lac County Executive Allen Buechel will keep his job, taking down challenger Rick Gedemer 58%-42%.
A full list of election results can be found here.
