One incumbent, two challengers to vie for two open city council seats

By Kim McDarison

Three candidates have successfully submitted paperwork to be included on the April ballot each running for one of two Fort Atkinson City Council seats. 

The three candidates are incumbent Bruce Johnson, 42 E. Rockwell Ave., and challengers Eric Schultz, 365 Ramesh Ave., and Ron Martin, 409 Nadig Dr. 

Brandon Housley, who holds one of the seats coming due in April, told Fort Atkinson Online in November that he would not be seeking another term. 

Community residents looking to run as candidates were able to begin collecting signatures for nomination papers on Dec. 1. 

Three Fort Atkinson residents, Johnson, Schultz and Jordan Lamb, released written statements to Fort Atkinson Online declaring their intentions to run. 

Schultz submitted an announcement on Nov. 29, declaring his intention to run.

Johnson announced his intention to run for a third term on Dec. 1. 

On Dec. 2, Lamb announced his intention to run for a second time; he was among four candidates vying for three open city council seats in 2021. He was unsuccessful in that bid. 

On Dec. 30, Lamb posted an online form to a social media community page, looking to collect signatures for his nomination form. 

He wrote: “Signatures are due next week and I still need to collect more to get to 100. I’ve attached a form for ease of making arrangements.” 

On Tuesday, the deadline for submitting candidacy declaration forms, Lamb’s name was not among those released by Fort Atkinson City Clerk Michelle Ebbert as a candidate for the seats. 

With three candidates running, there will be a race for the two city council seats, with the top two vote getters earning a place on the city council in April, but a primary will not be required. 

A primary election is required if more than four candidates come forward to run for the two at-large seats. 

The Fort Atkinson City Council is a five-member board, with each member elected to a two-year term. Of the five members, two are elected in even-numbered years and three in odd-numbered years.

In 2021, council members Mason Becker and Megan Hartwick, and council President Chris Scherer were elected as officeholders. Those seats will come due for reelection in 2023. 

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