By Kim McDarison
The Fort Atkinson City Council Tuesday voted in favor of combining the city’s 10 wards in advance of the April 6 General Election.
City Clerk Michelle Ebbert noted that the process of combining wards was similar to the process undertaken last month when council approved combining wards for the primary election scheduled to take place Feb. 16.
At the time, Ebbert noted, combining wards becomes an available option when reporting units within the city, such as wards, utilize one ballot style for the entire city, negating any reason to provide separate results. Instead, she said, the results within the city would be reported as one set.
Seven candidates running for the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) superintendent seat will be on the February ballot.
They are Sheila Briggs, Joe Fenrick, Troy Gunderson, Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams, Deborah Kerr, Steve Krull and Jill Underly. DPI Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor will not be seeking another term.
In April, the ballot will include the two candidates whose names emerge as top vote-getters from the primary, and the names of those running for open seats on the School District of Fort Atkinson Board of Education and city council.
Therefore, in April, Ebbert said, one reporting unit will be established to provide results to Jefferson County.
Newcomer Rhona Buchta, Fort Atkinson, is the only name that will appear on the April ballot running for an open school board seat. Incumbent Rachel Snethen is not seeking another term.
There are four candidates running in April for three city council seats, including incumbents Mason Becker and Chris Scherer, and two challengers, Megan Hartwick and Jordan Lamb. The three top vote-getters will win council seats.
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