There are no statewide contests happening in todays primary races but a southern Wisconsin school district has a lot at stake. On the ballot is a $3.5 million referendum for the Brodhead School District. Superintendent Chuck Deery says without the funding nearly a dozen teachers and staff would be let go. All extracurricular activities and sports would also be eliminated. The district is concerned about a mass exodus of students if that were to happen.
Sup. Deery (:21)
In other races, mayors in two of Milwaukee’s larger suburbs will have their jobs on the line. Four challengers are running against Waukesha’s first-term Mayor Larry Nelson, and one is a former Journal Sentinel reporter. In Brookfield, two-term incumbent Jeff Speaker has three opponents including one who quit the Elmbrook School Board to run for mayor.
There’s also a three-way primary for the state’s Fourth District Court of Appeals, which hears cases in 24 southern-and-central Wisconsin counties. Incumbent Charles Dykman is stepping down, and three people hope to replace him: Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard, La Crosse County Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez, and Richland County Circuit Judge Edward Leineweber. The top two vote-getters in all of today’s primaries will advance to the general election April 6.
The polls are open until eight tonight.
Beth Wheelock-WCLO contributed to this report