By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
With the final absentee ballots counted and the margin between himself and Phil Ketterhagen at 17 votes, Burlington Area School District School Board candidate Barry Schmaling announced Tuesday evening he would not seek a recount.
“I have great faith in our excellent poll workers, and the probability of there being 18 mistakes in checking under votes or absentee ballots is extremely low,” Schmaling wrote in a statement. “It is not reasonable to expect the final results of this election to change; therefore, it is my responsibility to all of BASD to not waste those tax dollars when we have such dire needs elsewhere in our district and community.”
A canvass of the votes Monday at the District Office showed that Ketterhagen had gained two votes via absentee ballot, while Schmaling had gained one and Kevin Bird three.
In total, Bird finished as the top vote-getter for one of the two open positions with 1,945 votes, followed by Ketterhagen with 1,854.
Schmaling was a close third with 1,837, but said Monday night that he didn’t want the district to have to foot any costs, as it was his understanding that the district wouldn’t be reimbursed for recount costs incurred.
“In a time of school budget crisis with the potential of thousands of tax dollars being spent, it is not a responsible choice to put the burden of those costs on the school district/tax payers unless I could reasonably foresee a different result,” Schmaling wrote.
He added later that he was “extremely proud” that he was sticking by his word to be responsible for the entire district.
“I wish the results had been different, but I am buoyed by the fact that this campaign was run with honor and integrity,” he wrote.
Ketterhagen, meanwhile, simply said “no comment” when asked about the situation Monday night. There were accusations made by some over the past week that write-in candidate Roger Koldeway had not followed the law when choosing to register as a write-in candidate after announcing he would not run – but not filing non-candidacy papers.
However, a check with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Monday showed there were no issues with Koldeway’s procedures because potential candidates were given additional time to file for the election once his initial decision not to run became clear.
Koldeway finished with 659 votes as a write-in candidate. He announced in mid-March that he was registering as a write-in to validate the votes of supporters who told him they intended to cast their ballots for him.
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To be clear, the school district’s attorney costs would not be reimbursed to the district in a recount as they are not deemed a required participant by the regulations. Typical recount costs (clerks, employee costs, basic materials)would have been reimbursed from the State because the margin was under 0.5%, so my concerns were both to the district as well as the taxpayers.
How sad for our community that Burlington voters chose to re-elect a person who cares so little for education and the needs of our children. Barry Schmaling, a person of integrity who cares about education, defeated by a person who makes national news for comparing educators to cattle who need to be hit over the head to get their attention! Is that really what our city is about? Sadly, this is the legacy of a radical right wing governor who has waged a relentless campaign against educators and has spread this poison throughout the state. Thankfully we still have excellent, selfless educators who care deeply for our children. Let’s hope that we can keep them now that Burlington has voted for ignorance rather than integrity.
This guy is so quick to judge others but he never steps up to run for office himself. What a joke!
Claims he cares deeply for education but again year after year he never runs! Just a bunch of hot air here I think.
National news? Ha! This folks is the proof I am talking about in terms of the “hot air” that comes from Mervin.
– Scott