Jensen in, Graff out (maybe)

By Patricia Bogumil

Editor

Voters in Tuesday’s election probably upgraded Dan Jensen from being just a thorn in the side of the Waterford High School Board to having his own seat on the board.

At least that’s the preliminary outlook Wednesday morning, with unofficial results awaiting the return of likely dozens of outstanding absentee ballots that, to be counted, must be postmarked no later than April 2 and received by 4 p.m., Friday, April 5.

Jensen, the outspoken board president of the Waterford Graded School District WGSD), and his supporters fought hard to try and knock off long-time incumbent Jim Graff from the high school board.

Incumbent Nancy Klemko was easily returned to the board. Klemko said she and Graff had waged an honest and fair campaign for re-election, and had not made personal attacks against the other candidates.

“Board members need to realize that they are role models,” Klemko commented.

Challenger Deanna Stever, a long-time member of the Drought School Board, lost her bid for a seat on the high school board.

Tuesday night, before election results were posted by the Racine County Clerk, Stever said she hoped voters had received the message that it was time for someone new to step in.

“There’s definitely a need for change in Waterford,” she said, explaining that long-term incumbents tend to settle in to represent the status quo.

“I think it’s time for new people to get in there.”

Preliminary results show voters likely agreed. With outstanding absentee ballots still to be totaled, the unofficial count shows:

•  Klemko with 1,605 votes (20.96 percent of the vote total), followed by

• Jensen (1,521, 19.86 percent), and

• Graff close behind with 1,495 (19.52 percent), then

• Stever (1,380, 18 percent).

Jensen and Graff did not respond to a request for comment on the election by press time Wednesday.

Village, town and more school races

In other closely watched Waterford races:

• voters picked Town Supervisor Tom Hincz over Town Supervisor Tim Szeklinski to replace long-time Waterford Town Chairman Robert Langmesser, who is retiring.

• incumbent Village Board President Tom Roanhouse withstood a challenge from Board Trustee Judy Spencer, who gave up her trustee position on the board to run for the chairman office.

• incumbent Robert Kastengren will return to the Waterford Graded board, joined by newcomer Dawn Bleimehl. She replaces Blaine Nicholls, who did not seek re-election. Newcomer Dan Bowser lost his bid for election to the Waterford Graded board.

Following are preliminary election results from local contested municipal and school board races as of press time Wednesday.

• VILLAGE OF WATERFORD president

512 (50.34%) Tom Roanhouse (I)

376 (36.97%) Judy Spencer

The two-year position pays $12,000 annually plus $40 per meeting.

• TOWN OF WATERFORD chairman

759 (48.47%) Tom Hincz

614 (39.21%) Tim Szeklinski

The two-year position pays $17,911 annually.

Hincz also won re-election to his position as a town supervisor, which he will vacate. That board position will be filled by town board appointment later this month.

• WATERFORD GRADED SCHOOL DISTRICT (two seats)

1,414 (24.55%) – Robert Kastengren (I)

1,165 (20.23%) – Dawn Bleimehl

974 (16.9%)  –     Dan Bowser

The three-year positions had paid $3,400 annually until last October, when electors eliminated board pay at the district’s annual meeting. Another vote will be taken at another annual meeting set for Monday, April 22.