Local state legislators re-elected

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Tracy Hartman has been elected the next Oneida County clerk.

Unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election show Hartman, the Crescent town clerk, outpolled Kerri Ison, a deputy county clerk, 14,791-2,790.

“I’m just very appreciative to all the Oneida County voters who supported me,” Hartman said.

Tracy Hartman

Hartman was the only county clerk candidate on the general election ballot after winning the Republican Party primary over Ison, 1,466-1,164. Ison then registered to run as a write-in candidate for the general election.

Though Hartman expected general election voters would also favor her, she said she didn’t expect she would win by such a large margin.

Upon beginning a four-year term as county clerk in January, Hartman said she will continue her part-time position as Crescent’s town clerk.

“I plan to do both,” she said.

Hartman said she will be learning the county clerk’s position over the next two months to make a smooth transition taking over from current county clerk Mary Bartelt, who decided not to run for another four-year term.

The Oneida County clerk’s race was the only contested countywide election this year. The incumbents who won new four-year terms running unopposed include district attorney Michael W. Schiek, county treasurer Kris Ostermann and register of deeds Kyle J. Franson with respective vote totals of 16,998, 15,296 and 16,678.

TIFFANY, SWEARINGEN, CZAJA RE-ELECTED

The three Republican incumbents who represent Oneida County in Madison all won re-election Tuesday.

In State Senate District 12, which includes all of Oneida County, Tom Tiffany of Hazelhurst won re-elected to a new four-year term after outpolling Democratic challenger Bryan Van Stippen, a former Stevens Point City Council member who moved to Deerbrook. Tiffany, who received more than 60 percent of the vote districtwide, bested Van Stippen in Oneida County, 12,171-8,736.

“I want to thank the voters of the 12th Senate District for the honor to represent them for four more years,” Tiffany said. “I remain committed to reforming state government and making it more accountable to the people of Wisconsin.”

State Rep. Rob Swearingen watches election returns Tuesday evening from the Al-Gen Dinner Club.

In State Assembly District 34, which includes most of Oneida County, Rob Swearingen of Rhinelander won his third two-year term by defeating Democratic challenger Matt Michalsen, a Lake Tomahawk town supervisor and Lakeland Union High School social studies teacher. Swearingen, who also received more than 60 percent of the vote districtwide, outpolled Michalsen in Oneida County, 11,395-7,457.

“It’s pretty clear people in the 34^th Assembly District are in tune with what I’m doing,” Swearingen said.

In State Assembly District 35, which includes the towns of Enterprise, Little Rice, Lynne, Nokomis, Schoepke and Woodboro in Oneida County, Mary Czaja of Irma won her third two-year-term by outpolling Democratic challenger Renea Frederick of Merrill. About two of every three voters casting ballots districtwide favored Czaja, whose advantage over Frederick in Oneida County was 1,337-728.