Three declare candidacy

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

Now that nomination papers are being circulated to run for office in the spring elections, three individuals have declared their candidacies for Rhinelander mayor.

In addition to the two candidates who began their campaigns this summer ­– Alderman Alex Young, who has been on the City Council for 13 years, and Chris Frederickson, a respiratory therapist and youth sports coach in the Rhinelander area who hasn’t previously held elective office – former Alderman Scott Counter has filed a declaration of candidacy with the city clerk’s office.

If all three or more candidates would file nomination papers by the Jan. 2 deadline, a primary would be held Feb. 20 to narrow the field to two candidates for the April 3 spring general election.

Mayor Dick Johns has informed the Star Journal he is in the process of filling out the paperwork to file a statement of non-candidacy and will not seek another four-year term.

One of the four aldermen whose terms expire next April has already filed a declaration of non-candidacy. Tom Gleason has submitted the paperwork to the city clerk’s office indicating he won’t seek another four-year term in District 8.

Though Young previously indicated he wouldn’t also be seeking another term as an alderman while running for mayor next year, as of Monday he had yet to file a declaration of non-candidacy for his aldermanic seat in District 6.

Tom Kelly has file a declaration of candidacy for re-election as an alderman in District 4. The District 2 aldermanic seat currently held by Mark Pelletier is also up for election next April.