Deadline to file nomination papers Jan. 2

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

At least one contested race is in the works for next spring on the Rhinelander City Council with less than two weeks remaining before the Jan. 2 deadline to file nomination papers to run for public office.

In addition to Tom Kelly seeking another four-year term in District 4, a challenger, Kyle Rogers, a former Northwoods River News reporter who now works at COLE Publishing in Three Lakes, has also filed nomination papers for the office, said city clerk Val Foley.

District 8 on the City Council will have new representation after the April 3 spring general election with Tom Gleason already having filed a declaration of non-candidacy. Ryan Rossing, an Oneida County sheriff’s deputy, has declared his candidacy for the seat.

As of Thursday morning, one of the other two aldermanic seats up for election this spring had someone file a declaration of candidacy.

In the District 6 seat held by Alex Young, who has declared his candidacy to run for mayor next year and previously announced he didn’t plan on seeking re-election as an alderman, David Holt has filed a declaration of candidacy.

The District 2 seat held by Mark Pelletier did not have anyone file a declaration of candidacy as of Thursday morning, Foley said.

In next year’s mayoral race, in which incumbent Dick Johns has announced he is not seeking another four-year term, Foley said the three candidates who have declared their candidacies as of Thursday morning include Young, former alderman Scott Counter and Chris Frederickson, a respiratory therapist and youth sports coach in the Rhinelander area.

If all three or more mayoral 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 election.