Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Incumbent Melvin Wendland is out of the race for Bonduel village president as a result of Tuesday’s primary.
Voters in Bonduel chose Wendland’s two challengers to move forward to the general election on April 7.
Sharon Wussow, a trustee on the Village Board, and former Village President Grant Staszak, finished in a virtual tie at the top, with Wendland finishing third.
The unofficial results, which still need to be certified, were:
Wussow 58
Staszak 57
Wendland 46
Wendland has been president for six years and served as a trustee for more than 30 years. He was seeking another two-year term.
Wussow had a couple of stretches on the Village Board totaling 12 years; she has served for six years this last time around.
Staszak served two terms as president before leaving for a term on the Shawano County Board six years ago, then went on to run the Amico’s restaurant in Belle Plaine.
Wussow said residents had been telling her while campaigning they felt it was time for a change, and Tuesday’s results showed that.
She said she didn’t feel there was any single particular issues that made the difference.
“I don’t think there are any pressing issues,” she said.
Wussow also said she wanted to thank those who voted for her Tuesday.
Staszak said the vote margin with Wussow showed there was still some work for him to do between now and April, and he planned to make sure he is accessible to answer voter questions before the spring election.
“People still have trust in the top two contenders and faith that we’ll carry through with what we’ve done to move the village forward and listen to the residents,” he said.
Wendland said he wasn’t surprised by the results given that his opponents had made an issue of sewer and water rates, which, he said, the village has no control over.
He said the village is locked into paying off bonds on infrastructure borrowing that still have about 25 years to go.
“Both said they wanted to lower sewer and water rates. That will never happen,” he said. “But I hope people hold them to it.”
Wendland said he has no plans to run again.
“I’m just going to sit back and watch these people cut taxes and utility rates,” he said.