Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Tim Ryan Turnout for Tuesday’s general election and presidential primary was heavy in Shawano, with an estimated 65 percent of registered voters casting ballots at City Hall.
Jeanne Cronce, a former Shawano School District teacher and principal, eked out a narrow victory over Jim Oberstein in Tuesday’s race for Shawano mayor.
Cronce was facing Oberstein, who retired from Johnson Controls in Milwaukee in 2010, in the race to replace incumbent Mayor Lorna Marquardt, who chose not to seek re-election after 14 years in office.
The results, which still need to be verified by the Board of Canvass were:
Cronce - 1,434
Oberstein - 1,290
“I’m humbled by all the support from the community,” Cronce said. “I will do the best I can to move Shawano forward.”
Oberstein congratulated Cronce on her win and thanked his supporters, campaign workers and his wife.
“It was a close race,” he said, adding that both candidates were well-qualified.
“I wouldn’t have done anything different,” he said.
Poll workers at City Hall saw heavy voter turnout throughout the day. Officials estimated 65 percent of registered voters cast ballots on Tuesday.
Cronce had emphasized her familiarity with the city and her lifelong ties to the community in her run for mayor, while Oberstein had touted his background of 45 years in business.
It was the first time in 14 years there had been a contested mayor’s race in the city of Shawano.
Though views differed on how the city should move forward, business development and job growth were key issues, along with how the city should deal with long-vacant buildings
In the mayoral primary in February, Cronce picked up 563 votes to 288 for Oberstein, with the remaining 397 votes spread out among the other four contenders.
Incumbent Common Council members Rhonda Strebel, District 2, and John Hoeffs, District 6, were also up for re-election for Tuesday with no opposition, along with Lisa Hoffman, who ran to replace District 4 Alderman Fred Ponschok, who chose not to run for another two-year term.
Incumbent City Attorney Tim Schmid was also be on the ballot and faced no opposition.
County voters favor Trump
Donald Trump outpolled Ted Cruz, 4,269-4,218 in the Republican presidential primary Tuesday. Cruz, however, outpolled Trump in statewide voting. John Kasich received 623 votes in Shawano County. In the Democratic primary, Shawano County voters favored Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton, 2,976-2,174. Sanders won the statewide vote, as well. In the state Supreme Court race, winner Rebecca Bradley received 8,960 votes in Shawano County compared to 4,861 for JoAnne Kloppenburg.