All but one of the 27 Shawano County Board incumbents held onto their seats in Tuesday’s election. Most faced no opposition, but nearly all of those who did easily defeated their challengers to secure another two-year term.
In District 27, however, incumbent Marion Wnek was ousted by former Supervisor Jon Zwirschitz.
Zwirschitz and Wnek both held seats on the board until their districts merged in the 2010 redistricting. They ran against one another, with Wnek winning that year.
On Tuesday, Zwirschitz defeated Wnek, 140-125. The district includes the towns of Hutchins and Almon and the village of Mattoon.
“I’m going to work to save the taxpayers money,” Zwirschitz said. “They’re wasting too much money. People are ready for a change.”
Wnek said he had no reaction to the loss.
“The voters spoke and that’s it,” he said.
Wnek said he has no plans to run again.
Elsewhere, District 5 incumbent Sandy Steinke defeated John Granchay, 82-42. The district includes Wards 9 and 10 in the city of Shawano.
“I want to say thank you to the voters and thanks for their support,” Steinke said.
Steinke chalked up the win to voters’ familiarity with her and her record.
“People know I’m a conservative and that I have their best interests in mind,” she said. “I represent the people, and I’ll never forget that.”
Granchay said beating an incumbent is always difficult, especially when the incumbent holds two positions. Steinke is also a Shawano alderperson.
“I just hope they (county supervisors) solve the issues,” Granchay said. “They’re spending a lot of money and spinning their wheels.”
In District 6, incumbent Randy Young faced an official write-in candidate in William Ecke, but rolled past him 122-20. The district includes Wards 11 and 12 in the city of Shawano.
In other contested County Board races:
• District 10 incumbent Robert Krause defeated challenger David Korth, 68-48. The district includes Ward 3 of the town of Washington and Wards 1 and 2 of Green Valley.
• District 12 incumbent Kathy Luebke defeated challenger Ken Bierhals, 55-19. The district includes the town of Maple Grove, Ward 2 of the town of Lessor and the part of Pulaski in Shawano County.
• District 18 incumbent Steven Gueths beat challenger Cheryl Klapste, 123-77. The district includes Wards 2 and 3 of the town of Richmond.
• District 19 incumbent and County Board Vice Chairman Arlyn Tober easily turned back a challenge from Leone Schneidewend, 104-31. The district includes the town of Pella, Ward 2 of the town of Herman, Ward 1 of the town of Grant, and Wards 4, 5 and 6 in the city of Marion.
• District 23 incumbent Ray Faehling narrowly defeated challenger Annette Rockey, 78-70. The district includes Fairbanks and Tigerton.