Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawano Alderman Bob Kurkiewicz was re-elected Tuesday to his District 1 seat on the Shawano Common Council, defeating challenger Jessica Van Buren.
Unofficial results reported by the city Tuesday were:
Kurkiewicz 163
Van Buren 103
The results still need to be verified by the Board of Canvass.
Kurkiewicz said he was very pleased and thanked everyone who supported him, but that he also planned to reach out to Van Buren given the amount of support she also had.
“I’d like to get her input on any ideas she might have and find out what fresh ideas she might have for the council,” Kurkiewicz said.
“I’m disappointed in the election results,” Van Buren said. “It’s disheartening to know that the people of my district would vote for an alderperson who doesn’t reside here year round and attends his city council meetings via Skype. I will consider running again in the future.”
Kurkiewicz, a retired Shawano school principal, has served for 14 years on the Common Council and has been involved in city government on various commissions for 28 years.
Van Buren is a property lister for Shawano County.
Two other races for the council were uncontested Tuesday.
Seth Mailahn ran for the District 3 aldermanic seat being vacated by Woody Davis, who chose not to run again, and picked up 135 votes.
Sandy Steinke ran unopposed in District 5, where she netted 161 votes.