Baumeister challenging Fritz for Boscobel Common Council position

City's Second Ward

Dave Krier

Published: Apr 1, 2021, 7:43 PM

BOSCOBEL - Residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, April 6, to select new members of the Boscobel School Board. The polls are open in Wisconsin from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Robin Baumeister

Robin Baumeisteris a 47-year-old resident of the city of Boscobel who lives with her boyfriend Todd and her two children, Jonathan and Maya. She is a graduate of Wauzeka High School who works as the Program Coordinator for the Boscobel Area Chamber of Commerce. She is also the Vice President of the Grant County Tourism Council.

What are the top issues facing the City of Boscobel and how would you work to resolve it?

I believe that community togetherness is an issue in the City of Boscobel. I have worked with various clubs and organizations throughout my adult life, and I have seen real results when these groups work together towards a goal. I believe that there are many people in this community ready and waiting to be a part of the togetherness; however, there are multiple groups working towards the same goal taking different paths. I look forward to seeing all of these groups come together to achieve goals for our city’s progress. I want to actively involve the community by being out and asking questions to best determine the path that the City Government should pursue. This is your community, and I am asking for your support so that I can be your voice.

What are other key issues facing the City of Boscobel, and how would you work to resolve them?

Sitting in on various City meetings over the last year, I realize how our current elected officials have input on the growth and development of this City. I believe that not only Boscobel, but society in general is facing issues with lack of employees to fill positions, lack of people able to invest in storefronts, and lack of funding in general. I know that on a larger scale, it is going to take coordination and communication between various organizations to find a solution, and I want to be a part of that for the City of Boscobel. I would like to continue to communicate and provide information between various entities and organizations so that it is transparent and people can gain a better understanding of the challenges that we are overcoming.

Why are you the best candidate for this office?

I am excited to be a part of this beautiful city and am looking forward to overcoming the challenges to see this city grow and prosper. I want to be a positive influence in showing people the good that we are doing and working at developing solutions to the problems we face so that we all can be as good and kind as we can be! I am hoping for your support in this endeavor and to be your voice in building the business community, strengthen the school, and inform the community on the city’s progress. I want your input and help in making this city better every day!

Steve Fritz

Steve Fritz is a 65-year-old resident of the city of Boscobel who lives with his wife Sally and is recently retired. A 1973 graduate of Boscobel High School, he is the father of 10 and grandfather of 10, and currenlty serves on the Boscobel Common Council.

What are the top issues facing this district/municipality and how would you work to resolve it?

Community development including job growth and support for small businesses

• Promoting our downtown area and the things our City has to offer

• Attracting tourists and new residents

• Maintaining a clean, safe and attractive community

I encourage community members to get involved and share ideas to help us make decisions to improve our city always and make it a better place work, live, and raise our families.

What are other key issues facing the district/municipality, and how would you work to resolve them?

Our schools and our hospital are extremely important to our community and we need to work with them continually to help them meet the needs of Boscobel and the surrounding area. When people are looking at bringing a business here or relocating here for a job, these two entities are two of the most important factors in those decisions.

Why are you the best candidate for this office? (Please limit answer to 200 words.)

• Experienced: I have been a 2nd Ward Alderperson for the past five years.

• Local: I was born and raised in Boscobel and worked here for my entire career.

• Community Service: I have been active in numerous community organizations including the Boscobel Rescue Squad for five years and the Boscobel Fire Department for 34 years. I am currently a member of the Boscobel Fire Board, Boscobel Housing Authority, and Chairman of the Boscobel Boat Landing Commission.

It was quite an election

On April 1

Election Results_April 1, 2025 Crawford County

GILLIAN POMPLUN

Crawford County Independent & Kickapoo Scout

Published: Apr 2, 2025, 5:05 PM

Politics-weary Wisconsin citizens mustered the verve to once again go to the polls in Wisconsin’s April 1 spring election. With record spending, a barrage of campaign literature in mailboxes, chaos on the federal level, and an endless stream of divisive TV advertising, voters on both sides turned out in record numbers to support the candidates of their choice.

Happy or sad, it’s likely the vast majority is just glad it’s over. While most spring elections draw much lower turnout than a presidential election, voter turnout in this year’s race was on par with last November’s contentious election in which Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris for the office of President of the United States.

Of course, the Wisconsin Supreme Court election took top billing, garnering record amounts of spending. Conservative versus liberal control of the court was on the line with the retirement of liberal justice Ann Walsh Bradley. Contending for the 10-year term were Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford.

The race was called for Crawford around 10 p.m. after Schimel called her to concede. The unofficial results show Crawford winning with 55% of the statewide vote to Schimel’s 45%.

Crawford County voters bucked recent electoral trends, carrying for the liberal candidate. In the county, Crawford took 51% of the vote, defeating Schimel with 49%. Crawford’s candidacy also prevailed in Vernon County with 54% of the vote, Richland County with 52% of the vote, La Crosse County with 63% of the vote, Sauk County with 57% of the vote, Iowa County with 62% of the vote, and Green County with 58% of the vote. Crawford’s victory was propelled by massive turnout and majorities in Dane, Milwaukee, Rock, Eau Claire and Bayfield counties. Voters in Dane County cast 82% of their votes for Crawford, in Milwaukee County 75%, in Rock County 61%, in Eau Claire 63%, and in Bayfield 61%.

Schimel’s campaign prevailed locally in Grant, Lafayette and Monroe counties, earning 52%, 51%, and 55% of votes cast respectively.

Incumbents prevail

It was also a night for incumbent candidates to prevail in races pertaining to public education in the state. Incumbent Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly won her race against charter school advocate Brittany Kinser, taking 53% of the statewide vote to Kinser’s 47%.

Locally, Underly outperformed Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford, winning her contest in counties that carried for Waukesha County judge Brad Schimel. Those counties include Grant and Lafayette counties, where Underly took 52% of votes cast. Kinser held on to votes cast for Schimel in Monroe County, taking 56% of votes cast.

Underly’s candidacy prevailed in Crawford, Vernon, Richland, Iowa, Sauk, and La Crosse counties. In those counties, Underly took 53%, 54%, 56%, 61%, 57%, and 61% respectively.

Mirroring the results in the statewide Superintendent of Public Instruction race, incumbent candidates Jerry Coleman and Charissa Richter prevailed against challengers Jesse Swenson and Melany Jelinek winning two three-year terms on the North Crawford School Board.

Coleman was the top vote-getter, with 660 votes, followed by Richter with 532 votes. Richter and challenger Melany Jelinek ran neck-in-neck for much of the night until results came in for the villages of Gays Mills and Bell Center, which pushed Richter over the finish line ahead. Jelinek finished with 502 votes, and Swenson with 412 votes.

Coleman took the most votes in the towns of Clayton, Haney, Scott, Utica, and in the villages of Bell Center, Gays Mills, and Soldiers Grove. Richter took the second most votes in the towns of Clayton, Haney, Scott, and Utica, and in the villages of Gays Mills and Soldiers Grove. Jelinek took more votes than Richter in the town of Freeman, and in the villages of Bell Center and Mt. Sterling.

Voter ID

Voters across the state voted to amend the Wisconsin Constitution to require photo identification to vote. The measure failed only in Dane and Milwaukee counties. Wisconsin had already required voters to show identification, but passage of the Republican-backed ballot question will make it harder for that requirement to be removed by the courts or the state legislature.

Statewide, the measure passed with 63% of the vote, with 37% of the voters voting against it.