Fennimore will have a few choices at the polls this coming Tuesday, April 7 to decide the next mayor of the City of Fennimore.

Local business owner, Rob Krantz, Rick Govier, a retired employee of the Wisconsin Department of Correction, and Noah Hamann of Afflicted Productions are all running as write-in candidates for the position. 

Krantz, Govier, and Hamann are running to replace current City of Fennimore Mayor Ryan Boebel who after 10 years in the position decided not seek reelection.

‘It’s been 10 years a nice even number,” Boebel stated when explaining his decision not to run for reelection. “Time for some new blood in the position.

Rob Krantz, owner of Krantz Auto and Repair and Krantz Hardware, grew up in Cassville and graduated in 1988. After three years of different jobs and moving, Krantz ended up here in Fennimore. 

He attended Southwest Tech and worked at Rayovac.  Krantz and his wife, Cindy, were married in 1993. 

In 1998, Krantz left Rayovac to work at Sub-Zero in Madison. 

After 15 years at Sub-Zero Krantz had the opportunity to purchase the local auto parts store in 2013. 

Since then he has continued to grow the business by building a new location and adding hardware. 

In December 2024 Krantz was able to purchase the old World of Variety building and expand their hardware offering for the community. Along the way Krantz and his wife Cindy, were blessed with three children, and four grandkids with number five coming the end of April.

Why are you running for mayor?

I am running for mayor because I believe in community service and accountability in all parts of our government.

Why should voters write you in for the mayoral position?

I think the voters should write me in because I have a record of setting my mind to do something and then working to achieve those goals. My example would be both of my businesses here in town. Both started as just thoughts in my head and a wife who thought I was crazy.

If elected, what can the City of Fennimore expect from you as mayor?

If elected as mayor citizens should rest assured that they can bring any issues/concerns to me directly and expect to get action.

What are three good/great things about Fennimore?

In my opinion the strongest part of Fennimore has got to be the community members themselves. I feel like our second strongest asset is our location on the “crossroads.” I feel like this makes Fennimore a great candidate for future business expansion. I also feel that what makes Fennimore great is the pride people have here in the community.

What are three issues/concerns you’d like to see addressed as mayor?

A few issues I would like to see addressed as mayor would be to try to bring in more businesses. I would like to also try to address the issue of traffic on Lincoln Avenue. I also feel like we need to be more supportive of our police, fire department, and our EMS services. These are the people that keep us all safe when we are at our worst.

        Rick Govier is a lifelong citizen of Fennimore. He and his wife, Kim, have been married since 2003 and they have two children and three grandchildren.

He worked construction right out of high school and then started working with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, retiring in April 2023 after 26 ½ years.

Govier has been involved in community volunteer activities such as coaching for summer rec, prep work and cooking for the annual chicken barbecue, and concessions for the annual baseball tournaments.

Why are you running for mayor?

I am running for mayor to help contribute to the continued progress of our “City on the Move.” Fennimore is more than just a place to live—it’s a community built on strong relationships, shared values, and a genuine sense of belonging. I believe in building on those strengths while working toward thoughtful growth, improved opportunities, and a future that reflects the needs and voices of all residents. Together, we can move our city forward.

Why should voters write you in for the mayoral position?

Having lived in Fennimore my entire life, I have deep-rooted community ties. It is the place where I raised my family and where my grandchildren are being raised today. My vision is for Fennimore to be a city where families choose to stay and grow, and a destination that travelers are eager to visit. 

Say you are elected, what can the City of Fennimore expect from you as mayor?

If elected, I will maintain an open-door policy for all citizens to share their ideas and concerns. I intend to engage directly with every municipal department to gain a comprehensive understanding of our infrastructure, including water, sewer, and street maintenance. By consulting with our employees, who possess invaluable day-to-day expertise, we can effectively integrate their perspectives into our city’s strategic planning.

What are three good/great things about Fennimore?

Fennimore has a long history of strong community ties, and that is a great asset to continue to build on. We live in a rural area and have two major highways that intersect and could offer so much with new developments whether that be industrial or residential. Southwest Tech is another asset, we need to continue to collaborate and help them grow.

What are three issues/concerns you’d like to see addressed as mayor?

One of my goals is to bring in new businesses and to be sure they stay. We must also prioritize increasing the availability of residential housing options within our community. Furthermore, I commit to collaborating strategically with our EMS and Fire Departments to mitigate volunteer shortages, and supporting our city police department to maintain a secure environment for our residents and businesses.

Attempts by the Fennimore Times to contact Noah Hamann of Afflicted Productions were unsuccessful.

With Krantz, Govier,  and Hamann registered as write-in candidates their names will have to be physically written in when casting a ballot on April 7.