Hammond, Nichols each raise more than $2,500 for Menasha mayoral campaign

Duke Behnke, Appleton Post-Crescent
·2 min read
The Menasha mayoral candidates are, clockwise from top left, Kyle Coenen, Rebecca Nichols, Stan Sevenich and Austin Hammond.
The Menasha mayoral candidates are, clockwise from top left, Kyle Coenen, Rebecca Nichols, Stan Sevenich and Austin Hammond.

MENASHA — Mayoral candidates Austin Hammond and Rebecca Nichols each raised more than $2,500 during the most recent reporting period of the election campaign, giving them an early financial advantage over candidates Kyle Coenen and Stan Sevenich.

Hammond reported $3,459 in contributions for the period ending Dec. 31, and Nichols reported $2,790 for the same period, according to campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk's office.

Coenen raised $665, and Sevenich raised $300.

Each of the candidates incurred expenses during the period, largely for campaign materials such as photos, logos, buttons, cards, yard signs, T-shirts and websites.

The top two finishers in the Feb. 20 nonpartisan primary election will advance to the April 2 election. The winner of the race will earn a four-year term as mayor and succeed incumbent Don Merkes, who didn't seek reelection after 16 years in office.

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Hammond's $3,459 in contributions came from 30 people or organizations, including three, plus himself, who contributed $200 or more.

  • Melissa Hammond, Fremont, $500

  • Sharon Baeten, Fremont, $380

  • Austin Hammond, Menasha, $377

  • Sarah Bauer, Menasha, $260

The contribution limit for an individual or candidate committee is $500.

Hammond also reported a $167 contribution from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Nichols' $2,790 in contributions came from 20 people or organizations, including seven who contributed $200 or more.

  • Katherine Bauer, Menasha, $500

  • Neenah-Menasha Professional Firefighters Inc. (Jamie Leonard), Neenah, $300

  • Neenah-Menasha Professional Firefighters Inc. (Anthony Leiton), Neenah, $275

  • John Pack, Menasha, $250

  • Candyce Rusin, Menasha, $250

  • Eric Roush, Menasha, $200

  • Joanne Roush, Menasha, $200

Coenen's contributions consisted of $615 from himself and $50 from Merkes.

Sevenich's contribution consisted of $200 from Sue Knoll of Menasha and $100 from himself.

The next campaign finance reports will cover the period from Jan. 1 to Feb. 5. Those reports are due Feb. 12.

For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us.

Contact Duke Behnke at 920-993-7176 or dbehnke@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DukeBehnke.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Hammond, Nichols take lead in fundraising for Menasha mayoral election