Meet the candidates running for Marathon County District 15 supervisor ahead of the February primary election
Incumbent Joel Straub will face challenger Randy Fifrick for the District 15 Marathon County Board seat. A third candidate, Alexander Vedvik, will appear on the ballot but he told the Wausau Daily Herald he has withdrawn from the race. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the Feb. 20 primary will move on to the April 2 ballot.
Supervisors serve a two-year term.
To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin.
The Wausau Daily Herald asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the district and why they are running for the position. Straub did not provide responses after several attempts to reach him.
Randy Fifrick
Age: 39
Residence: Kronenwetter
Occupation and education: Wausau economic development manager; bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Relevant experience: Marathon County District 15 supervisor (2016-2022), Marathon County Infrastructure Committee chair (2020-2022), Kronenwetter community development director (2010-2021), Kronenwetter Redevelopment Authority member (2013-present)
Campaign website/Facebook page: Randy Fifrick - Marathon County 15th District Supervisor
Why are you running for office?
Fifrick: The village of Kronenwetter and Marathon County Board have had some rough times over the past few years. We need local government representatives who are forward-thinking and open-minded who represent the best interest of the village and the county as a whole. I’ve lived in Kronenwetter since 2010 and see the great potential our community has and want to do my part to see that potential fulfilled. The pandemic has introduced a multitude of new problems that we must address to maintain low taxes and still provide high-level services to our county residents.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Fifrick: My experience serving as the County Board District 15 representative for six years and working in a variety of positions within local government from Kronenwetter to Wausau provides me with the background expertise to hit the ground running. I will bring the voice of a professional who is both forward-thinking and open-minded to ensure the citizens of Kronenwetter are heard at the county level. I will work to balance continued investment in education, economic development and smart long-term planning with an eye on conservative spending that will ensure tax rates are maintained at current levels.
What are residents telling you are the most important issues in Marathon County, and how would you address them?
Fifrick: It’s getting back to the focus of what local government should be. Providing public services while reducing taxes. Improving our roads, specifically County Highway X and the intersection of highways X and XX. County Highway X is in need of significant maintenance and the intersection of X and XX needs to be reviewed for safety. Funding needs to be prioritized for both of these projects. We also have large areas of the village that don’t have adequate internet and cellular service. We need to work with these providers and dedicate funding to address these critical infrastructure issues.
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Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz.
This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: February 2024 primary election: Marathon County District 15 candidates
