Wiza wins third term as Stevens Point mayor and other election results
STEVENS POINT − Mike Wiza won a third term as Stevens Point mayor in Tuesday's election, defeating challenger Meleesa Johnson by a vote of 4,235 to 3,081.
Wiza was first elected as mayor in 2015 and was reelected in 2019. He had previously served for 11 years on the Stevens Point City Council and 10 years on the Portage County Board.
Ahead of the election, Wiza told the Stevens Point Journal housing is the biggest issue facing Stevens Point, followed closely by good jobs. He said the city is working to address both issues.
He said Stevens Point has made a lot of progress in the last eight years and he wants to see that progress continue. "We still need to address affordable housing, proper child care options and assuring everyone has a place here," he said.
More: Stevens Point-area election results
Pope, Sommers and Kowalski elected to Stevens Point School Board
Incumbent Gee Pope and challengers Alex Sommers and Ted Kowalski were elected to three seats on the Stevens Point School Board Tuesday. They defeated incumbent Chris Scott and challengers Miguel Campos and Robert Larson.
Incumbent Jeff Ebel did not seeking reelection.
Pope led with 7,531 votes, followed by Sommers with 7,483, Kowalski with 7,333, Chris Scott with 7,156, Miguel Campos with 6,880 and Robert Larson with 4,663.
Pope is a retired teacher, having taught science for 30 years at Assumption High School in Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point Area Senior High and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Sommers has been an educator for 11 years teaching Spanish, English and English as a Second Language.
Kowalski retired in 2022 and is one of two citizen volunteers on the Business Services/Human Resources Committee of the School Board and has served since October 2019.
School board members serve a three-year term.
Voters approve 2 Stevens Point street referendums
Stevens Point voters approved two street reconstruction referendums on Tuesday, authorizing the city to spend $4.2 million for routine maintenance projects slated to be completed in 2024.
The referendums were for an estimated $1.3 million project in the Bliss Avenue area and an estimated $2.9 million project in the Maria Drive area, including the replacement or installation of pavement, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Residents approved the Bliss Avenue referendum by a vote of 6,153 to 1,708. The vote on the Maria Drive referendum was 6,115 in favor and 1,781 opposed.
The requirement to put such measures to a public vote is a result of a binding referendum voters narrowly approved in August 2022 that created an ordinance that requires the city to put all transportation projects that cost taxpayers more than $1 million before voters.
"These are planned, budgeted for projects," Mayor Mike Wiza told the Stevens Point Journal in February. "These have been in the capital budget for four to five years, and because of that there will be no increase in property taxes if these projects are approved."
3 incumbents, 1 newcomer elected to Stevens Point City Council
Incumbents on the ballot for Stevens Point City Council retained their seats in Tuesday's election, with one newcomer winning the open seat in District 9 after the incumbent chose not to seek reelection.
In District 1, incumbent Marc Christianson defeated challenger Gracia Day by a vote of 382 to 211. Christianson was appointed as alderperson of District 1 in September 2021 after Tori Jennings resigned when she moved out of the district.
In District 6, incumbent David Plaisance won against challenger Jason C. Behrendt by a vote of 537 to 313. Plaisance was appointed as alderperson of District 6 in November 2022 after Ron Carlson stepped down due to health issues.
In District 7, incumbent Mary Kneebone defeated challenger Tim Johnson by a vote of 382 to 172. Kneebone has served as the alderperson for District 7 for the past eight years.
In District 9, Sam Lang won the open seat against Keith Kedrowski by a vote of 348 to 265. Incumbent Polly Dalton did not seek reelection.
Alderpersons serve a two-year term.
Plover elects Wolf as village president, Haga as trustee
In Plover, voters elected Gary Wolf as village president. Wolf defeated challenger Ross Ballard by a vote of 1,933 to 1,577 for the job after incumbent Tom Davies didn't seek reelection.
Wolf, who has resided in Plover for 27 years with his wife, Lisa, currently serves as Ward 2 village trustee and chairman of the Public Works Committee. He told the Stevens Point Journal he has been involved in local government for nearly 20 years, beginning with an appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals in 2004.
Al Haga won the race for Ward 2 village trustee against challengers Darcy Grabski, Sara Luchini and Tim L. Cisewski, after Wolf opted not to seek reelection.
Haga received 351 votes, followed by Grabski with 298, Luchini with 272 and Cisewski with 257.
Haga has served almost 30 years on the Village of Plover Planning and Zoning, 15 years as District 15 County Board supervisor in Portage County, five years as Portage County Board chairman and three years on the Wisconsin Counties Association Board of Directors.
Elected officials serve two years on the Village Board.
More: Los Victor's reopens; Prevail Bank renovations continue in Stevens Point | Streetwise
Contact editor Jamie Rokus at jrokus@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter at @Jamie_Rokus.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Stevens Point, Plover election results: 2023 spring races
