Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — With just one business day to go before the close of the candidate filing deadline it appears that there will be a primary in Wausau’s Mayors race.
Resident Christopher Wood has completed his nominating petition, returning 232 signatures to secure his place on the ballot. Wood will challenge incumbent Mayor Katie Rosenberg, who confirmed her place on the ballot two weeks ago.
Current District 4 Alder Doug Diny has not returned his paperwork but is expected to do so by Tuesday’s deadline. That would trigger a February 20th primary with the top two vote-getters moving on to the April 2nd non-partisan election.
Wood has been a controversial figure in Wausau, often shouting anti-Semitic rhetoric near the 400 Block during the Concerts on the Square series last summer. He also claimed that many leaders of the COVID-19 response in 2020 were Jewish during public comment at a recent Marathon County Health and Human Services Committee meeting. He often shares anti-Semitic posts on his X account.
Friday’s updated candidate list from the City Clerk’s office also shows that all nine incumbent alders have completed their paperwork and confirmed their place on the April ballot. Four of those alders are unopposed.
Here is the ballot picture as of Friday. Candidates who have confirmed their places are marked with a *
District 1: Incumbent Carol Lukes*, Challenger Catherine Kronenwetter
District 2: Incumbent Michael Martens*
District 3: Challengers Terry Kilian* and William Harris. Incumbent Tom Kilian filed non-candidacy
District 4: Challengers Tom Neal* and Debra Weiss*. Incumbent Doug Diny running for Mayor, filed non-candidacy
District 5: Incumbent Gary Gisselman*, Challenger Orlando Alfonso*
District 6: Incumbent Becky McElhaney*, Challenger Bronson Lobato*
District 7: Incumbent Lisa Rasmussen*
District 8: Incumbent Sarah Watson*, Challenger Joshua Dirks*
District 9: Incumbent Dawn Herbst*, Challenger Victoria Tierney*
District 10: Incumbent Lou Larson*
District 11: Incumbent Chad Hanke*
Note that in District 3 William Harris has announced that he will not return his candidacy papers, according to a report in Wausau Pilot and Review.
Candidates have until the end of the day Tuesday to return their papers. After that, candidates will have to register as a write-in.
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