Election roundup: Many Oshkosh-area incumbents to remain in state offices; missing Waushara DA voted out

OSHKOSH – Several Oshkosh-area incumbents will keep their seats in the state Legislature and Waushara County residents voted out their District Attorney who reportedly hasn't shown up for work in months. 

Republican Sen. Dan Feyen, of Fond du Lac, won the state's 18th Senate District.

In the 53rd Assembly District, Republican Rep. Michael Schraa won, and longtime Democratic Rep. Gordon Hintz retained his 54th District seat.

Winnebago County voters also reelected Republican Natalie Strohmeyer as the register of deeds for the county. 

Voters also approved a number of referendums on Election Day, including two each for the Omro and Oshkosh school districts, one for the Ripon Area School District and one for Winnebago County. 

MORE: Wisconsin presidential, congressional, legislative results

MORE: Oshkosh area referendum, county results

MORE: Lines move steadily, many voters observe COVID-19 safety measures at Oshkosh polling places

18th Senate District

State Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, beat out 23-year-old Democratic challenger Aaron Wojciechowski, of Oshkosh, to represent Wisconsin's 18th Senate District.

This will be Feyen's second term in the Senate. Wojciechowski finished his second term on the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors in April.

Feyen collected around 59% of votes, while Wojciechowski got 41%, according to unofficial results. 

The district is comprised of southern Winnebago County, including Oshkosh, most of Fond du Lac County and parts of Dodge County. 

Feyen said he will work to set Wisconsin on the path to economic recovery and craft a state budget that reflects the new economic reality caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

53rd Assembly District

State Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, will serve his fifth term as the 53rd Assembly District representative after beating Independent challenger Joseph Connelly. 

Schraa easily beat Connelly by more than 10,000 votes. The incumbent won 68% of the votes, while Connelly brought in 32%, according to unofficial results. 

Voters first elected Schraa to the Assembly in 2012. He said his experience in the Legislature made him the better candidate, touting his experience with the state's budget process. Schraa said he wants to keep taxes from rising and lower prescription drug prices. 

Connelly, a political newcomer, is a veteran of wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 53rd Assembly District is in parts of Winnebago and Fond du Lac counties, including the communities of Oshkosh, Omro, North Fond du Lac, Rosendale and Waupun.

54th Assembly

Incumbent state Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, will begin his eighth term in the state Assembly next year. 

According to unofficial results, Hintz beat Republican challenger Donnie Herman with 54% of votes to represent the 54th Assembly District, which is located in southern Oshkosh. 

Hintz serves as the Assembly minority leader. Voters first elected him to the state Legislature in 2006. He said the biggest issues the state will face in the upcoming year will all have to do with the COVID-19 pandemic, including funding schools, universities and essential municipal services. 

Herman, a businessman, does not live within the district and therefore would have had to move if voters elected him.

14th Senate District

Republican Joan Ballweg easily defeated Democrat Joni Anderson to win the 14th Senate District. 

"Thank you for putting your trust in me. I am humbled and honored to be selected as the next senator from the 14th Senate District!" Ballweg said in a Facebook post Wednesday morning. 

Ballweg, of Markesan, will succeed Republican Luther Olsen, who will retire after 26 years in the Legislature. Ballweg has represented the 41st Assembly District since 2005 but didn't seek re-election.

The district includes portions of Adams, Columbia, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Waupaca and Waushara counties.

Winnebago County register of deeds

Incumbent Republican Natalie Strohmeyer, of Fox Crossing, beat independent Seth Reid, of Oshkosh, for the position of Winnebago County register of deeds. 

With over 30 years experience working for register of deeds offices in two of the state's 10 largest counties, Strohmeyer said she will continue the work she's been doing the past four years, which includes processing and archiving documents such as land contacts, birth and death records.

A political newcomer, Reid ran for election because he said the office needs a leader who has his data security experience and can make sure records are kept safe from hackers.

Voters elected Strohmeyer register of deeds in 2016. Before that, she worked in the Outagamie County Register of Deeds Office.

Waushara County district attorney

Waushara County will have a new district attorney after Republican Matthew Leusink beat Democrat Laura Waite.

Gov. Tony Evers appointed Waite to the position in April. However, just two months after her appointment, Waite stopped showing up for work and a judge appointed a special administrative prosecutor in her absence. 

MORE: Waushara County DA, appointed in April, gone since June and on ballot Tuesday

Oshkosh schools referendum 1

Voters were in favor of an Oshkosh Area School District referendum that allows the district to exceed state revenue limits by $3.95 million for the next two school years and by $7.95 million for the next seven school years after that. 

The money will be used to sustain educational programming and school and district operations. 

“We are so grateful to our community for this show of support, especially during a pandemic,” said superintendent Vickie Cartwright in a statement Wednesday morning.

More than 22,240 voters were for the referendum, while 16,680 were against it, according to unofficial results. 

MORE: About the Oshkosh Area School District referendums 

Oshkosh schools referendum 2

Voters approved the Oshkosh schools district-wide school building and facilities improvement project. 

The district plans to take out no more than $107 million in bonds to complete the project, which includes construction of a new elementary school at the existing Webster K-8 School site and removal of the current building; construction of a new middle school on district-owned land adjacent to the existing Merrill K-8 School and potential removal of the current building; district-wide safety and security, infrastructure and capital maintenance improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?

Nearly 22,000 people voted in favor of the referendum, while 16,832 voted against it, according to unofficial results. 

Omro schools referendum 1

Voters were in favor of a School District of Omro referendum that allows the district to exceed state revenue limits by $850,000 for the next four school years for technology infrastructure, learning and academic expenses, safety and security costs and operational expenses.

According to unofficial results, 3,260 people voted in favor of the referendum, while 1,571 voted against it. 

"I'm very please by the outcome of the vote and for how the community has come together to support our District," superintendent Jay Jones said in statement Wednesday morning.

MORE: About the Omro schools referendum 

Omro schools referendum 2

Voters approved the School District of Omro's district-wide school improvement project. 

The district plans to take out no more than $9.4 million in bonds to complete the project, which includes capital maintenance, building infrastructure and site improvements, including roof replacement, HVAC upgrades and Americans with Disabilities Act updates; remodeling at district schools, including for a student fabrication lab; construction of a maintenance shop; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment.

Unofficial results show 3,025 people voted yes and 1,785 people voted no. 

Winnebago County referendum

Winnebago County voters overwhelmingly supported a referendum that encourages state legislators to "enact proposed legislation to support passage of an amendment to the United States Constitution that seeks to reclaim democracy from the expansion of corporate personhood rights and the corrupting influence of unlimited political contributions and spending."

Waushara County referendum

Waushara County residents voted in favor of a referendum in support of the Wisconsin Legislature creating "a non-partisan procedure for the preparation of Legislative and Congressional district plans and maps."

Ripon schools referendum

Voters were in favor of a Ripon Area School District referendum that allows the district to exceed state revenue limits by $500,000 for the next six school years to update curriculum and technology and maintain school facilities. 

According to unofficial results, 62% of voters approved the referendum, while 38% voted no. 

Contact Natalie Brophy at (715) 216-5452 or nbrophy@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @brophy_natalie.