Are you ready for election season yet? The midterm November elections might seem like they were yesterday, but it’s time to start thinking about the April 2023 local elections, which will feature candidates running for local school boards, village boards, towns boards and city councils.

Most school board, village board and city council candidates had until 5 p.m. Jan. 3 to file papers of their intent to run for office. Most townships, except Trenton, and the villages of Bay City and Maiden Rock hold a caucus at which electors nominate candidates for placement on the ballot. Caucuses must be held between Jan. 2-21 by state statute. The purpose of a caucus is to nominate candidates to appear on the spring election ballot for the positions of town chair, supervisors, clerk and treasurer.

Here are the offices up for election April 4, 2023. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk*.

Cities/villages

Bay City

At the Bay City village caucus held Wednesday, Jan. 4, incumbents were the only ones nominated for their positions: Village President Roger Spindler* and trustees Jon Ebensperger* and Terry Johnson*.

Ellsworth

In Ellsworth, Village President Becky Beissel* will seek re-election unopposed.

Three trustee seats are also up for grabs. Dale Hines* has filed non-candidacy papers, while incumbents Andrew Borner* and Lance Austin* will be on the ballot with two newcomers, Thomas H. Schutz and Ryan Bench.

Elmwood

The village of Elmwood extended its filing deadline until Friday, Jan. 6 due to late non-candidacy filings. The roles of village president and three trustee seats will be on the ballot.

Village President Paul Unser* filed non-candidacy papers, while Neil Boltik will be on the ballot unopposed for that position.

Current trustees are Melissa Roatch*, who has filed non-candidacy papers, Patrick Geraets* and Mark Wolf*. Wolf and Geraets are on the ballot again for trustee, joined by Meaghan Farris and Paul Unser.

Maiden Rock

In the village of Maiden Rock, village president (currently held by Tracy Young*) and one trustee seat (currently held by Roger Erickson*) are on the April 2023 ballot. The village’s caucus was held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9. Young was nominated for village president, while Erickson and Jeremy Andrews were nominated for the one trustee seat.

Plum City

Plum City has three open seats for the April 4 election. Village President Douglas Watkins* is running unopposed, while Roland Eccles* and Sarah Hinrichs will be on the ballot for two trustee seats.

Prescott

Two city council seats are up for re-election, and there will be at least one new member on the city council.

Thomas Oss* is up for re-election in Ward 3, and Darlyn Hintz* is up for re-election in Ward 4. However, because of city redistricting, Oss now lives in the second ward, and Hintz lives in the third ward.

Hintz will seek re-election. No one has declared candidacy for the second ward.

River Falls

Four alderperson seats will be on the April 2023 ballot. District 1 incumbent Sean Downing*, District 2 incumbent Nick Carow* and District 3 incumbent Alyssa Mueller* are all running for re-election unopposed. Alderperson-at-Large Diane Odeen* will face challenger Patricia K. LaRue.

Spring Valley

Village President Marsha Brunkhorst* will face challenger Theresa Koch. In addition, three trustee seats are open, currently held by Andy Vorlicek*, Liz Erickson* and Ruth Lukes*. Erickson and Lukes are seeking re-election, while Vorlicek filed non-candidacy papers. Peter Koch and Chris Davis will also be on the ballot for trustee.

School boards Ellsworth School Board Incumbents Kurt Buckner* and Gary Kressin* will run unopposed for their two open seats.

Elmwood School Board

Incumbents Bernard Christman* and Brooke Glaus* will seek to hang onto their two seats, while challenger Andrew A. Zierl joins the race.

Plum City School Board

Lisa Delong* and newcomer Lee Kopp will be on the ballot for two open seats. Katie George* filed non-candidacy papers.

Prescott School Board

Steve Sizemore* filed non-candidacy paperwork Nov. 29. Helen Stoeckel will run unopposed for the lone open school board seat.

River Falls School Board

Three candidates will run for two open seats, currently held by Stacy Johnson Myers* and Todd Schultz*, including Johnson Myers, Alison H. Page and Cassie Erickson. Schultz filed non-candidacy paper Dec. 20.

Spring Valley School Board Spring Valley School Board has three open seats. Bobbie Jaeger* filed non-candidacy paperwork Nov. 18, while Matthew Schreiber* filed non-candidacy paperwork Nov. 7. The only declared candidate is Monica Vorlicek*, so write-ins will likely fill the other two seats, said District Administrator John Groh.

Townships Town of Clifton At the Monday, Jan. 3 town of Clifton caucus, for the first time in 50 years, Chair LeRoy Peterson* was not named as a nominee. In his mid-90s, Peterson decided it was time “to pass the torch,” Clerk/Treasurer Kris Johnson said. Electors nominated current Supervisor Joe Rohl* for the chair position. Supervisor John Rohl* threw his hat in the ring for re-election, and Jim Ashbach is on the ballot unopposed for the Supervisor II position. Clerk/ Treasurer Kris Johnson* is running unopposed.

Town of Diamond Bluff

The Town of Diamond Bluff caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12. All positions are up for election, currently held by Chair Jeff Holst*, supervisors Roger Dosdall* and Pat Atherton*, Treasurer Mark Place* and Clerk Todd Mehrkens*.

Town of El Paso

The Town of El Paso caucus will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the El Paso Town Hall (N5325 450th St., Ellsworth). Nominations will be taken for all positions, currently held by Chair Ronald Kannel*, supervisors Daniel B. Fisher* and Ron Foley*, Clerk Sherri Heise* and Treasurer Debra Pittman*.

Town of Ellsworth

Town of Ellsworth’s caucus was held at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at the Town Hall (W6058 490th Ave., Ellsworth). All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Roger Billeter*, supervisors Brad Ristow* and Gordon Borner*, Clerk Phyllis Beastrom* and Treasurer Lisa M. Hines*, who had been appointed to complete Chisholm’s term Nov. 28 when Chisholm moved to Amery. All incumbents were nominated and will run unopposed.

Town of Gilman

The Gilman caucus will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 at the Town Hall (W3616 770th Ave., Spring Valley). All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Phil Verges*, supervisors Mike Traynor* and Bill Emerson*, Clerk Becky Manley* and Treasurer Luann Emerson*.

Town of Hartland

Hartland’s caucus was held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at Hartland Town Hall (W6170 County Road EE, Bay City), after The Journal’s press time. All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Kurt Nelson*, supervisors Don Acker* and Mike Girdeen*, Clerk Polly Remick* and Treasurer Cyndi Kern*.

Town of Isabelle

Isabelle’s caucus will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at the Town Hall/ Red Wing Airport Fire Station (W7138 148th Ave., Bay City). All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Dennis Potts*, supervisors Lynn Brown* and L. Ronald Bartels*, Clerk Julie Erickson* and Treasurer Lora Henn*.

Town of Maiden Rock

Town of Maiden Rock’s caucus was held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9 at the Town Hall (W2096 County Road CC, Maiden Rock) after The Journal’s press time. All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Jerry F. Duden*, supervisors John Danneker* and Allen C. White* and Clerk/Treasurer Darla Pittman*.

Town of Martell

Martell’s caucus was held at the conclusion of the 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 board meeting at the Martell Town Hall (W5581 800th Ave., Spring Valley), after The Journal’s press time. All positions will be on the ballot, currently held by Chair Brad Taplin*, supervisors John Worsing* and Dale Olson*, Clerk Kelly Neidermyer* and Treasurer Heather Sitz*.

Town of Oak Grove

Oak Grove’s caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16 at the Oak Grove Town Hall (N4939 1100th St., Prescott). Residents can nominate residents for positions currently held by Chair Jerry Kosin*, Supervisor I Richard Ruemmele*, Supervisor II Daniel Johnson*, Supervisor III Michelle Huber*, Supervisor IV James S. Boles*, Clerk Andria Hayday* and Treasurer Kim Huppert*.

Town of River Falls

The Town of River Falls 2023 caucus will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the River Falls Town Hall (W9015 770th Ave.) Nominations will be taken for all positions, currently held by Chair Diana G. Smith*, Supervisor I John Galgowski*, Supervisor II Siri Smith*, Clerk Sarah Meyer* and Treasurer Rita Kozak*.

Town of Rock Elm

The Town of Rock Elm caucus will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Town Hall/Garage (N5412 170th St., Elmwood) after The Journal’s press time. Nominations will be taken for all positions, currently held by Chair Tim Bates*, supervisors Matt Holcomb* and Chris Thibado*, Clerk Monica Robey* and Treasurer Pam Reitz*.

Town of Salem

The Salem township caucus will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Salem Town Hall/Garage (N3599 County Road A, Ellsworth) after The Journal’s press time. Nominations will be taken for all positions, currently held by Chair Brent Halverson*, supervisors Barry Bunce* and Kyler Hinrichs*, interim-appointed Clerk Ann Larson-Graham* and appointed Treasurer Karee Schladweiler*.

Town of Spring Lake

The Town of Spring Lake caucus will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Town Hall (N7717 County Road B, Spring Valley). The offices for Chair Richard Johnson* and supervisors Mike Jacobson* and Tim Anderson* will be up for nomination. Beginning in April, the clerk and treasurer offices will be combined and appointed by the town board. They are currently held by Clerk Donna Borgschatz* and Treasurer Sarah Stein*.

Town of Trenton

Trenton township required declarations of candidacy to be filed by 5 p.m. Jan. 3, instead of holding a town caucus.

Current Chair Brian Berg* will not seek re-election; instead, Randy Trok and Mike Miller will vie for that position.

Incumbents supervisors Bryan Reuvers* and Dennis Rieck* are on the ballot unopposed for their positions. Treasurer Jaimie Holt* and Clerk Steve Thoms* are also running unopposed.

Town of Trimbelle

The Town of Trimbelle caucus was slated for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 at the Town Hall (N5310 800th St., Ellsworth) after The Journal’s press time. Positions on the ballot are currently held by Chair Tim Fischer*, supervisors Richard A. Leonard* and Dan Thom*, Clerk Mary Kees* and Treasurer Karen O’Brien*.

Town of Union

The Town of Union caucus was held Monday, Jan. 9 at the Town Hall (1119 First St., Plum City). Nominations included Chair William Bechel*, Supervisor I James Weiss*, Supervisor II Arthur Ritchie*, Jennifer Hines for clerk (currently held by Barbara Schneider*) and Annita Cripe* and Margaret Holmstadt for treasurer.