All Pierce County candidates for elected office in November 2024 are running unopposed.

Clerk

Jamie R. Feuerhelm* (D)

Age: 61

Prior elected office(s): County Clerk

Education/experience: Three years of college combined at CVTC & Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire; and Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va.; eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps; six years with Pierce County Solid Waste/Recycling & Treasurer's Office; 28 years as the Pierce County Clerk

Are you involved in any professional, civic or community organizations? C3 Church

Why are you running for County Clerk? Sometimes I think because nobody else wants to (humor intended). It is a very challenging job, but I like serving people and helping them get what they need in a friendly and respectable manner. And after 28 years you get pretty good at it. Visiting the courthouse and participating in elections can be very intimidating at times. Loving your neighbor as yourself goes a long way towards putting people's minds at ease. Service is what we do.

What do you see as the most pressing issue in your office/department? Lack of funds for innovation and upgrades that could make elections and the office more efficient.

How has the County Clerk role evolved since you first took office? There is not adequate time or space here to elaborate on the many ways the County Clerk's role has evolved since 1996. The office has experienced a reorganizational split and reduced staff. Went from primarily “hard copy” files to mostly electronic, added services like passport application processing, and assisted in the upgrade of voting machines multiple times. Elections were much less complicated. Laws, rules, and procedures change much more frequently now and it is a challenge to remain informed.

What are some challenges the County Clerk's office faces? Adequate budgeting, keeping up with technology to help the office continue to run efficiently, and keeping up with the training for elections both the receiving and giving of that instruction.

Is there anything you would like to add? I have been blessed to be able to serve the residents of Pierce County for a long time. I appreciate the support of confidence I have received from so many of them. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable election experience forthcoming and a wonderful holiday to come.

District Attorney

Halle Hatch* (D)

Age: 31

Prior elected office(s): Pierce County District Attorney (current)

Education/experience: Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, magna cum laude; Juris Doctorate Degree from Mitchell Hamline Law School, magna cum laude.

Are you involved in any professional, civic or community organizations? St. Croix Valley Bar Association, Pierce County CJCC

Why are you running for district attorney? I am running for reelection for Pierce County District Attorney because I care about this community. I grew up in Pierce County, I am raising a family in Pierce County, and I have family and friends who live in Pierce County. I have a vested interest in the community, and keeping the citizens of the county safe is of great importance. While we have made great progress in the last four years, there continue to be new ideas and challenges that require consistent evolution in the criminal justice system.

What do you see as the most pressing issue in your office/department? The most pressing issues are the continued substance abuse and mental health issues that a lot of the crimes and cases we deal with stem from. A majority of the time the crimes and cases that we see have underlying issues of alcohol or drug abuse or undiagnosed/untreated mental health issues. Of the defendants who have been able to receive quality treatment, we typically do not see them come through our criminal justice system in Pierce County again. Unfortunately, there is a long waiting list for a lot of providers for those treatments/therapies.

What programs and policies would you implement (if budgets allowed) as District Attorney to reduce crime and increase public safety in the county? If budgets allowed, I would advocate for more resources all around for the county, including mental health treatment resources/facilities, substance abuse treatment resources/facilities, transportation, and overall structure for defendants. I believe that a pretrial program with supervision of defendants while a case is pending could be very beneficial to connect defendants with structured services at the outset of a case. Those services could include obtaining a job, drug/alcohol testing, connection with counseling services, supervision to ensure compliance with bond conditions. Those services could in turn resolve cases faster, which could benefit victims and the public as whole.

What are some challenges you face as district attorney? One challenge is the hard reality of not being able to mentally leave work at work.

Some cases are very heartbreaking and difficult to conceptualize why someone would treat someone else the way that they have. Often, the emotional and mental toll that comes with this job causes some cases and victims to remain on my mind even while not at the office.  

Is there anything you would like to add? While running unopposed, my drive to continue the work in our office and to increase public safety remains.

Register of Deeds

Angela Hoven* (R)

Age: 43

Prior elected office(s): I was appointed by Gov. Evers on May 6, 2024, to finish the term of our newly retired Register of Deeds.

Education/experience: I was an abstractor in the title industry for two years. I then accepted the position as the Real Property Lister for Pierce County. I was in that role for the last six and a half years until my appointment as the Register of Deeds. I will have six months experience as the Register of Deeds at the time of the 2024 election.

Are you involved in any professional, civic or community organizations? I am currently a member of the Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association (WRDA).

Why are you running for Register of Deeds? I have a great understanding of land records and have made them my career. I enjoy being able to help safeguard our county’s vital records for future generations. I love to learn new things and working in the Register of Deeds Office is an ever-changing role.

What do you see as the most pressing issue in your office/department? I believe one of the biggest issues we have is the threat of title theft. While we haven’t seen this happening in Pierce County, it has happened across the country. Our office offers a free program called Property Fraud Alert. It will alert you any time your name is used in a recording with the Register of Deeds Office. You can contact our office at 715-273-6748 to get set up with the program.

How has the Register of Deeds role evolved since you first took office (if an incumbent)? If new to the office, what has prepared you to take on this role? We have implemented a new program called Honors Rewards. This program helps identify discounts for veterans in our area. If you are a business that offers veteran discounts in Pierce County, please visit honorsrewards.com to add your information to our list.

What are some challenges the Register of Deed's office faces? Keeping up with statutes is a must in the Register of Deeds Office. We continue to stay abreast of any changes in the statutes regarding our vital records. Also, continually watching for new legislation pertaining to our records and how we serve the county.

Is there anything you would like to add? I have enjoyed learning the role as the Register of Deeds during my appointment. I am excited to serve Pierce County for the next four years.

Treasurer

Kathy Fuchs* (R)

Age: 57

Prior elected office(s): Municipal Treasurer for the Town of Trenton (16 years), Treasurer of Pierce County for two terms (nearly eight years now)

Education/experience: 18 years in small business accounting and individual income tax at an accounting firm in Hastings, Minn. (Burns, Enstad and Youngquist, which recently was sold to Gotham Tax Service); University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, Local Government Leadership Academy graduate on Sept. 20, 2020, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Leadership and Financial Management Certificate program graduate on Oct. 1, 2023

Are you involved in any professional, civic or community organizations? My husband and I are members of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Ellsworth. I served on the Church Council for three years, including serving as President of the Council in 2022. I am presently a member of their Random Acts of Kindness committee. I am a member of the Wisconsin County Treasurer's Association, serving as the Association Secretary from October 2020 through October 2022.

Why are you running for County Treasurer? I enjoy working with the taxpayers of Pierce County. The Treasurer's Office is a unique hub for a lot of information. My staff and I spend a lot of time helping people understand their tax bills and the many factors that come into play on their bills.

What do you see as the most pressing issue in your office/department? Educating taxpayers is a high priority for us. The property assessment and valuation process can be confusing, so we are working to help people understand how important it is to participate in their municipality's annual Open Book and Board of Review meetings.

How has the County Treasurer role evolved since you first took office? The duties of the County Treasurer are all prescribed in section 59.25 of the Wisconsin State Statutes. The interpretation of the statute has been consistent here in Pierce County. There is not much that can change.

What are some challenges the County Treasurer's office faces? Helping to give taxpayers ideas on ways to catch up on delinquent tax is very time consuming for this office. The annual budget is always a challenge, as we strive to raise staff salaries and decrease operating expenses.

Is there anything you would like to add? I am proud to represent the taxpayers in Pierce County. I have enjoyed serving as Pierce County Treasurer for the past two terms. I am looking forward to serving another term.