Left, School Board candidate Jeff Presley. (City-Times photo)

Not Enough Candidates for February Primary

By Donnelly Clare

A mix of new and familiar candidates have filed paperwork for the four available seats on the Stevens Point School Board this spring.

Challengers Alex Kochanowski, Terri Fink, Sam Levin, Patricia Hetzel and Trish Baker will face off with incumbent Board Members Chris Scott, Bob Larson and Jeff Presley.

The candidates with the top three vote tallies will each earn three- year terms, while the fourth highest voter-earner serves out the remainder of John Zellmer’s term, who left the board when he moved out of the district last summer.

The deadline for filing paperwork had been extended by 24 hours because district offices were closed on Tuesday due to near- record subzero temperatures. Had more than 8 candidates filed paperwork, a primary election would have been triggered to narrow down the ballot in February. Now the 8 contestants will square off on the April 1 election.

School Board President Terry Rothmann has solidified his one-and-done status, filing non-candidacy paperwork after serving a just one year on the board. Rothmann replaced the late Elmer Fournier who died in 2012.

School Board Members earn about $3600 per year.