By Brandi Makuski

With the 2014 Spring Election just weeks away, now is the time to submit your open letters.

We’ve seen plenty of opinion in the comment section of this website, as well as social media, blasting or praising area officials on a variety of topics: now we’re asking you to put your name on that opinion and share your thoughts with the entire community. In this country, it’s not only permissible to question those in elected office, it’s our responsibility- and it all starts with an open letter.

Whether it’s a candidate you believe will best represent voters or a candidate you believe should not be elected, you can send your open letters to [email protected] through 6 AM on March 31.

Letters can also be sent to the Stevens Point City-Times, PO Box 955, Stevens Point, 54481 and must be received no later than March 25th.

Polls open at 7 AM on April 1st, and the City-Times will provide live reports for the races of Portage County Board of Supervisors, Stevens Point City Council and Stevens Point Public School Board.

All letters must include your first and last name and city/village of residence. Letters containing offensive language will not be published.

The Portage Co. Board will see only three challenged races, with all 25 district seats up for reelection.

Stan Potocki of District 11 is being challenged by newcomer Lyne Kawleski of Stevens Point. Incumbent Sam Levin and challenger Jerry Walters will square off for District 17, while Matthew J. Jacowski of Plover will challenge veteran Jerry Piesik in the 22nd District.

County Districts 8 and 18 both have single candidates. Stevens Point Alderman Tony Patton is running for the District 8 seat, which is being vacated by Scott Winn, who will not seek reelection. Patton is also running unopposed for City Council.

District 18 Supervisor Leif Erickson also filed non-candidacy paperwork, who along with Winn cited family as their reasons for not running again. Junction City resident Larry Raikowski is running unopposed for that seat.

All five candidates for the Council are incumbents. Joanne Suomi, 2nd District Alderwoman; 4th District Alderman Mike Wiza; Alderman Jeremy Slowsinski from District 6; 8th District Alderman Tony Patton and Alderman Mike Phillips of District 10 were the only individuals to return required paperwork for the local spring election.

The Stevens Point School Board Race has eight contestants- a mix of familiar and new faces- for the four seats up for grabs in the April 1 election.

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.