By Brandi Makuski

Stevens Point Alderman Tony Patton on Friday has confirmed he is running for mayor.

Patton joins a wide field of candidates including fellow Councilmembers Jerry Moore and Mike Wiza; School Board Member Alex Kochanowski and local businesswoman Barb Jacob.

Patton is currently serving his second term District 8 Alderman and also serves on the Portage Co. Board of Supervisors. He works as general manager of Grazies Italian Grill on Highway 10E.

Patton said his sense of community comes from 30 years of business management and his service to the city and county. He says he wants to better promote business growth in the city.

“I’ve seen first hand some of the city council members are reluctant to accept advice and the vision from department heads that bring projects forward,” Patton said on Friday. “The projects were for some areas of the city that were empty or could have been redeveloped; so the culmination of my term as alderman is wanting to move the city forward and give us some some flexibility to keep the structure strong.”

Having five candidates remain in the race would trigger a primary election in February, with the winner decided in April.