At the last minute, Charmian “Charm” Fournier has tossed her hat into the political ring.

Fournier filed paperwork with Portage County Clerk’s Office March 27 to run as a write-in candidate for the Park Ridge Village Board Tuesday, April 3.

Recent activities at the board level regarding the fate of the Park Ridge Volunteer Fire Department tipped her hand into deciding to run for one of the two positions open in the election. Incumbent Randy Busch and challengers Steve Menzel and Christine Neidlein are the other candidates. Though there are two seats up for election, voters do not have to vote for two people. However, the two highest vote getters will take the positions on the board.

“It is my understanding that some of the current trustees on the board and the candidates for election might not agree with the results of this referendum,” she said. “I am confident in the Fire Department’s abilities to safely continue fire protection, as they always have done so in the past … (so) I am announcing my registered write-in candidacy for trustee.”

Village of Park Ridge has been “kicking the can,” according to village officials and residents, for more than two years with regards to the department’s needs, including replacement or significant repairs for its ailing fleet. The Village Board decided to go to referendum to seek direction from the residents. With three questions on the ballot Feb. 20, voters chose the first two options the most often, which generally called for keeping the volunteer fire department and addressing its needs. The most votes were cast to replace an engine. The third option, to contract with the city of Stevens Point for fire protection services, received the second highest number of votes.

The Village Board March 19, voted to delay forward movement on the referendum results until its next meeting when all members would be present. President Trish Baker and Trustee Gordon Renfert requested more cost-specific information for both the engine replacement and city contract prior to making a decision on the fire department’s future.

For Fournier, the move to run for trustee embodies her commitment to the village and her husband’s memory.

“My late husband, Elmer, and I moved to Park Ridge in 1976. He attained the status of being the longest serving village trustee, serving from 1977 until his death in 2012, and he also proudly served as our Village Fire Chief,” she said. “I share and continue to embrace his passion for the village and our Fire Department. He believed, ‘If you lose the Fire Department, you will lose the Village.’”

Fournier is a former social worker for Portage County Health and Human Services, retiring after 30 years. She also is involved in and has participated in many community events and groups, including serving as a board members with Monteverdi Master Chorale and Portage County Legal Aid Board; she served as a board member and coach of Portage County Youth Soccer; she is a former owner of Elmer’s Service Garage, having taken over after her husband’s death (she recently sold it to the employees), and she is an active member of Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church.