If you live in a Wisconsin town, has your town announced the date of its caucus? Perhaps you missed the announcement.
The date, time, and place for the caucus must be announced with a posting in the clerk’s office and one publication in a newspaper at least five days before the date. Not much notice, easy to miss. If you care about who will run for your elected town offices for the next two years, you could call your town clerk for the date or check the town’s website.
A town caucus is, by state law, a Tuesday meeting in January in an odd-numbered year. Its purpose is the nominating of candidates for town office. All town residents can participate, not just the registered voters. Those chosen will be on the ballot for the April election, and only those chosen at the caucus, will be on the ballot.
Once you know that date, you might want to keep it open, because you must be physically present to nominate, second or vote in the caucus. Votes will be taken to narrow the number of nominees to two candidates for each position. Absentee votes are not accepted; snowbirds are out of luck.
In the town of Dayton this year the caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27. Dayton residents have seen a number of controversies during the last two years, including issues with the lake district, dam and mill pond on County K, litigation costs, the widening of country lanes, the cutting of trees and signage.
Other townships have their own issues. The caucus in every township offers a critical opportunity to express one’s favor or disfavor with actions of the current board.
The key for every resident is to be there. It is one time when you can actually make a difference in your local government.
Georgia Calvo
Dayton