Kettenhoven, Rokus running for mayor

By Bert Lehman

Some of the people leading the city of Clintonville will change when the spring election concludes on April 5.

Jan. 4 was the deadline for candidates to file candidacy paperwork. That was also the deadline for current city officials whose seats are up for election in April to file non-candidacy papers if they do not intend to seek reelection.

Mayor

Mayor Rich Beggs has filed non-candidacy papers, and will not seek another term as mayor. During his current term, he took a medical leave of absence that lasted several months.

The election for mayor in the city will be contested, as Steve Kettenhoven and Brad Rokus have filed paperwork indicating their intentions to seek the position.

Both Kettenhoven and Rokus currently serve on the Clintonville City Council. Each of their terms end in 2023.

The winner of the contest will relinquish their seat on the council, while the loser will keep their seat on the council.

City council

In District 1, incumbent Ald. Ben Huber will not seek reelection, as he filed non-candidacy papers.

Nobody in the district filed to run, so nobody will appear on the ballot for District 1.

There will be a contested race for the council seat in District 2.

Incumbent Peggy Zaemisch, who is serving her first term on the council, will seek reelection. She will be challenged by Laurie Vollrath, who filed to be on the ballot in District 2.

Vollrath previously challenged Beggs to be mayor in 2020, but was defeated.

Nobody filed Declaration of Candidacy paperwork t for election in District 3. Ald. Brandon Braden currently holds that seat, but after the redistricting in the city of Clintonville at the end of 2021, Braden’s residence is now located in District 5.

Braden is running for reelection to remain on the council, but in District 5.

Braden is running uncontested because the seat up for reelection is currently occupied by Ed “Rusty” Mitchell, but his residence is now located in District 4 because of redistricting.

Mitchell is seeking another term on the council, as he will be running for the council seat in District 4.

Mitchell will be challenged by Darrell Hansen, who filed for the seat.

The seat up for reelection in District 4 is currently held by Council President Mike Hankins. Hankins is not seeking reelection, as he filed non-candidacy paperwork.