Locally, incumbents were returned to office and Oneida county voters said no to mining and yes to a school referendum in Rhinelander, no in Goodman-Armstrong Creek.
By a wide margin, Oneida county voters advised the county board they didn't want to see the leasing of county forest land for mining. Early this morning, the no votes were about 11,000, yes votes were 6,500. Protect The Willow spokesperson Pete Zambon said from his view the public has spoken..
"...Tonight's results of the referendum are showing us Oneida county residents have faced this question before and and yet again we're choosing to maintain the integrity of our water resources. It appears we don't have a social license to mine at the Lynne site..."
Voters also approved a $4.2 million referendum for Rhinelander schools. That vote was unofficial but early this morning the total was roughly 5,500 yes and 4, 100 no. Minocqua voters approved a small tax on tourist-related businesses to improve the roads. That passed by 400 votes. Town of Little Rice voters approved town clerk and treasurer referendums. Oneida County Sheriff Grady Hartman won re-election.
In Vilas county, voters approved a referendum to exceed levy limits for road maintenance. The town of Hiles referendum also passed. In Lincoln county, all their referendums regarding medical marijuana, dark stores and voting district reform all passed. Ken Schneider was elected Sheriff.
The Goodman-Armstrong Creek voters rejected a school funding referendum by 17 votes. In Forest county, a question about medical marijuana passed by a wide margin. For Crandon School Board, Michelle Gobert won an open seat.
In Langlade county, Mark Westen won the sheriff's race. Voters there also approved allowing medical marijuana.
All area legislative incumbents were returned to office. Republicans Rob Swearingen of Rhinelander, Mary Felzkowski Jeff Mursau of Crivitz were returned to office in the 34th, 35th and 36th District Assembly Districts. Swearingen thanked his supporters...
"...I'm humbled by the voters in the 34th Assembly District. I said all along I'm a lifelong resident of the Northwoods and Rhinelander and I think I'm entrenched well enough to know what the area needs. Very humbled at the voter turnout...I'm looking forward to serving another two year term in the State Assembly..."
Democrat Beth Myers won the 74th Assembly seat and Democrat Janet Bewley won the 25th Senate seat.
