Voter turnout for partisan primary at 24 percent

By Kris Leonhardt

Editor

MARSHFIELD — During the Aug. 9 partisan primary, Marshfield voters turned down the common council’s request to increase the city’s tax rate to pay for road improvements.

The ballot’s referendum called for an increase “not to exceed $1.00 per $1,000 of assessed value, for a period of 5 years.” Voter approval would have raised an additional $6.8 million during that five-year period to be used on major street projects within the city.

A 1532-821 vote Tuesday put the additional funding to a halt.

“If the referendum fails, the city will continue to fund roads as we currently do,” explained Mayor Chris Meyer in “The City Speaks.”

“With nearly 140 miles of road in the city of Marshfield, the issue of additional funding needs for roads will not go away with the passage or failure of this referendum. Roads will continue to be the No. 1 need for cities like Marshfield across the state and country,” Meyer added.

Of the 10,613 registered voters in the city of Marshfield, 2,511 went to polls to cast their vote, a 24 percent turnout rate in the Aug. 9 partisan primary.

Election results are not official until a complete canvassing has been finalized by officials.

Partisan race results

U.S. Senate, Democratic Party

Russ Feingold: 986, Scott Harbach: 94

U.S. House – District 7, Republican Party

Sean Duffy: 1112, Don Raihala: 114

U.S. House – District 7, Democratic Party

Mary Hoeft: 733, Joel Lewis: 173

State Assembly District 86, Democratic Party

Nancy Stencil: 163, John H. Small: 55

Wood County Treasurer, Democratic Party

Dawn Larson: 398, Heather L. Gehrt 392