Mukwonago School District elections (2017)
2018 → ← 2016 |
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| Primary election date |
| February 21, 2017 |
| General election date |
| April 4, 2017 |
| Enrollment (14-15) |
| 4,673 students |
Three seats on the Mukwonago School District school board were up for general election on April 4, 2017. Newcomer Jill Werner won the Central Region seat. In the election for the East Region, incumbent Tim Agoudemos was defeated by challenger Andy Mahnke, while at-large incumbent Art Schneider won another term without opposition. [1]
A primary election was held on February 21, 2017, for the Central Region seat. Jill Werner and Douglas Schmidbauer advanced to the general election after defeating candidates Laura Prokop and Charles Harwood in the primary.
Mukwonago's school board elections grew more competitive with a 75.1 percentage point increase in the average number of candidates to file for election per seat between 2015 and 2017. Click here to see how the district stacks up against other districts in Waukesha County. Ballotpedia's analysis of the district's school board minutes can be read by clicking here.
Elections
Voter and candidate information
The nine-member Mukwonago Area school board is made up of three members elected at large and six members elected by district. There are two seats each for the district's Central, East, and West regions.[2] A general election is held each April with a February primary for any seat with more than two candidates.
School board candidates had to be at least 18 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of the school district for a minimum of 28 consecutive days before filing as a candidate. They also could not be disqualified from voting under Wisconsin law.[3]
To get on the ballot, school board candidates had to file nomination papers with the school district clerk by January 3, 2017. If incumbents whose terms were up for re-election did not file to run in the race and did not file written notification that they would not be running, the candidate filing deadline could have been extended until January 6, 2017. The terms of candidates elected in the race started on April 24, 2017.[3]
Candidates and results
Central Region Primary Election
| Mukwonago School District, Central Region Primary Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
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|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jill Werner |
38.43% | 553 |
| Douglas Schmidbauer |
25.30% | 364 |
| Charles Harwood | 18.21% | 262 |
| Laura Prokop | 18.07% | 260 |
| Total Votes | 1,439 | |
| Source: Waukesha County Clerk, "2017 Spring Primary," accessed February 21, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. |
| Laura Prokop | Charles Harwood | ||
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Jill Werner 
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Douglas Schmidbauer
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Central Region General Election
| Mukwonago School District, Central Region General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
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|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Jill Werner |
54.07% | 1,269 |
| Douglas Schmidbauer | 45.93% | 1,078 |
| Total Votes | 2,347 | |
| Source: Waukesha County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election," accessed April 4, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. |
| Jill Werner
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Douglas Schmidbauer | ||
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East Region
| Mukwonago School District, East Region General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
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|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Andy Mahnke |
71.08% | 1,612 |
| Tim Agoudemos Incumbent | 28.92% | 656 |
| Total Votes | 2,268 | |
| Source: Waukesha County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election," accessed April 4, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. |
| Tim Agoudemos | Andy Mahnke
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At-large
| Mukwonago School District, At-Large General Election, 3-year terms, 2017 |
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|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Art Schneider Incumbent (unopposed) |
100.00% | 1,825 |
| Total Votes | 1,825 | |
| Source: Waukesha County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election," accessed April 4, 2017These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. |
| Art Schneider
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Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Wisconsin elections, 2017
The district's school board election shared the ballot with elections for state school superintendent and state courts.
Key deadlines
The following dates were key deadlines for Wisconsin school board elections in 2017:[4][5]
| Deadline | Event |
|---|---|
| January 3, 2017 | Candidate filing deadline |
| January 16, 2017 | Campaign finance deadline for candidates registered before January 1 |
| February 13, 2017 | Pre-primary election campaign finance deadline |
| February 21, 2017 | Primary election day |
| March 27, 2017 | Pre-general election campaign finance deadline |
| April 4, 2017 | Election Day |
| April 24, 2017 | Board members take office |
| July 15, 2017 | Post-election campaign finance deadline |
Endorsements
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at elections@ballotpedia.org.
Campaign finance
All school board candidates in Wisconsin were required to file a campaign registration statement with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission after qualifying as candidates. This statement declares their candidacy to the county clerk's office and allows them to claim exemption from reporting campaign contributions and expenditures. Candidates were only required to report campaign contributions and expenditures if they did one or both of the following:[6]
- Accepted contributions, made disbursements, or incurred debt in excess of $2,000 during the calendar year
- Accepted more than $100 from a single source during the calendar year, barring contributions made by candidates to their own campaigns
There were three campaign finance report deadlines in 2017:
- The pre-primary report was due February 13, 2017,
- The pre-election report was due March 27, 2017, and
- The post-election report was due July 15, 2017.[7]
Candidates who filed before January 1, 2017, also had to file a continuing campaign finance report on January 16, 2017.[8]
Past elections
Information about earlier elections can be found by clicking [show] at the right. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2016
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What was at stake?
Report a story for this election
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Candidate survey
Election trends
Between 2015 and 2017, the Mukwonago School District saw growth in the number of candidates per seat in school board elections. In 2015 and 2016, the district’s elections featured 1.33 candidates per seat up for election. That average increased to 2.33 candidates per seat in 2017. In 2017, the average number of candidates per seat in Oconomowoc surpassed seven other Waukesha County school districts covered by Ballotpedia. The average number of candidates to file per seat for all nine Waukesha County school districts grew from 1.37 in 2015 to 1.70 in 2017.
Governing majority
2017
| Mukwonago Area School Board, 2017 |
|---|
| Todd Clemens |
| Erika Conner |
| Mary D'Amour |
| Andy Mahnke |
| Art Schneider |
| Craig Vertz |
| Jeff Voelkel |
| Jill Werner |
| Cheri Winchowky |
From April 2017 to February 2018, the Mukwonago school board voted unanimously on 96.2 percent of the 78 motions brought forward by board members. An October 23 motion to table a vote on renaming the Mukwonago High School marching band was the lone motion defeated during this period. The renaming was approved during the same meeting. These totals exclude motions to approve board minutes or procedural votes. Minutes from three of the board's 19 meetings during this period were not available online.
There was no discernible governing majority in 2017.
Board changes
Andy Mahnke defeated incumbent Tim Agoudemos in the board election on April 4, 2017. Jill Werner won the Central Region seat, and Art Schneider was elected without opposition as an at-large representative.
Dissenting votes
Andy Mahnke cast three dissenting votes in 2017. Todd Clemens cast two dissenting votes, while Erika Conner, Mary D'Amour, Art Schneider, Craig Vertz, Jill Werner, and Cheri Winchowky each cast one dissenting vote.
Absences
Vertz was absent from three of 16 meetings in 2016. Jeff Voelkel and Todd Clemens each missed two meetings, and Conner, D'Amour, Mahnke, Wener, and Winchowky each missed one meeting. Schneider attended all meetings.
Issues
Votes on personnel matters accounted for 23 motions or 29.5 percent of all motions brought before the board between April 2017 and February 2018. These votes included staff resignations, retirements, and appointments. Fiscal/budgetary matters and district procedures accounted for 15 votes each, or 19.2 percent each, of all motions during this period. The board voted on 11 motions (14.1 percent) related to board procedures. The remaining 14 motions dealt with athletics, curriculum, and teacher contracts.
2016
| Mukwonago Area School Board, 2016 |
|---|
| Mary D'Amour |
| Jeff Voelkel |
| Erika Conner |
| Cheri Winchowky |
| Tim Agoudemos |
| Todd Clemens |
| Art Schneider |
| Don Cox |
| Craig Vertz |
From January 2016 to December 2016, the Mukwonago school board voted unanimously on 91 percent of the 79 motions brought forward by board members. A January 25 motion to approve a five-year charter school contract was the lone motion defeated during this period. The contract was approved with a term of three years during the same meeting. These totals exclude motions to approve board minutes or procedural votes. There was no discernible governing majority in 2016 despite seven motions that were approved with at least one dissenting vote.
Board changes
Craig Vertz replaced Joanne Newberry, who did not file for re-election, after the board election on April 5, 2016.
Dissenting votes
Tim Agoudemos cast three dissenting votes in 2016. Board minutes show that Cheri Winchowky cast two dissenting votes, while Erika Conner and Don Cox each cast one dissenting vote.
Absences
Agoudemos and Cox were each absent from six of the 12 regular meetings held in 2016. Jeff Voelkel and Todd Clemens each missed two meetings, and Conner, Wichowsky, Newberry, and Vertz each missed one meeting.
Issues
Votes on district procedures accounted for 23 motions or 29.1 percent of all motions brought before the board in 2016. These votes included approval of new or revised policies and vendor agreements. Nineteen votes on personnel matters accounted for 24 percent of all motions in 2016. The board voted on 15 motions related to board procedures in 2016. The remaining 22 motions dealt with curriculum, budget decisions, athletics, and charter schools.
2015
| Mukwonago Area School Board, 2015 |
|---|
| Mary D'Amour |
| Jeff Voelkel |
| Erika Conner |
| Cheri Winchowky |
| Tim Agoudemos |
| Todd Clemens |
| Art Schneider |
| Don Cox |
| Joanne Newberry |
From January 2015 to December 2015, the Mukwonago school board voted unanimously approved 93.1 percent of the 102 motions brought forward by board members. A May 26 motion to amend a proposed trust plan to invest all funds by a specific date was the lone motion defeated during this period. Six motions were approved without unanimous votes, including five votes to amend school district boundaries. Jeff Voelkel, Todd Clemens, and Don Cox voted against all five measures.
Board changes
Erika Conner defeated Rodell Singert in the April 2015 board election.
Dissenting votes
Cox cast six dissenting votes in 2015, while Voelkel and Clemens each cast five dissenting votes. Cheri Winchowky's lone dissenting vote in 2015 was issued on a motion setting locations for a 4K program during the 2016-2017 school year. Cox joined Winchowky in voting against this measure during a December 21 meeting. The minutes of the meeting on May 26, 2015, do not include a roll call vote for the trust fund amendment that failed to pass.
Absences
Clemens was absent from three of the 14 meetings held in 2015, while Joanne Newberry was absent from two meetings. Tim Agoudemos, Mary D'Amour, Singert, and Cox each missed one meeting.
Issues
Votes on district procedures accounted for 28 motions or 27.5 percent of all motions brought before the board in 2015. These votes included approval of new or revised policies and vendor agreements. Twenty-one votes on curriculum accounted for 20.6 percent of all motions in 2015. The board voted on 18 motions related to fiscal matters in 2015. The remaining 35 motions dealt with board procedures, personnel, and teacher contracts.
About the district
- See also: Mukwonago School District, Wisconsin
Mukwonago School District is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Mukwonago School District is located in Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin. The county seat is Waukesha. Waukesha County was home to 396,488 residents in 2015, according to the United States Census Bureau.[9] The district was the 37th-largest school district in the state in the 2014-2015 school year and served 4,673 students.[10]
Demographics
Higher education achievement
Waukesha County outperformed Wisconsin as a whole in terms of higher education achievement from 2011 to 2015. The United States Census Bureau found that 41.2 percent of Waukesha County residents aged 25 years and older had attained a bachelor's degree, compared to 27.8 percent for the state as a whole and 29.8 percent for the entire United States.[9]
Median household income
Between 2011 and 2015, the median household income in Waukesha County was $76,545, compared to $53,357 for Wisconsin.[9] During that same time period, the median household income for the entire United States was $53,889.[11]
Poverty rate
Between 2011 and 2015, the poverty rate in Waukesha County was 4.7 percent, while the statewide poverty rate was 12.1 percent. During the same time period, the national poverty rate was 13.5 percent.[9][11]
| Racial Demographics, 2015[9] | ||
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| Race | Waukesha County (%) | Wisconsin (%) |
| White | 93.4 | 87.6 |
| Black or African American | 1.5 | 6.6 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.3 | 1.1 |
| Asian | 3.4 | 2.8 |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 1.4 | 1.8 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.7 | 6.6 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Mukwonago School District Wisconsin election. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| Mukwonago School District | Wisconsin | School Boards |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Waukesha County Clerk, "2017 Spring Election," accessed April 4, 2017
- ↑ Mukwonago Area School District, "Board Members," accessed November 16, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wisconsin Association of School Boards, "Guide for Candidates: 2017 Spring Election Edition," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Guided for Candidates," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Ethics Commission, "Campaign Finance Checklist," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "11.0104 Reporting exemptions: limited activity," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Ethics Commission, "Filing Deadlines and Reporting Periods," accessed December 15, 2016
- ↑ Wisconsin Ethics Commission, "Campaign Finance Checklist," accessed December 16, 2016
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 United States Census Bureau, "Waukesha County, Wisconsin," accessed December 19, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Common Core of Data, file ccd_lea_052_1414_w_0216161a, 2014-2015," accessed November 16, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 United States Census Bureau, "State & County QuickFacts: USA," accessed July 6, 2015
