Incumbents Hold in Rothschild, Rib Mountain; Kronenwetter Incumbent Ousted

Voters in three Wisconsin villages made their choices for local leadership in Tuesday's elections.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:52am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone ballot box or voting booth set against a backdrop of warm, natural light and deep shadows, capturing the contemplative mood of local elections.The quiet drama of local elections unfolds, as voters make their voices heard in Rothschild, Rib Mountain, and Kronenwetter.Rib Mountain Today

In Kronenwetter, incumbent Aaron Myszka led the five-candidate field for three seats, with incumbent Craig Mortensen holding on and challenger Kelly Coyle claiming the third seat. Incumbent Kenneth Charneski lost his seat. In Rib Mountain, incumbent Cory Sillars topped the three-candidate field, and challenger Barbara Newton claimed the second seat. In Rothschild, all three incumbents - Bill Schremp, Deb Ehster, and Paul Kennedy - held their seats against challenger Emily Ohlrich.

Why it matters

These local elections in Rothschild, Rib Mountain, and Kronenwetter are important for determining the leadership and direction of these Wisconsin communities. Voter turnout and the results can signal broader political trends and priorities for residents.

The details

In Kronenwetter, the five-candidate field for three seats saw incumbent Aaron Myszka lead with 1,114 votes, incumbent Craig Mortensen hold on with 846 votes, and challenger Kelly Coyle claim the third seat with 842 votes - edging out challenger Kenneth Maciaz by just 26 votes. Incumbent Kenneth Charneski, with 694 votes, was the only one of the three incumbents who did not retain his seat. In Rib Mountain, incumbent Cory Sillars topped the three-candidate field with 1,219 votes, and challenger Barbara Newton claimed the second seat with 1,203 votes, leaving challenger Joe Hurst short at 973 votes. In Rothschild, all three incumbents - Bill Schremp with 869 votes, Deb Ehster with 717 votes, and Paul Kennedy with 716 votes - held their seats against challenger Emily Ohlrich, who received 597 votes.

  • The elections took place on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • One precinct countywide had not yet reported results.

The players

Aaron Myszka

An incumbent who led the five-candidate field for three seats in Kronenwetter with 1,114 votes.

Craig Mortensen

An incumbent who held on to one of the three seats in Kronenwetter with 846 votes.

Kelly Coyle

A challenger who claimed the third seat in Kronenwetter with 842 votes, edging out Kenneth Maciaz by 26 votes.

Kenneth Charneski

An incumbent in Kronenwetter who lost his seat, receiving 694 votes.

Cory Sillars

An incumbent in Rib Mountain who topped the three-candidate field with 1,219 votes.

Barbara Newton

A challenger in Rib Mountain who claimed the second seat with 1,203 votes.

Joe Hurst

A challenger in Rib Mountain who received 973 votes, short of the two winning seats.

Bill Schremp

An incumbent in Rothschild who led the field with 869 votes.

Deb Ehster

An incumbent in Rothschild who received 717 votes.

Paul Kennedy

An incumbent in Rothschild who received 716 votes.

Emily Ohlrich

A challenger in Rothschild who received 597 votes.

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What they’re saying

“All three incumbents survived in Rothschild and one held on in Rib Mountain Tuesday, while a Kronenwetter incumbent lost his seat in the closest finish of the three village board races.”

— Shereen Siewert, Reporter

What’s next

The election results will be certified in the coming days, and the newly elected officials will be sworn in to begin their terms.

The takeaway

These local elections demonstrate the importance of voter engagement and the ability of challengers to unseat incumbents, even in close races. The results reflect the political priorities and preferences of residents in these Wisconsin communities.