Write-in candidate enters race
By Angie Landsverk
There are two candidates this spring for the Ward 3 seat on Weyauwega’s common council.
Incumbent Rick Binley faces Jered Wilson.
Binley is seeking a second term on the common council.
He is running as a registered write-in candidate after not turning in nomination papers by the filing deadline, or filing non-candidacy papers.
Binley said he did not intend to miss the filing deadline.
Those wanting to vote for him in the April 2 election will have to write his name in on the ballot.
Binley said he has learned different aspects about local government during his first term on the council.
“It’s been very much of a learning experience about how it works,” he said. “From what I see, there is a good group on council right now. It’s a group that gets along and accomplishes the things that need to be accomplished.”
When there are differences of opinion among council members, everyone is respectful of each other, he said.
Binley grew up on a farm near Iola, and is a graduate of Iola-Scandinavia High School.
He works at Waupaca Foundry, where he is part of the maintenance personnel at Plant 1. He has worked at the foundry since September 1987.
Binley has lived in the city about 13 years and in the area approximately 33 years.
This is the first time Wilson is running for a political office.
He grew up in Weyauwega and is a graduate of Weyauwega-Fremont High School.
After high school, he went to the University of Wisconsin-Stout, graduating with a teaching degree in technology education.
He taught at West DePere High School for six years and then worked at Agropur about 10 years.
Self employed, Wilson is a past president of the Weyauwega Area Chamber of Commerce.
He continues to be a member of the organization.
“I’ve lived here in Weyauwega or in Fremont close to my whole life,” Wilson said.
He wants to dive into the city’s budget and see where the money is being spent.
Wilson also wants to help improve the community’s downtown.
He says other cities the size of Weyauwega could be studied to find out why some are successful and others are not.
Wilson wants to see more businesses downtown and an improved business atmosphere.
That is the primary reason why he is seeking a seat on the council.
Ward 1
Incumbent Keith Najdowski is running unopposed in Ward 1.
Appointed to the council in November 2014, to fill a vacant seat. he ran unopposed for the position in April 2015 and was re-elected in 2017.
He grew up in Beloit, and is a graduate of Beloit Catholic High School.
“I joined the Marine Corps out of high school, and just retired in May after 20 years of active and reserve time,” Najdowski said. “My final rank was a Chief Warrant Officer 3,”
His military occupational specialty was as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense officer.
He attended the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh for three years, and lived in Oshkosh before moving to Weyauwega.
Najdowski and his family moved to Weyauwega in 2010.
He and his wife have four children.
Najdowski is the production manager for Presto’s Weyauwega and Waupaca locations.
He has been employed at Presto four years.
Najdowski explained why he is seeking another term on the common council.
“I feel it’s important to be involved in the community, continue to improve and grow the community,” he said. “I feel that I have shown over the past four years on the council that I look out for the community’s best interest.”
Najdowski shares his opinions, while respecting those of his fellow alderpersons.
“I also have shown that I will speak my opinion to get conversation started, but I am willing to listen to other opinions and accept others’ ideas if I think they make more sense for the community,” he said.
Ward 2
In Weyauwega’s Ward 2, Dewey Stelzner is running unopposed.
Ald. Nick Gunderson is not seeking re-election.
Stelzner grew up in Weyauwega and is a W-F High School graduate.
After high school, he went directly into the workforce.
Since then, Stelzner has had schooling through work.
He has worked at ADM Grain in Stevens Point since 1996, and has been the company’s vocational manager since 2011.
Stelzner has lived in Weyauwega since 1990.
He and his wife Sue raised their sons there.
Stelzner has been a member of the Weyauwega Fire Department since 1988, and is among those who started Pop Warner youth football in Weyauwega.
He was president of the youth wrestling club and in the past, coached seventh- and eighth-grade football and also high school football.
Stelzner was among those who started Fire on Ice. He remains active in the group.
He is a member of the Waupaca County Fair Board.
Stelzner remembers when his grandfather served on the Weyauwega Town Board, and also the Waupaca County Board.
“Growing up, I would hear him and Grandma talk,” Stelzner said.
He found it interesting.
Stelzner’s father was also involved in the town of Weyauwega.
“Living in Weyauwega all my life, I want to give back to the community,” he said.
He wants to serve the community and see it move in the right direction.
His grandfather always said, “If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward.”
Stelzner believes the short-term and long-term plans for Weyauwega’s industrial, residential and commercial areas should be shared with the community.
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