What Merrill and Tomahawk Voters Said About Spring Elections

Spring elections in the Northwoods aren’t just about marking ballots — they’re conversations at the polling place, neighbors weighing in on who’ll lead their towns forward. This April, voters in Merrill and Tomahawk showed up with strong opinions about their communities’ futures.

Both Lincoln County cities saw competitive mayoral races that brought residents out to City Hall on a crisp spring day. But beyond the names on the ballot, voters revealed what really matters to folks living up north.

Merrill Chooses Between Familiar Faces

The mayoral contest in Merrill came down to two men who’ve both sat in the mayor’s chair before. Incumbent Steve Hass faced off against former mayor Derek Woellner in a race that sparked plenty of kitchen-table debate.

City Clerk Lori Anderson-Malm ran unopposed, along with races for county supervisor, municipal judge, and district aldermen filling out the local ballot. For a city of around 10,000 residents along the Wisconsin River, these positions shape everything from road budgets to park maintenance.

Bob Polesack, a veteran and chaplain at Aspirus in Wausau, offered advice that resonated beyond Merrill’s borders. His message? Do your homework before you vote.

“Know what the candidates are saying, and know what the candidates are not saying are the results of what they are preaching.”

Polesack emphasized that true civic engagement means looking past campaign slogans to understand actual policy impacts. He connected this to broader concerns about supporting vulnerable community members — those experiencing homelessness or poverty who need leaders willing to address tough social challenges with dignity.

Tomahawk Voters Want Action on Roads and Leadership

Down Highway 51 in Tomahawk, voters faced their own mayoral transition. With Mayor Steve Taskay stepping down, first-time candidates Jeff Koth and Michael Habeck competed to lead a community of roughly 9,000 residents.

Ken Sorensen captured what many Tomahawk voters expressed at the polls: they want decisive leadership that gets results.

“I want someone that’s attention getting, confident, and really able to get some things done that maybe a passive mayor can’t,” Sorensen explained. It’s a sentiment common in Northwoods towns where residents value leaders who’ll fight for their communities rather than just maintain the status quo.

One issue came up repeatedly in voter interviews: Tomahawk’s roads need serious attention. Dawn Franson didn’t mince words about infrastructure challenges facing the city.

“Our streets are horrible,” Franson said. “The potholes and weather does play a factor, but I think getting grounded and getting back to getting Tomahawk to what it used to be, which is a thriving community for tourists and its own community.”

Her comment touches on something central to Northwoods economics. Tourism dollars matter here, and visitors won’t return if roads are rough. But it’s equally about locals — the year-round residents who navigate these streets to work, school, and errands through brutal winters and spring thaws that wreak havoc on pavement.

What Spring Elections Mean for Small Northwoods Towns

Spring elections often fly under the radar compared to November contests, but they carry outsized importance in communities like Merrill and Tomahawk. These races determine who manages essential services — from snowplowing to summer festivals — that define quality of life up north.

Voter turnout in spring municipal elections typically runs lower than presidential years, which means each ballot cast carries more weight. Raymond Zindrick, voting in Tomahawk, understood this dynamic when discussing the broader state Supreme Court race also on the ballot.

“All I can say is you got to vote for what you feel is the answer for what we as a state are running into,” Zindrick noted, acknowledging the philosophical balance voters sought.

The issues these Lincoln County voters prioritized reflect Northwoods realities:

• Road maintenance that withstands harsh winters and spring freeze-thaw cycles
• Economic development that supports both residents and tourism
• Leadership accountability and transparency in government
• Community dignity and support for vulnerable populations
• Preserving small-town character while adapting to change

Beyond the Ballot Box

What stands out from these voter conversations isn’t just policy positions — it’s the deeply personal connection Northwoods residents have with local government. These aren’t abstract political debates. They’re about whether your street gets plowed efficiently, if summer visitors can navigate downtown without dodging craters, and whether your mayor returns calls when issues arise.

Charles Scheele voiced concerns about judicial philosophy that many conservative-leaning voters shared regarding the Supreme Court race. But across political divides, voters in both cities agreed on one thing: they want leaders who’ll show up and do the work.

Merrill’s roots in lumber and manufacturing, Tomahawk’s history along its namesake river — both cities have evolved from logging towns to communities balancing tradition with economic adaptation. Paper mills still operate in Merrill. Tomahawk markets itself to anglers and snowmobilers exploring nearby trails and lakes.

The mayors elected in these races will navigate ongoing challenges: maintaining aging infrastructure with limited budgets, attracting young families to reverse population decline, and supporting the mix of forestry, manufacturing, and tourism that keeps the Northwoods economy running.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. on election day, with anyone in line by that deadline still able to cast their vote. Results would soon reveal which direction each community chose — but the conversations at polling places already showed something important about Northwoods civic life. People here still care deeply about who leads their towns, and they’re not shy about saying what they expect from those leaders.