Two cities have primary focus

Primary elections for Oak Creek mayor, city clerk and 6th District alderman are Tuesday, as is a six-way race for two Franklin Public School Board seats.

Running for mayor are 6th District Alderman Tom Michalski, Common Council President Steve Scaffidi and Mark Verhalen, a former alderman who is now on the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board.

Verhalen has indicated he would not relinquish his School Board position, and Michalski is also running for re-election in the 6th District. He said if elected mayor, he would resign as alderman.

Running against Michalski are two political newcomers, Chris Guzikowski and Ed Reader.

The clerk's position also has three in the running: Suzette Emmer, LeAnn Launstein and Catherine Roeske.

The mayor and clerk serve three-year terms; aldermen serve for two years.

Acting Clerk Christa Miller said the contested races could mean a heavy turnout at the polls. "I don't even know what to expect," said Miller.

With the passage of Act 23, the Voter Photo Identification Law, the primary is the first election voters will need to have an acceptable ID card - such as a valid Wisconsin driver's license, state ID, U.S. passport or armed forces ID card.

"You can't vote unless you have a photo ID," Miller said.

Meanwhile, two Franklin School Board incumbents, Judith Bialk and Janet Evans, face four contenders - Donald Petre, Aimee Schlueter, John Thompson and David Works. The seats carry three-year terms.

The two top vote-getters in Oak Creek's races and the top four in Franklin's will advance to the general election on April 3.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Voters can look up their voter registration status and find their polling place on the state's Voter Public Access Web site at vpa.wi.gov.

POLLING PLACES

FRANKLIN

District 1: City Hall, 9229 W. Loomis Road

District 2: Law Enforcement Center, 9455 W. Loomis Road

District 3: Polish Center of Wisconsin, 6941 S. 68th St.

Districts 4 and 5: Milwaukee County Sports Complex, 6000 W. Ryan Road

District 6: St. Martin of Tours Church, 7963 S. 116th St.

For information, call (414) 425-7500.

OAK CREEK

District 1: School Administration Building, 7630 S. 10th St.

District 2: West Middle School, 8401 S. 13th St.

District 3: East Middle School, 9330 S. Shepard Ave.

District 4: Carollton Elementary School, 8965 S. Carollton Drive.

District 5: Meadowview Elementary School, 10420 S. McGraw Drive

District 6: Oak Creek Community Center, 8580 S. Howell Ave.

For information, call (414) 768-6500.