MAYOR WALTER FILES PETITION FOR RE-ELECTION
Michael Walter is seeking another term as mayor of Freeman.
City Finance Officer Lisa Edelman confirmed this week that Walter has turned in his nominating petition for re-election; other petitions that had been filed with City Hall as of Wednesday morning include that of Ward 1 councilor Charles Gering, Ward 2 councilor Steve (Charly) Waltner — both incumbents — and Shelly Wanninger representing Ward 3. That seat was previously held by Tabitha Schoenwald, who resigned late last year.
Edelman said additional petitions for city office had been taken out.
Those seeking office have until next Friday, Feb. 23 to turn those petitions in.
Walter had said last summer that he would not seek a second consecutive term as mayor, but told the Courier this week that he had a change of heart.
“I was quite certain at the time,” he said. “I was frustrated — burnt out — and I didn’t feel like I had answers to our problems.”
But several key hires, including a code enforcement officer in Jesse Tschetter and new groundskeeper at Valley View Golf Course in Joel Johnson, re-energized Walter.
“Come November, December, things started falling into place,” he said. “We made some good hires that I feel good about. This is still fun for me and I enjoy having something like this that I can focus on. I enjoy the work and I enjoy solving problems.”
At Freeman Public Schools, a number of petitions have been taken out for school board, and business manager Angele Letcher conformed Wednesday morning that current school board president Emily Andersen had filed her petition for re-election.
In Menno, finance officer Jody Fischer said several nominating petitions have been taken out with one turned in — that of Amber Cross representing Ward 3.
Those up for re-election in Menno include Mayor Darrell Mehlhaf, Scott Simonsen in Ward 1, Jerry Fischer in Ward 2, and George Cokens and John Huber in Ward 3.
Mehlhaff told the Courier last month that he would be seeking another term as Menno’s mayor.
For Menno School Board, business manager Dale Weiss said Wednesday morning that he had not received any nominating petitions. Only one term is expiring on the school board there — that held by Tim Freier.
