Candidate Information for Spring 2020 Election

As the nation begins to gear up for the November Presidential elections, it is critical to remember that the elections that will most directly affect your life are those at the state and local level, coming up this Spring. This means you have a chance to influence the direction of those bodies, and, by extension, the direction of the policies that matter most. On April 7th, 2020,  Eau Claire City Council President and At-Large Alderperson, Eau Claire County Board, Eau Claire Area School District School Board, City of Altoona Mayor and Alderpersons, and Altoona School District School Board are all up for election.

We at the Chamber hope you will participate in your local elections as a voter, but we also encourage you to consider running as a candidate for any of these  upcoming races.  The Chamber believes that those involved in local business have the in-depth knowledge of the economy, regulations, taxes, and other issues necessary to make good decisions for guiding the community, so it is critically important to get involved. To that end, we have compiled below all the information you would need to participate in the upcoming elections as a candidate.

Eau Claire City Council

City Council President is up for election in the city. Current Council president Terry Weld hopes to continue his tenure and seek reelection for a full three-year term.  A seat for council-at-large is also up for election, as its previous occupant, Laura Benjamin, has stepped down.  This council seat's term of office will expire April 19, 2022.
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Dates to Remember: 

• DECEMBER 1, 2019: First day to begin circulating Nomination Papers.
• JANUARY 7, 2020: Deadline to file Campaign Registration Statement, a Declaration of Candidacy, and Nomination Papers with the School District Clerk (by 5:00 pm).
• FEBRUARY 18, 2020:  PRIMARY ELECTION (if necessary)
• APRIL 7, 2020:  SPRING ELECTION

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​Filing Papers:
 Council President Candidate Information Booklet
At-Large Council Member Information Booklet 
These list the forms that need to be completed and filed on time with the City Clerk's office in order for the Candidate's name to be placed on the ballot for the February Spring Primary Election and April Spring Election. The following forms are available on this blog post by hyperlink or in physical form from the City Clerk at 203 S Farwell St. ​If you have questions, call (715) 839-4912. The office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, except December 24 and 25, and January 1.
​Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1)

• ​New Candidates: File a Campaign Registration Statement before campaign funds are collected or spent or before submitting nomination papers.
• Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162)
• Nomination Papers (EL-169)
  • Candidates for Council President need to turn in 200 to 400 signatures. Signers must be eligible voters who live in the City limits. They do not have to be registered voters. 
  • Candidates for At-Large Alderperson need to turn in 100 to 200 signatures. Signers must be eligible voters who live in the City limits. They do not have to be registered voters. 

School District of Altoona

​​The Altoona school board has two seats up for election in April: board president Robin Elvig (elected 2008, president since 2016) and Taylor Neff (elected 2019). 
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Dates to Remember: 

• DECEMBER 1, 2019: First day to begin circulating Nomination Papers.
• JANUARY 7, 2020: Deadline to file Campaign Registration Statement, a Declaration of Candidacy, and Nomination Papers with the School District Clerk (by 5:00 pm).
• FEBRUARY 18, 2020:  PRIMARY ELECTION (if necessary)
• APRIL 7, 2020:  SPRING ELECTION

Filing Papers:
Ballot Access Checklist
Lists the forms needed to be completed and filed on time with the School District Clerk's office in order for the Candidate's name to be placed on the ballot for the February Spring Primary Election and April Spring Election. The following forms are available on this blog post by hyperlink or in physical form from the School District Clerk at 1903 Bartlett Avenue, phone number (715) 839-6032. If the forms are faxed or emailed, the original document must follow, postmarked no later than January 7.

• Campaign Registration Statement
• Nomination Paper for Nonpartisan Office

• Declaration of Candidacy
• Campaign Finance Checklist for 2020
  • Campaign Finance Report
  • Campaign Finance Overview​​

Other Helpful Documents:

• Guide for Candidates​

Eau Claire Area School District

There are three positions up for election on April 7 for the Eau Claire Area School District Board. Two are for full three-year terms, and one is for one year to fill the unexpired term of Joe Luginbill, who resigned effective November 1. The incumbents are Lori Bica and Charles Vue, as well as Phil Lyons, who was appointed to fill Luginbill's seat until April. The top two vote getters will be elected to the three year terms, and the third place finisher will fill the one-year term.

An information session will be held before the spring election at the Administration Building at 500 Main Street for anyone interested in learning more about running for School Board. If you are interested in attending, the District asks you please contact the Superintendent's Office at 715-852-3002. If you can't make it to an information session, you can come to Room 132 at the Administration Building between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from December 2, 2019, through January 7, 2020, to learn more and fill out the appropriate forms. 

Dates to Remember:​

• DECEMBER 1, 2019: First day to circulate Nomination Papers
• JANUARY 7, 2020: All ballot access documents must be received by School District Clerk by 5:00 p.m. for individual’s name to appear on the ballot
• FEBRUARY 18, 2020:
  

​​           A PRIMARY will be held ONLY if there are more than six (6) candidates for the three (3) open positions. 

• APRIL 7, 2020:  SPRING ELECTION

Filing Papers:
The Ballot Access Checklist for 2020
lists the forms needed to be completed and filed on time with the School District Clerk's office in order for the Candidate's name to be placed on the ballot for the February Spring Primary Election and April Spring Election. The following forms are available on this document by hyperlink or in physical form from the School District Clerk.

• Campaign Registration Statement
• Nomination Paper for Nonpartisan Office
• Declaration of Candidacy
• Campaign Finance Checklist for 2020
  • Campaign Finance Report
  • Campaign Finance Overview​

Other Helpful Documents:

• Elections Guide for Candidates

Eau Claire County Board of Supervisors

There are 29 supervisory districts in Eau Claire County, each represented by one elected resident of that district.  These residents (supervisors) serve 2 year terms and are up for election in the spring of even-numbered years. A list of current incumbent supervisors can be found here.

Dates to Remember:
Paperwork must be submitted to the County Clerk's office no later than 5pm on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.

Filing Papers:
Ballot Access Checklist
​Lists the forms needed to be completed and filed on time with the County Clerk's office in order for the Candidate's name to be placed on the ballot for the February Spring Primary Election and April Spring Election. The following forms are available on this document by hyperlink or in physical form from the County Clerk's Office at 721 Oxford Avenue and the Office can be reached by phone at 715-839-4801.

• Campaign Finance Registration Statement
  • New Candidates must file a campaign registration statement before campaign funds are collected or spent or before submitting nomination papers.
• Declaration of Candidacy
• Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office
  • ​Candidates will need 20-100 signatures to run for these seats. 

(Note: This was previously listed as requiring more signatures. Although election documents show counties with over 100,000 pop require more signatures, it's based upon the most recent census. In 2010, Eau Claire County's population was still under 100,000)

City of Altoona

The City of Altoona will be holding elections for mayor as well as for the aldermanic seats of Districts 1, 2, and 3. Brendan Pratt is the incumbent mayor, and Dale Stuber, Red Hanks, and Andrew Schlafer are the councilpersons of districts 1, 2, and 3, respectively.  The ward maps of these districts can be found here.

Dates to Remember:​​

• DECEMBER 1, 2019: First day to circulate Nomination Papers
• JANUARY 7, 2020: All ballot access documents must be received by City Clerk by 5:00 p.m. for individual’s name to appear on the ballot
• FEBRUARY 18, 2020: A PRIMARY will be held ONLY if necessary.
• APRIL 7, 2020: SPRING ELECTION

​Filing Papers:
The Mayor Ballot Access Checklist and the Alderperson Ballot Access Checklist
list the forms needed to be completed and filed on time with the City Clerk's office in order for the Candidate's name to be placed on the ballot for the February Spring Primary Election and April Spring Election. The following forms are available on this document by hyperlink or in physical form from the City Clerk's Office reached by phone at 715-839-6092 or by email at cindyb@ci.altoona.wi.us.

• ​Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1)
• • New Candidates: File a Campaign Registration Statement before campaign funds are collected or spent or before submitting nomination papers.
• Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162)
• Nomination Papers (EL-169)
  • Candidates for Mayor need to turn in 50-100 signatures.
  • Alderpersons will need 20-40 signatures.

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Questions or connections needed?
If you have questions about the process or simply want to touch base about considering a candidacy, contact Scott Rogers, the Chamber's Governmental Affairs & Workforce Director, at: rogers@eauclairechamber.org or 715-858-0616.

Posted by Clayton Cavanaugh, Chamber Intern
cavanaugh@eauclairechamber.org