02-04-2025
OASD referendum passes, Hintz tops Doemel for county executive: Tuesday's election results
OSHKOSH – The district can breathe a sigh of relief.
It was a very close call, but Oshkosh Area School District can go forward with the latest phase of its infrastructure plan after a $197.8 million facilities referendum was narrowly passed following Tuesday's spring election.
Faced with some very vocal opposition, the referendum, which seeks $197.8 million in public funding for the second phase of the district's four-phase facilities plan, garnered 13,958 "yes" votes as opposed to 13,487 "no" votes.
The plan will see South Park and Perry Tipler middle schools merging into a new middle school, slated to open in 2028 at the site of the current Jacob Shapiro Elementary School.
Dig deeper: What to know about Oshkosh Area School District's $197.8M facilities referendum
The referendum vote was the biggest result coming out of an election that also marked former Assembly Minority leader Gordon Hintz's successful return to public life when he unseated incumbent Jon Doemel in the race for Winnebago County executive.
Hintz tallied 30,832 votes to Doemel's 27,374, ending Doemel's one-term stint in office.
Brad Spanbauer stormed his way onto the Oshkosh Common Council as a newcomer by leading all vote-getters in the race for one of the three open seats.
The sustainability director at UW-Oshkosh, Spanbauer received 11,699 votes while Deputy Mayor Karl Buelow (9,454) and fellow incumbent Joe Stephenson (10,376) managed to retain their seats on council.
Dig deeper: Oshkosh Common Council candidates share priorities ahead of April 1 election
Former Mayor Paul Esslinger didn't make it back on council after garnering 8,578 votes.
Immigration attorney Molly Smiltneek was comfortably returned to the Oshkosh Area School District Board while one-time Oshkosh Common Council member Michael Ford grabbed the other open seat on the OASD Board of Education.
Smiltneek received 13,935 votes and Ford got 11,742 while newcomer Jacob Wolf fell short with 10,762 votes.
Here are the results (winners in bold) of Tuesday's election:
Gordon Hintz - 30,832 votes
Jon Doemel - 27,374
Unresolved Write-in - 211
Karl Buelow - 9,454
Paul J. Esslinger - 8,578
Brad Spanbauer - 11,699
Joe Stephenson - 10,376
Unresolved Write-in - 272
Molly Smiltneek - 13,935
Michael Ford - 11,742
Jacob Wolf - 10,762
Unresolved Write-in - 224
Shall the Oshkosh Area School District, Winnebago County, Wisconsin be authorized to issue pursuant to Chapter 67 of the Wisconsin Statutes, general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $197,800,000 for the public purpose of paying the cost of a school building and facility improvement project consisting of:
construction of a new middle school at the existing Jacob Shapiro Elementary School site and removal of the current building;
construction of additions and renovations at Carl Traeger, Franklin and Oakwood Elementary Schools;
renovations at the Perry Tipler Middle School building to convert it into a pre-kindergarten center and recreation department offices;
construction of an addition and renovations for an auditorium at North High School;
renovations at Read, Emmeline Cook and Lakeside Elementary Schools to add airconditioning;
district-wide site improvements; and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment?
YES - 13,958
NO - 13,487
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Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@ and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Oshkosh schools referendum passes, Hintz wins county executive race
