Candidates set for April 7 non-partisan election
Competitive races for State Supreme Court, Eau Claire School Board
and City Council, 8 EC County board seats
With last Tuesday's filing deadline, candidates are now set for the Spring Non-Partisan Election on Tuesday, April 7. Statewide and in Eau Claire County, there are no races that will require a February Primary.
8 of 29 EC County Board races contested, 6 incumbents retiring
With all 29 County Board seats in Eau Claire County on the ballot for two-year terms this Spring, just eight of those seats will feature two candidates: In District 3, challenger Donald Krump will take on incumbent Joe Knight; District 4 features Eric Fisher vs. incumbent Stella Pagonis; District 7, where incumbent Steve Chilson is not seeking reelection, Gregory Banchy and James Rolbiecki are on the ballot; District 14 will be incumbent Kirk Kahl vs. Robert Standard; District 17, where incumbent Thomas Vue is not running, candidates are Ray French and John Glassbrenner; District 21, where incumbent Mark Beckfield is not running has Steve Spina and Josh Sykora on the ballot; District 25 has incumbent Christy Tomczak facing Stephen Aguiar; and in District 26, Regina Bataineh is challenging incumbent Bob Swanson. Incumbents not seeking reelection include Chilson, Vue, Beckfield, Jim Dunning, Katherine Schneider, and Robin Leary. Click here to see the County Board districts map.
Eau Claire: School Board and City Council races
In the Eau Claire Area School District, 5 candidates are seeking three available seats. They include incumbents Lori Bica, James Dement, and Pa Thao, former board member Philip Lyons, and newcomer John Moskal. The top two vote getters will serve three-year terms, and third place will fill the last year of a term.
For the Eau Claire City Council, current City Council President Emily Berge is running for Congress and not seeking reelection. Former City Council member Jeremy Gragert and retiring Chamber Governmental Affairs Director Scott Rogers are the candidates for the three year term.
Contested races for one Altoona district, Town of Washington Board
In the City of Altoona, where there are three district seats on the ballot for three-year terms, the one contested race has incumbent Matthew Biren facing Jeff Allsage in District 4. In the Town of Washington, there are three candidates for two, two-year terms on the Town Board, including incumbent Karen Tomesh and newcomers Melissa Reilly and Jim Schultz. Incumbent Jeffrey White is not seeking reelection.
Statewide: Wisconsin Supreme Court
The one statewide contest is for a 10-year term on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Incumbent Rebecca Bradley, considered part of the conservative wing of the court, is not seeking reelection. Candidates on April 7 will be Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor and Court of Appeals Judge Maria Lazar. Taylor is a former state legislator considered the liberal candidate, and Lazar has the backing of conservatives.
More information:
Voter registration, finding your polling place, what's on your ballot (MyVote.WI.gov)
Spring 2026 Election candidates (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
EC County Board Candidates - April 2026 (Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce)
EC County Board Districts Map (Eau Claire County)
Five vying for three seats in the ECASD school board election (Leader-Telegram $)
Eight Eau Claire County seats contested in spring election (Leader-Telegram $)
Eau Claire County Board candidates announced ahead of spring election (WQOW News 18)
Former legislator, county clerk Bernier running for Chippewa County Board (Leader-Telegram $)
Dunn County gears up for 2026 elections with 10 contested board races and a contested mayoral race (WQOW News 18)
Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor face off in the 2026 election for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat (PBS Wisconsin)

EC City Council to consider sale, development
of Graham Ave parking ramp site
At its Tuesday Legislative Session this week, the Eau Claire City Council will consider a proposal to declare the site of the current Riverside Parking Ramp at 402 Graham Avenue as excess land, selling it to a developer and approving a development agreement. The agreement with the entity, 402 Graham Ave. 1st Floor LLC, represented by Stuart Schaefer, will allow it to purchase the site for one dollar, remove the current, closed parking deck, then later fully develop the site. (See pages 54-82 of the Tuesday Agenda Packet linked below.)
After Tuesday's meeting, the Council will conduct two work sessions, one providing an update on housing-related initiatives, and the other to discuss the strategic planning process (see pages 100-101 of the Tuesday Agenda Packet).
More information:
Eau Claire City Council
• Monday, Jan 12, 6 p.m., Public Hearing Agenda Packet (9 pages)
• Tuesday, Jan 13, 4 p.m. Legislative Session Agenda Packet (104 pages)
Click here to send an email to all City Council members
Click here for individual contact information for each City Council member
Link to videos of city meetings (City of Eau Claire)
City of Eau Claire Public Notices (City of Eau Claire)
City News Updates -incl. City Manager's Weekly Update (City of Eau Claire)
City announces development plans for Graham Ave. parking ramp (WQOW News 18)
City of Eau Claire to vote on new polling location for Election Ward 7 (WEAU 13 News)

Also meeting this week...
Full public meetings calendar
Eau Claire County Committee on Administration
• Tuesday, Jan 13, 2:30 p.m. Meeting information
City of Altoona Plan Commission
• Tuesday, Jan 13, 5:30 p.m. Meeting information
Eau Claire County Committee on Planning & Development
• Tuesday, Jan 13, 6 p.m. Meeting information
City of Eau Claire Housing Opportunities Commission
• Wednesday, Jan 14, 5:15 p.m. Meeting information
Chippewa Valley Regional Airport Commission
• Friday, Friday, Jan 16, 7:30 a.m. Meeting information

More local stories...
PFAS treatment to begin this year as City of Eau Claire shares update (Leader-Telegram $)
City of Eau Claire applies for increase to water utility (Leader-Telegram $)
How will education funding affect taxpayers this year? (Leader-Telegram $)
EC sheriff confirms ICE officers stopped at courthouse (Leader-Telegram $)
Children’s Museum of Eau Claire expands through rural Wisconsin (Leader-Telegram $)
City of Menomonie approves ordinance changes defining data center (Leader-Telegram $)
Menomonie among latest to adjust for data centers (The Center Square)
Visit Eau Claire and Sonnentag Center host 2026 Flag Football tournament (WEAU 13 News)
Rhinelander Fire Chief offered position to become chief in Chippewa Falls (Leader-Telegram $)
Stanley residents facing 115% water rate increase (WQOW News 18)

Jan 20 event: Family Friendliness as a Workforce Strategy
Wisconsin employers face a long-term shortage of workers that will complicate their competitiveness and challenge the strength of their organizations and the broader economy. Join Child Care Partnership and Family Friendly Workplaces for an important conversation about the workforce challenges your organization is facing—and what you can do about it.
The seminar will begin with a presentation from Child Care Partnership Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, highlighting who they are and the critical work they do, followed by a presentation from Neil Kline, Executive Director of Family Friendly Workplaces (FFW). Neil’s presentation will focus on the long-term human resources shortage facing Wisconsin employers and the innovative, family-friendly strategies that can help address it. His portion will include a brief benchmarking exercise, beneficial for both HR and senior leadership. There will also be time for questions and discussion!
Who should attend: Senior Leaders, Human Resources, Economic Development Partners
Event information:
Running Out of People: Family Friendliness as a Workforce Strategy
• Tuesday, Jan 20, 8:00-9:30 a.m., Chamber office, WNB Conference Room
Click here for details and to register

Wisconsin Policy Forum Report
Data Centers May Change Wisconsin’s Utility Landscape
Several massive data centers are being planned in Wisconsin to help power the global boom in artificial intelligence. The centers would add demand for electricity and water, but do so after years of declining usage of both. Since 2005, total energy sales by Wisconsin utilities have fallen 9% and peak demand for electricity has dipped by 2.6%. Water utilities have seen even larger reductions. Given that planned and potential data centers could require costly utility upgrades, it will be important to ensure those potential costs are fairly distributed.
More information:
Wisconsin Policy Forum Report: Data Centers May Change Wisconsin’s Utility Landscape (Wisconsin Policy Forum)
GOP proposal seeks to shield utility ratepayers from data center costs (Journal-Sentinel +)
Vos sees focus on data centers as part of broader look at energy costs (Journal-Sentinel +)
Quinn Introduces Bill Addressing Energy And Water Costs Of Data Centers (Dryden Wire)

WisDOT wants input from economic development
organizations, businesses about passenger rail
Response deadline: Friday, January 16
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is looking for survey input from business and economic development organizations, including their business members, about the potential value of intercity passenger train service to local economies.
A business who is a member of an organization such as a Chamber, BID, etc. is eligible to complete the survey. (When completing the survey, be sure to answer "yes" to the first three questions to be able to complete the entire survey.)
Survey link:
Wisconsin Intercity Passenger Rail Statewide Survey

More state and regional stories...
Lawmakers seek hospital price transparency, while hospitals say they should focus on insurers (Wisconsin Examiner)
Wisconsin Medicaid expected to spend $213M over state budget (WPR)
Rising dual enrollment for high schoolers contributes to Wisconsin technical college growth (WPR)
Wisconsin town secures funding for PFAS-free system after years on bottled water (WPR)
Foxconn paid Mount Pleasant additional $15M in 2025 after assessed value on property fell short (WPR)
Milwaukee Bucks Name New Team President (Urban Milwaukee +)
Superior mayor vetoes lead pipes ordinance (Superior Telegram +)

Food for thought...
Where’s the Moderate in Dem Primary? (Dave Cieslewicz, Yellow Stripes & Dead Armadillos)

Jan 15 US Chamber Virtual Event
State of American Business: A Bold Vision for America’s Future
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark will unveil a bold vision in her annual State of American Business Address for how the business community can help shape the nation’s next chapter. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the conversation that defines the future of business. Discover what leading business voices are saying about: The current state of the economy, Key issues shaping domestic and global business, and Strategic policy direction for 2026 and beyond.
Virtual Event Details:
State of American Business - US Chamber of Commerce
• Thursday, Jan 15, 2:00-3:30 p.m. CT
Click here to register

More federal and economic stories...
U.S. payrolls rose 50,000 in December, less than expected; unemployment rate falls to 4.4% (CNBC)
Allegiant and Sun Country Airlines to Combine, Creating a Leading, More Competitive Leisure-Focused U.S. Airline (News release)
Wisconsin childcare benefits continue amid federal funding freeze concerns (Journal-Sentinel +)
Van Orden sides with Democrats on ACA subsidy extension vote (WPR)
Senate votes to curb military action in Venezuela in rare Trump rebuke (Axios)
Venezuelan military action divides Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District candidates (Wisconsin Examiner)
What Zillow’s Search Data Says About the Housing Market (Strong Towns)
Wisconsin receives $203M in federal funding for Rural Health Transformation Program (InBusiness)
Highlights From The Times’s Interview With President Trump (New York Times +)
Trump Says 'Housing First' Failed the Homeless. Here's What the Evidence Says. (Jason DeParle, New York Times +)
Van Orden says office was attacked after Minneapolis shooting (Leader-Telegram $)

Food for thought...
The Right Response to the Minneapolis ICE Shooting (Editorial, The Free Press +) A fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Wednesday launched an immediate information war, in which politicians drew lines and exchanged accusations long before they knew the facts. Unfortunately, too many politicians and senior bureaucrats have decided that they must react to every tragedy according to the speed and logic of the internet, which goads them to offer the most partisan take they can muster, as quickly as possible, lest the other side’s narrative sway the public first.

Thanks for reading this issue of Business Advocate. If you have comments or questions, contact Scott Rogers, Sr Dir of Governmental Affairs, at 715-858-0616 or rogers@eauclairechamber.org