Primary Election Races: Nasewaupee, Sister Bay Candidates

Feb. 21 is the primary election, April 4 the general election

People all across Door County have stepped up this election season to take a run at public office. Some are asking voters for a chance to continue to serve, but many more for the Feb. 21 primary are new faces with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

There are primary races in four communities this year: Gardner, Gibraltar, Nasewaupee and Sister Bay. We’re introducing the primary candidates for Nasewaupee and Sister Bay in this Feb. 10 issue of the Peninsula Pulse, and we’ll have the Gardner and Gibraltar candidates in our Feb. 17 issue. 

Following the primary election, we’ll send complete questionnaires to the candidates who earned enough votes to advance to the April 4 ballot.

Beyond these four communities with primaries, there’s also a primary election for Wisconsin Supreme Court justice because Justice Patience Roggensack’s term expires July 31, and she is not running for reelection. The four candidates on the primary-election ballot are Jennifer Dorow, Daniel Kelly, Everett Mitchell and Janet Protasiewicz. The two who receive the most votes will advance to the nonpartisan general election on April 4. 

Find information about the Wisconsin Supreme Court justice candidates at ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2023.

Town of Nasewaupee

Nasewaupee went from a three-member to a five-member board this year, drawing a number of new candidates to run for office. There are two primary election contests: one for the Supervisor 1 seat, the second for Supervisor 2.

Supervisor 1 Seat

Three men are running for the open Supervisor 1 seat. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April election.

Mark Hilsabeck, 57, is a real estate agent with Action Realty. He has a B.A. in criminal justice from the Community College of the Air Force. He and wife Cyndi Hilsabeck have two adult children. 

Why are you running for office? As a local veteran who recently retired from the Door County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to continue my service to the community and be a part of Nasewaupee’s future. I am a level-headed, common-sense person, and with my past experiences, I feel I have a lot to offer the residents of Nasewaupee in the upcoming challenges. These are just a few reasons why I am running for the Nasewaupee Town Board and would appreciate your vote.

Bill Krueger, 79, is a valet at Door County Medical Center. He was educated at Menomonee Falls High School. He and wife Mary Krueger have three adult children. 

Why are you running for office? I decided to run for town supervisor to continue working toward the successful launch of our new fire department, which can be run for less than the $290,000 tax levy we pay to the Southern Door Fire Department now. I want to use my experience to keep watch on how we spend money on infrastructure and work toward better technology options such as fiber optics, as well as all issues beneficial to the town. I appreciate your support.

Mike Martell, 43, is a highway-department operator for the County of Door. He is a graduate of Southern Door High School and attended Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for gas distribution. He has a 13-year-old son and a fiancée of seven years. 

Why are you running for office? I have lived almost my entire life in the Forestville/Nasewaupee area. We need strong candidates on the board to ensure a positive future for Nasewaupee and its community members. Recently, there have been several issues that have put a strain on the community. I believe a fresh set of eyes on what the future holds is important, so I decided to file my papers to run.

Supervisor 2 Seat

Four men are running for the open Supervisor 2 seat. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April election. 

Don Sixel Jr., the only incumbent in this group, did not respond to the Peninsula Pulse’s request to participate in the questionnaire.

Lance Brolin, 45, works in professional services for ServiceNow. He has a B.A. in organizational communications from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is not married and does not have any children.

Why are you running for office? I believe it’s the right time to bring a new and fresh perspective to the town board, and I want to drive further dialogue about the needs of Nasewaupee. I am experienced in taking topics and consulting with others on the facts, when necessary, to make the right decision. I understand the importance of defining goals and objectives while also developing a transparent plan of action to remedy a situation. I want to make progressive decisions on advancing initiatives that help the community while maintaining financial stability and the rural community we love.

Mark Feuerstein, 60, is a crop-insurance agent/owner and crop consultant. He has a B.S. in soil and crop science, with a minor in turf-grass management from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He is married to Teri Feuerstein, and they have one adult son. 

Why are you running for office? In 2012-14, I was elected to the Door County Board of Supervisors. I chose not to re-run due to career demands and time spent away from my residence. I am now able to travel less and can devote more time to the local town board. I have been a resident of Nasewaupee since 1988 and own a 206-acre farm that was owned in the past by two previous relatives: Melvin Hoffman and George Whitford, who were also Nasewaupee Town Board members.

George Sincock, 64, is a retired carpenter who spent two years studying at Michigan Tech. He is married to Jane Roalkvan, and they have five adult children and five grandchildren. 

Why are you running for office? I want to keep Nasewaupee a great place to live and raise a family. I feel my community involvement and life experience will make me an effective member of the town board. I will listen to concerns and work hard to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.

Village of Sister Bay

Seven candidates are on the primary ballot, vying for three open seats on the Sister Bay Village Board. None of the candidates are incumbents. The top six vote-getters will advance to the spring election.

One of the people on the primary ballot, Sarah White, is already seated because the village board appointed her to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Mary Lyons. Even though White no longer needs to run for a seat, her name will still appear on the ballot because she was appointed after filing her candidacy papers. White will be sworn in to her new position Feb. 21. We include information about her below to introduce her to constituents. 

Sarah White, 36, works remotely as the head of strategy, growth and innovation at Children’s Minnesota; and as co-owner of Peach Barn Farmhouse and Brewery in Sister Bay. She has a B.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Iowa and a master’s of health care administration from the University of Minnesota. She is married to Jason White, and they have three daughters between the ages of 3 and 7. 

Why did you run for office? I ran for the village board because Door County has been my happy place my entire life. As a Sister Bay business owner, homeowner and parent, I want to keep our village a great place to raise a family. I have the business, health care and community-service experience necessary to be an effective contributor. I care deeply about people and understanding various perspectives, and I will work hard to ensure our community continues to thrive.

Patrice M. Champeau, 61, works at the front desk of the White Gull Inn and is an artist. She has a B.S. in education and an A.D. in paralegal studies from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Her partner is Eric Smith, and she has one daughter.

Why are you running for office? I am running for the village board to serve the community that I am passionate about. My roots go deep here. My family settled here in the 1870s. I have served on several boards here in Door County. I currently serve on the Sister Bay Planning Commission. In recent years, new developments have changed the face of our village. Going forward, I would work hard to return the charm of our waterfront community.

Nick Deviley, 41, is the owner of Tapuat and The Patio, both Sister Bay businesses. He graduated from Green Bay West High School. He is married to Mary Lou Deviley, and they have six children between the ages of 2 and 13. 

Why are you running for office? I am running for village trustee with the encouragement of my neighbors, fellow business owners and family, who view my straightforward approach to issues as a positive leadership and decision-making tool. I have managed property maintenance at my residence and at the Country Walk Shops, facilitated communication among attorneys and board members, and worked promptly within a budget. I understand the financial circumstances and the need for land conservation and sustainability within our village and feel the need to focus on the needs of families and year-round residents for the long-term health of our community.

Vivian Nienow, 67, is retired from a varied career with lots of child care toward the end. She has a B.A. in education from Cardinal Stritch College. She and husband Keith Nienow have two adult sons.

Why are you running for office? I started attending village meetings when a development was proposed that abuts my home. Friends encouraged me to run for office, which I did, and I was a trustee for two years. I feel I bring a different perspective to the board. I believe I represent the people who live here but don’t depend on tourism. I realize many of my friends and neighbors do, and I definitely benefit from tourism, but my focus is different.

Lilly Orozco, 32, is the general manager at Skip Stone Coffee in Sister Bay. She has a B.A. in tourism from the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico. She is married to Juan Ornelas, and they have an 8-year-old daughter. 

Why are you running for office? My family and I moved to Door County seven years ago and reside here year-round. I decided to run for office because I believe that a person like me – a young professional, woman, wife, mother and Latina – should be more involved in our community’s matters. I want the best for Sister Bay and its lovely people and would love the opportunity to represent them and work for a better future. 

Andrew Torcivia, 45, is the owner of Lundquist Realty and Vacation Rentals of Door County. He graduated from high school and has his real estate broker license. He is married to Tina Torcivia, and they have two children. 

Why are you running for office? Being both a resident and a business owner of Sister Bay, I am very committed to the future of the village and our community. My background consists of construction, project management, property management and real estate. I want to use these leadership skills and knowledge to support our community and provide a well-balanced viewpoint.

Alison Werner, 47, is an acupuncturist who owns Wood Rabbit Acupuncture in Ephraim. She has a B.A. in art history from Pomona College in Claremont, California, and an M.S. in traditional Chinese medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. She is married to Simon Werner, and they have a 7-year-old son. 

Why are you running for office? My ancestors arrived in Ephraim in the 1850s, and I have always had a deep respect and love for the region. I see a lot of change happening, and I would like to help shape that change so that old and new can come together in a harmonious way. I would like to bring the voices of the villagers to the board so that all ideas can be heard, discussed and respected.