March 28, 2022 – Hartford, WI – The mayor’s race in the City of Hartford, WI is heating up as write-in candidates file to contest incumbent Timothy C. Michalak.
While the write-in candidates talk about their decision, none mentioned the current criminal investigation concerning misdemeanor charges against Washington County Board Supervisor – District #17/ Hartford mayor, Timothy C. Michalak which was reported March 24, 2022. The charges involve possession of a firearm in a government building and an expired concealed carry permit.
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It is notable that paperwork was officially filed Monday, March 28, 2022 just four days after the report became public.
Former Hartford mayor Joe Dautermann, 73, filed paperwork today with the City Clerk to officially run as a write-in for the Mayor of Hartford on the April 5, 2022 ballot.
Dautermann served a pair of 3-year terms as mayor from 2010 – 2016. In his initial term he ran against current mayor Tim Michalak and won. In 2013, Dautermann ran unopposed.
He said his decision to run as a write-in was prompted by some conversations he had over the weekend. “Some influential people in the City thought it would be a good idea if there was some competition in this Spring’s election,” said Dautermann.
The other two candidates include Scott Henke and Terrence Perfect.
Hanke, who served as Hartford mayor from 1998 – 2010, said he stepped into the race after consulting with Dautermann. “The incident that happened and the charges filed are an embarrassment to the City, the community, and the other 24 mayors that came before Mayor Michalak,” said Henke. “The biggest embarrassment in my opinion is he believed he is above the law and I just want to restore the integrity of the office.”
Questioned about there now being four official choices for mayor, wouldn’t that split the ballot?
“We decided even though we’re going to split votes… we believe all people are concerned and those are the people we want to serve,” Henke said.
Terrence Perfect, 50, moved to Hartford, WI in January 2021. “I’m really big into politics, as far as staying current and my ideas on how they pertain to the world and I thought my view could benefit a small town,” he said.
Perfect is a veteran, having served in the U.S. Marines from 1993 – 2001. Perfect is from a small town in Nebraska but married a Hartford gal, Marla Larsson.
It was January 2022 when paperwork was due to officially run for mayor. “I really wanted to run then because I feel the ability to serve is just being pushed on me – maybe it’s a God thing,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of mentoring and coaching and motivational speaking and I feel this is an avenue for me that will be good and I have ideas on how to unite people.”
Perfect works as a loan originator in the mortgage industry. He is also a certified motivational speaker with John Maxwell.
Hartford City Clerk Lori Hetzel confirmed all the registered write-in candidates names. There is also another name floating around as Todd Bultmann, who initially filed to run in January 2022, came up 9 signatures short to officially be listed on the ballot.
Hetzel confirmed Bultmann is not a registered write in.
So, legally, will that matter? Hetzel said it most certainly does.
“If they’re not registered, a vote for them doesn’t necessarily count,” she said. “They should be registered write in.”
Questioned what happens if a non-registered write-in collects the most votes. Hetzel said the “registered write-ins take precedent. The unregistered person’s votes don’t count.”
There’s also spelling to be considered, since a write-in does not have their name listed on the ballot.
Hetzel said, “The spelling has to be clear enough to ascertain they feel comfortable that that’s the person they were writing in.”
If the write-in name is spelled incorrectly, Hetzel said, “That’s okay.”
This is a working story and more information will be added when details become available.