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Lake Geneva to hold special election in April

Photo

William Chesen

Photo

Spyro Condos

LAKE GENEVA — Residents of the city’s 1st District will have to pay close attention at the polls in April.

The city council on Monday night unanimously approved a special election to replace Alderman Spyro “Speedo” Condos. The special election will “piggyback” on the regular April 6 election, City Clerk Diana Dykstra said.

Today is the day potential candidates in races across Wisconsin can start circulating nomination papers.

Condos on Monday resigned from his post as part of a deal reached last week between Mayor Bill Chesen and other council members.

Condos and Alderman Todd Krause represent the 1st District. Krause’s two-year term ends in April, so his seat will be up for election.

Condos was appointed Aug. 24 to fill a vacant seat until April 2011, Dykstra said. Now that Condos’ seat is open, voters will get to choose someone to fill a one-year term for that seat.

The two races will be clearly marked on the ballot, Dykstra said. Technically, the same person could take out papers and run for both races, but that person could not fill both positions if elected, Dykstra said.

“That would make it a very confusing election for the city of Lake Geneva,” Chesen said.

The council’s unanimous decision Monday night could be the end of a battle that’s been brewing in the city since Condos was appointed to the position. Condos, a former Lake Geneva mayor, and Chesen had been bitter campaign rivals in the mayoral race held in the spring 2008 election.

Since then, council members have been at odds. On Sept. 10, Chesen suspended Mary Jo Fesenmaier, Arleen Krohn, Penny Roehrer and Tom Spellman. Chesen accused the four of misconduct and violating the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. Chesen accused Spellman and Roehrer also of neglecting their duties.

In order to restore a quorum to the council, Chesen on Sept. 21 rescinded the suspensions of Roehrer and Krohn. The council on Sept. 23 approved Larry Magee and Sturges Taggart as replacements for Fesenmaier and Spellman, respectively.

But then the battle stalled until the day before Thanksgiving.

At that time, in a private two-hour meeting, Walworth County Court Judge Michael Gibbs helped the two sides come to an agreement.

Chesen agreed to rescind Fesenmaier’s and Spellman’s suspensions and drop the charges against them and the two other council members. In exchange, Condos had to resign from the council.

In the meantime, a recall election is in the works for Spellman. William Mott, 1150 Park Drive No. 601, has turned in papers to challenge Spellman.

The election will take place Dec. 22.