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This infographic displays information about the mayoral primary as well as the school board races.

Following a well-fought primary election battle, Neenah City Council Aldermen Jane Lang and Brian Borchardt, the latter also a teacher at NHS, advanced into the general election phase, beating Kelly Behrmann.   Lang received 1,749 votes, Borchardt received 1,405, while Behrmann received 396.

Though he came a close second after the votes were counted, Borchardt was nevertheless optimistic and happy about the result.

“I’m humbled at the amount of people that have come out to support me,” Borchardt said the morning after the election.  “We have a lot of work to do yet, but I’m excited to be able to continue to share my message.”

Borchardt, counting on his experience working as a teacher inside of Neenah High School, continues to see a significant amount of support from the youth voting blocs, a group normally known for widespread apathy in many other electoral races.  His campaign’s Instagram account has swollen to an impressive 344 followers as a result.

“I voted for Brian Borchardt because he is forward thinking and for the people,” senior Addie Fredrickson said.  “I think that he would positively impact the Neenah community because of his youthful energy and progressive ideas.”

On top of the mayoral race, Neenah constituents also narrowed down the election field for open spots on the N.J.S.D. Board of Education.  The remaining contenders include: Lauri Asbury, with 2,252 votes, Sarah Moore-Nokes, with 2,118 votes, Rocky Schafer, with 1,705 votes, Tara Brzezinski, with 1,478 votes, Lydia Rhoads, with 1,436 votes, and Sara Johnson, with 1,427 votes.  These six candidates will be fighting for three spots come April’s election.

With the primaries concluded, focus now turns to the general election coming in two months.

“It’s gonna take a lot of work to get a lot of people out to the polls on April 5th.  But I think the message is strong, that we’re willing to put some time and effort into the city and make sure we can continue to make it an awesome place to live,” Borchardt added.

Speaking with regards to his opposition, Borchardt restated his respect for candidate Jane Lang.

“I think Jane is great, I sit with her on [city] council, but I think [my campaign] has a message that is, one that has a lot of looking to the future, and the opportunity to get more people involved.  Not just those that normally vote or participate in government.”

Mrs. Polly Kelly, instructional library technology specialist, organizes NHS’s voter registration drives every time an election rolls around.  She is already planning to handle this one.

“On March 10, we have voter registration scheduled for our 18-year-olds.  Key Club members and National Honor Society members will be assisting with that.  We are going to be set up in the Mercury Commons, right outside the library,” Kelly explained.

All 18-year-old U.S. Citizens may participate; a valid photo ID is required.