Former mayor’s decision leaves two Port council seats open in election next spring

There will be two open seats on the Port Washington Common Council next spring.

    Ald. Joe Dean filed his non-candidacy forms last week, joining Ald. Jim Vollmar in deciding not to seek re-election.

    Dean, who did not return a call seeking comment, is concluding his first term as alderman. In the 1990s, he served a term as the city’s mayor.

    Dean is also an Ozaukee County supervisor and president of the board of directors for the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight.

    Dean represents the city’s 5th District,  which encompasses much of the northwest side, while Vollmar represents the 3rd District, which includes much of the lakefront and downtown.

    Vollmar, who is completing his third term, said he and his wife, who is retiring, plan to travel and pursue other interests.

    Ald. Dan Becker, who represents the city’s 7th District, has taken out nomination papers but not yet returned them.

    Ald. Mike Ehrlich, who represents the 1st District, said he plans to run for re-election, although he had not taken out his papers yet.

    In the Port Washington-Saukville School District, all three incumbents have filed to run for re-election.

    They are Jim Eden, who represents those portions of the towns of Grafton and Saukville in the school district, and Kelly O’Connell-Perket and Jim Olson, who represent the City of Port Washington.

    The deadline for returning nomination papers or, in the case of the school board, filing a campaign registration statement and declaration of candidacy, is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2.

     If more than two candidates seek any one seat, a primary election will be held Feb. 19 to narrow the field for the April 2 election.