April 21, 2026
By TIM HUNDT
Vernon County Board Chair Lorn Goede survived a tight reelection bid Tuesday as supervisors organized for a new two year term that brought in two new members but kept most incumbents in place.
Supervisors chose Goede by a 10 to 9 margin over Supervisor Charles “Charlie” Jacobson after both were nominated from the floor and made brief stump speeches. The race for vice chair ended with the same 10 to 9 split.
Goede stressed continuity and transparency in his appeal for another term.
“We have got, I believe, an open and transparent government, no secret meetings,” said Goede. “All meetings should be announced. They should not be held in people’s houses when nobody knows they are having a meeting.”
He also pointed to specific financial and administrative changes made during his tenure including cleaning up credit card accounts and earning interest on county funds.
“We had 50 or 60 open accounts when I got on board that we have eliminated down to I think one, maybe a little more than one,” said Goede. “We now get interest in all the accounts that we have laying around.”
Jacobson framed his candidacy around availability and his experience as both a longtime county employee and supervisor.
“Being retired I have the availability and willingness and I think I have shown that over the last two three years to go to the meetings go to the outside counties association, Mississippi River Regional,” said Jacobson. “If you are not out there you are not meeting people, you are not doing those things, I do not think we are doing justice for the county.”
He also stressed the value of bringing ideas back from regional work such as the county’s ongoing energy audit.
“Something similar as the energy audit was part of just an information session at a different meeting that I was at,” said Jacobson. “And I think we are going to do really good work with that.”
New board mixes fresh faces with veterans
The board opened the meeting with an oath of office, invocation and Pledge of Allegiance before each supervisor introduced themselves for the benefit of new members and the public.
Two new supervisors joined the 19 member board and were repeatedly welcomed during introductions
District 12 Scott Champion of Viroqua
District 17 Greg Lawton representing La Farge and surrounding towns
Champion, a retired state economic development official (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation WEDC), said his time working with state government convinced him of its potential to help residents.
“I ran the marketing and brand strategy division for WEDC and I saw the amazing power that government can have for really making things better for the people it serves,” said Champion. “And I am excited to be here.”
Lawton highlighted his work for the Village of La Farge and his long service in fire and EMS.
“I represent the Village of La Farge Town of Stark and part of Union,” said Lawton. “I work for the Village of La Farge and I also am 25 years into volunteer fire and EMS down there and like all of you in the small areas we all do everything.”
He also thanked his long serving predecessor.
“I would also like to send a thank you to Lonnie Muller for his years of service and his wife,” said Lawton. “They served this seat for a long time and I appreciate the years of service to our area.”
Most supervisors returned for another term, but state law requires counties to reorganize following each spring election. That includes electing a board chair and vice chair and filling the seats on several major committees that are chosen directly by the full board rather than appointed.
Tight race for vice-chair mirrors chair contest
Immediately after Goede’s reelection, supervisors moved to the vice-chair race. Supervisor Bruce Kilmer nominated Supervisor Will Beitlich, praising his character and background as a dairy farmer. Supervisor Nathaniel Slack nominated Jacobson for the post, citing his attendance at many committee meetings and his work on board rules and ethics.
Kilmer said Beitlich’s reputation made him a strong choice for board leadership.
“I would like to nominate Will Beitlich I have known Will for probably over 30 years,” said Kilmer. “He is very hard working honest dairy producer and I believe he has all the core values that we all look for in a good solid person to represent us here in Vernon County.”
Slack repeated his earlier praise of Jacobson’s engagement and ethics work.
“For you new folks who have not been sitting in committees, Charlie attends every committee,” said Slack. “He was instrumental in developing the chair expectations that we approved earlier that are in the board rules now, and I cannot think of anybody better that embodies those codes of ethics.”
After another paper ballot vote and a verbal vote from Easterday, the clerk again announced a 10 to 9 decision. This time Beitlich edged Jacobson for vice-chair.
Board fills elected seats on key committees
The board then turned to the complicated task of electing members to three powerful standing committees that are chosen by the full board
Conservation and Education Committee
Infrastructure Committee
Human Services and Veterans Service Committee
By rule, each supervisor may serve on only one elected committee with the exception of the Vernon Manor Board of Trustees. The clerk provided color coded ballots listing eligible supervisors and walked members through a series of nominations, candidate comments and votes.
Clerk Jerry Pedretti acknowledged the process can be confusing but said the printed ballots and careful tallying were meant to keep it orderly.
Conservation and Education Committee
Supervisors elected five board members plus one citizen member to the Conservation and Education Committee. The race drew a long list of nominees who spoke about farming backgrounds, flood history, watershed work and outdoor recreation.
Slack nominated himself and said the committee connects many different agencies around land and water.
“This is a super diverse committee with everything from UW-Extension to the DNR to the NRCS working with our local land and water,” said Slack.
He pointed to his work on hiring the new county conservationist and reviving the Flood Mitigation Alliance.
“I had the privilege of participating in the hiring of our new conservationist,” said Slack. “Was able to help bring it back from the dead the Flood Mitigation Alliance.”
Supervisor Alycan Taylor was nominated by Slack for her outdoor recreation work and later spoke about tying recreation to the county’s economy.
“I would say I have a proven work history that illustrates my experience executing outdoor recreation opportunities for the citizens of Vernon County,” said Taylor. “You can look all around our region how strategic responsible outdoor recreation has bolstered and in some ways saved local economies and we are not being creative enough here in that realm.”
She also argued that she consistently brings preparation to every committee she serves on.
“I very much understand this is a small piece of what happens in land and water and education,” said Taylor. “But I am well informed in the other very important and very pressing issues that our county faces.”
Eggen told colleagues his decades in agriculture and local government informed his interest in staying on the committee.
“I have been farming for 60 years and I spent 43 years on a town board,” said Eggen. “I have seen every conceivable conservation disaster and this committee would be my second term on it and I enjoy every aspect of the discussions.”
Beitlich, who was nominated both by colleagues and later by himself for emphasis, said his long family history in the county and hands on conservation work mattered.
“My family has lived and farmed in District 1 for 159 years and in all that time I have served 20 years I think it is on land conservation,” said Beitlich. “I have incorporated many different conservation practices on my farm through land conservation nutrient management plans that were referred to before.”
Easterday recounted his experience living in a flood prone valley.
“Living in Knapp Valley I have seen what can happen in a hurry in these valleys with flooding and the soil loss that we have had over the years,” said Easterday. “It is not getting a lot better. We are trying to improve it but there is so much needs done.”
Kilmer shared that he has been honored for conservation work and remains active on Mississippi River projects.
“I may be the only person in this room that has actually received an award way way back in 1988 for the conservation work I did on our family property,” said Kilmer. “I am also on the board of directors for Friends of Pool 9 which has a lot of conservation work on the Mississippi River.”
Walleser said he would bring practical, large scale farm experience to the table.
“I am bringing a real world experience and the willingness to listen and focus on solutions that actually work on the ground,” said Walleser.
After open balloting where supervisors could vote for up to five names, the clerk announced the top five vote getters
Will Beitlich
Bruce Kilmer
Kevin Walleser
Dave Eggen
Frank Easterday
Supervisors then unanimously chose Carol Hall as the citizen member after Beitlich noted her background.
“She has been on our committee I do not know several years,” said Beitlich. “She is from a farm and she is very familiar with the processes that we do.”
Infrastructure Committee
The board next filled the Infrastructure Committee which oversees the highway department, the landfill and zoning among other responsibilities. That committee is structured with three geographic seats plus two at large seats.
First, supervisors elected one member each from the western, central and eastern areas
Western district seat John Pedretti
Central district seat Martha Olson
Eastern district seat Paul Wilson
Pedretti told colleagues he wanted to be on a committee that makes major capital decisions.
“I feel like I have good ideas and I am innovative,” said Pedretti. “I think I have a pretty good understanding of money and how it needs to be spent or where it can be spent. So I feel like I would be good on a committee that gets to do stuff and makes decisions.”
Olson said her banking experience and proximity to the landfill make her a good fit.
“I would love to be on this committee again,” said Olson. “Landfill of course is a very contentious hot spot in my area so I receive a lot of calls and I have a background in financial. I was in banking for 37 years so I look at both that and the environmental side of the landfill.”
She also pointed to her years following county road issues.
“I do not know a lot about putting in roads but I know they are very needed,” said Olson. “And it is very important for Vernon County we keep our roads in good shape.”
Wilson emphasized his direct experience with road work and zoning discussions.
“I would like to ask your consideration and support to continue on this committee,” said Wilson. “With past and current experience in actual road repair and construction and recent zoning discussions with my represented townships, along with two terms on this committee I believe I can continue contributing positively.”
For the at-large seats, supervisors nominated several names including Jacobson, Lawler and Schweiger.
Jacobson described Infrastructure as a complex committee that demands detailed work and hard questions.
“There is a lot of back story there is a lot of information that goes through there and it is hard to keep up with everything but I think I do a good job with that,” said Jacobson. “It is important to ask a lot of questions we need to find out answers of what is going on, and what is best for Vernon County. Not going in there with a decision that you have already made.”
Schweiger was nominated for her steady work during difficult landfill debates.
“She has been with us through everything and to where we are on infrastructure,” said Wilson as he nominated her. “She has been a great asset to the committee.”
Lawler told colleagues the landfill’s complexity and public distrust require a different approach.
“We probably would all acknowledge that the landfill has become probably the most complicated issue that we are dealing with,” said Lawler. “What we need then to make sure that we do our best by the county is a process that is proactive in communication in getting great information, in asking the hard questions, and doing our best to represent the best interest of the whole county.”
He also promised regular communication to the full board if chosen.
“If I am elected I would commit to you that on a monthly basis I would bring updates about the landfill to this board for as long as is necessary,” said Lawler.
After balloting, the clerk reported the final tally for the at large seats as:
Charles Jacobson 14 votes
Wade Lawler 11 votes
Sandy Schweiger 10 votes
The two top candidates Jacobson and Lawler won the at-large seats, rounding out the committee along with Pedretti, Olson and Wilson.
Human Services and Veterans Service Committee
Supervisors then turned to the Human Services and Veterans Service Committee which oversees roughly forty percent of the county budget. Because of term limits and a mid-term vacancy, the board needed to fill two new three year terms and one remaining one year term.
Candidates spoke about their backgrounds and interest in overseeing the county’s largest department.
Strudthoff highlighted his long service in education administration and prior work on the committee.
“I have been on this committee off and on since 2018 and I was actually on the committee that hired Jill (Human Services Director Jill Bender),” said Strudthoff. “Please understand this committee oversees 40 percent of our entire budget for our county so it is a pretty big deal.”
Champion pointed to his current personal experience dealing with aging parents and local services.
“Dealing with aging and disability is something that occupies a lot of my time right now,” said Champion. “We even came very close to moving them from Phoenix, Ariz. here into the assisted living facility that we operate as the county.”
He said that gives him a practical view of how county programs affect families.
“I think as I said earlier on when I introduced myself my background in government and the power of government to do good for people,” said Champion. “And my in depth focus right now on the challenges facing those who are in the later stage life I think I could contribute to this committee.”
Goede asked for a chance to return to the committee where he first learned county government.
“I cut my teeth being on this Health and Human Services and ADRC,” said Goede. “Like Dave said it is responsible for 40 percent of our budget and I would just like to basically reacquaint myself with it so that we can make better decisions as a board.”
Lawton offered to bring his public safety and small town experience to the table.
“I do have a variety of experience in a lot of areas including EMS and community service,” said Lawton. “I have worked for the Sheriff’s Office so I am out there and active in the community and I have a pretty good understanding of some of those services.”
After balloting for the two three year seats, the clerk announced that Strudthoff and Champion had been elected. A second ballot between Goede and Lawton for the one year remaining term ended with Lawton winning that shorter seat.
The board later elected Jody Schroeder as the citizen member after considering two applicants.
Vernon Manor Board of Trustees
Because Vernon Manor does not count toward the one elected committee limit, supervisors handled it separately. Only one board seat was open and only Supervisor Nathaniel Slack was nominated. The board approved him by unanimous voice vote.
Slack had earlier told colleagues that his motivation on county issues comes from his children’s future.
“I have two amazing little boys that are my motivation for everything we do here,” said Slack. “I always say when my kids in 20 years I want Vernon County to be a place that they not only want to live in but can live in.”
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