Oak Creek voters pick Scaffidi and Verhalen for mayoral race

Oak Creek - Alderman Steve Scaffidi was the top vote-getter in the three-way primary Tuesday night for mayor.

Voters on April 3 will choose between Scaffidi and Mark Verhalen, after they bested Alderman Tom Michalski.

Michalski survived his concurrent bid to retain his 6th District aldermanic seat, but did not receive the most votes. That honor went to Chris Guzikowski.

Voter turnout was 18 percent.

The mayoral position carries a three-year term. Current Mayor Al Foeckler, appointed to complete the late Mayor Dick Bolender's term, will serve through April 16. Bolender, 68, unexpectedly died Dec. 10 but had indicated he would not seek a third term, and Foeckler likewise indicated he wouldn't run for the seat.

Unofficial mayoral results are:

Steve Scaffidi 1,686

Mark Verhalen 1,095

Tom Michalski 669

A clear issue in the race was the siting of a new library and city hall, with Scaffidi and Verhalen against relocating both from the civic center to the former Delphi Automotive Plant property. Michalski, however, favored the move.

Scaffidi, 53, is president of the council and is serving his second term as the 3rd District alderman. He works as a field manager for the Nielsen Company.

He said late Tuesday that he mobilized volunteers and went door to door meeting constituents, saying that personal touch might have been a factor in his showing at the polls.

Verhalen, 56, is self-employed at Verhalen Excavating LLC and Verhalen Farms LLC. He is a past 3rd District alderman and currently serves on the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board, a position he said he would not relinquish if he is elected mayor.

Michalski, 58, is a retired journeyman machine repair mechanic, having worked at Rockwell Automation for more than 38 years. He has been the 6th District alderman since 2006.

Verhalen and Michalski could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Aldermanic race set

In the 6th District race, Guzikowski, 45, garnered the most votes, so he will be a contender in the spring general election against Michalski. Aldermen serve for two years.

Guzikowski is a quality control supervisor for Western States Envelope and Label. The third contender, Ed Reader, 52, is a printer.

Unofficial results are:

Chris Guzikowski 215

Tom Michalski (inc.) 147

Ed Reader 29

Guzikowski attributed his first-place showing on his stance against moving the library and city hall to the Delphi site.

"I think the voters have felt like they are not being listened to and this is one way of showing it," he said.

Election results remain unofficial until they are certified by the board of canvassers.