Candidates offer their ‘closing arguments’ ahead of spring election

The spring election is April 7. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All residents of the City of Rhinelander will once again vote at the Hodag Dome. Township residents vote at their respective town halls. The marquee local race is the mayoral contest pitting incumbent Kris Hanus against alderman Tom Barnett. School District of Rhinelander voters will also choose who will fill the three school board seats up for election. Incumbents Duane Frey, Mike Roberts and Merlin Van Buren are all seeking re-election. They are being challenged by Doug Artus and Bill Freudenberg. The Northwoods Star Journal reached out to the mayoral and school board candidates. We requested they provide a brief biographical sketch and their “closing argument” as to why voters should vote for them. They were advised to feel free to include specific goals they seek to achieve if elected or re-elected as well as specific issues they believe need to be addressed. Below are their unedited responses. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order. School board candidates Artus, Frey and Roberts did not respond prior to deadline for this edition.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Tom Barnett
I have served on the Rhinelander City Council for six years, and as a downtown small business owner, I understand both the opportunities and the challenges facing our city. Through my business and my involvement in community events like Chalk Fest, Lights of the Northwoods, and volunteering at Hodag Heritage Fest, I have had the chance to see Rhinelander from many different perspectives. That experience has only strengthened my belief that our city has tremendous potential that we are not fully reaching.
I am running for Mayor because I believe in Rhinelander and I want to see it succeed. We are a community with hardworking people, strong local businesses, and a lot to offer, but I believe we need steady leadership, greater transparency, stronger accountability, and a clearer vision for the future. I want to help restore trust in local government and make sure city residents feel heard, informed, and respected.

If elected, I want to focus on the issues that most directly affect everyday life in our community: housing, infrastructure, downtown business growth, and restoring important services. One of my priorities is bringing the Share Ride program back to Rhinelander. The loss of that program has had a real impact on residents who relied on it, and I believe we need to work hard to restore that service in a responsible and thoughtful way.
I also want to see real economic growth in our downtown district. As a business owner in downtown Rhinelander, I know how important it is to support local businesses and create an environment where entrepreneurs want to invest. I also believe arts, community events, and collaboration can play a major role in boosting tourism and strengthening our local economy. A vibrant city does not happen by accident. It takes leadership with vision and a willingness to think creatively.
Housing is another major issue that needs attention. Rhinelander needs new and creative ways to encourage housing of all types so that families, workers, and retirees can all find opportunities here. We also need continued investment in infrastructure so our city is prepared for growth and able to serve residents well.
Most importantly, I believe the public deserves true transparency from its city government. Too often, people feel decisions are made without a full and honest picture being shared. I want to help set a higher standard for how decisions are made by ensuring that city leaders and the public have the facts needed to make informed choices.
I am running for Mayor to help move Rhinelander forward with steady leadership, optimism, accountability, and a stronger vision for the future. I would be honored to earn your vote on April 7.
Kris Hanus
Some of the goals I have for the city of Rhinelander, if re-elected are:
1) Treat wells 7&8
2) Continue to improve our city parks, (playground at Hodag, and Pioneer Park, skate park, new bathrooms).
3) Connect the city from a walking / biking ability to the bypass & connecting parks / green spaces. (Such as: Boyce, Kemp, Davenport, River). To connect (Town Line Park, Hanson Lake, Heal Creek Recreation Area) to the city.
4) Roads and utilities projects for the West Side of Rhinelander(Davenport, Spruce, Balsam, Hemlock, Maple, River, Birch) Other streets include: (Coolidge, Phillip, N. Brown, Lincoln, Coon) to name a few.
5) Continue economic development throughout the city.
6) Housing of all types, the Boyce project, N. 17 project, and the others in the works.
7) Continue to invest and strengthen our police & fire departments.
8) To continue to grow and improve our downtown
If I’m re-elected on day one we are full speed ahead with continuing moving these and many more projects forward for our community. Over the last four years we have made many partnerships with local civic groups, non-profits, state/federal agencies, and neighborhooding townships to work together to bring funding, resources, and partnership into our community. My desire is to strengthen these bonds and make Rhinelander a better place to live, work, and play. I am not perfect, nor is government, nor will we ever be. I am proud of what we were able to achieve in the last four years for the city. We have moved the city forward in leaps and bounds, and hopefully with your support we can continue to do this for another four years.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
Bill Freudenberg
My name is Bill Freudenberg and I am a candidate running for the Rhinelander School Board.I have lived in Rhinelander since 1983, during that time my wife and I were Licensed Foster Parents for 12 years with Oneida County. I have served on many boards including the Oneida County Fair Board for 6 years and I am currently on the Rhinelander District Library Board of Trustees for the past 3 years and I am also currently on the Lights of the Northwoods Board for the past 9 years. I have attended many school board meetings to understand the process of business and education within the district.I am a firm believer in a good quality education for our youth and having great teachers and support staff as well. I believe in being transparent and fiscally responsible to the taxpayers.I feel I am a good candidate for the school board and if I am elected I will work hard for the district and the taxpayers. Please vote April 7th.
Merlin Van Buren
First of all, Thank You to the Northwoods Star Journal, for allowing the candidates this opportunity. I was born and raised on a small farm near Waupun Wisconsin. Graduated from Waupun High School in 1978. Graduated from UW Madison in 1982. After graduating from Madison I moved down to the Chicago area and lived there for 12 years. While living in Illinois I did Graduate work at Northern Illinois University while working as a Biology TA. For a short time I even taught High School Chemistry at Marion Central Catholic High School in Woodstock Illinois. My wife and I wanted to move back to Wisconsin and we moved to the Rhinelander area 31 years ago. Both of our sons attended Pelican elementary School, James Williams Middle School and graduated from Rhinelander High School. I have been retired from the Rhinelander Paper Mill for almost two years. I currently work part-time for Bowen's Bus Service, driving bus for teams and activities for the School District. I did this intentionally to get to know teachers, coaches and our students. It has been a greatexperience and it is just amazing to see all that our students do.
I have served on the Rhinelander School Board for over 12 years. I am currently the Rhinelander School Board representative on the CESA 9 Board of Control. I am also a member of the CAVOC Board. While on the School Board I have served on Employee Relations, Operations and Capital Projects Committees.
I am running for re-election because I believe I still have a lot to offer the District. The passion and the drive is still there to serve the District the best that I can. In the years I have been on the board we have seen dramatic changes in education, survived a pandemic and have emerged stronger than ever. The District is definitely on the right path, we have momentum in the Rhinelander School District as to move this District forward.
As a School Board Member my goals align with the District goals. We give an annual review to our Superintendent and annually approve the goals of the District. During that review, we, as individuals discuss goals. Once they are agreed upon, it is important that we as School Board members, get behind those goals. I would encourage you to check out the District goals on the District website. You will find our goals as a District, in general, and then in each area to specifics. Those get further broken down by each school and further within the schools by subject/grade level. Great things are happening in our District, we still have a lot of work to do, and I believe I can help to keep that momentum going forward. My name will appear last on the ballot, so remember to pick up your pen and move down to the bottom of the list.