GREEN BAY, Wis. – The city’s mayoral race is officially a nonpartisan contest, and the latest filings reinforce that stance. City council member Kathy Hinkfuss became the third candidate to submit the required 200 nomination signatures, joining former mayor Jim Schmitt and business leader Alyssa Proffitt.
All three candidates stressed that the election will focus on local issues rather than party labels. “I want to stress that this is a nonpartisan race,” Hinkfuss said. “This is not a Democrat race. This is not a Republican race. This is a race about Green Bay and the decisions that get made for our city.”
Historical context of party influence
While the office itself is nonpartisan, past contests have often featured clear partisan backing. Eight years ago, the open mayoral race saw Democratic‑leaning Eric Genrich and Republican‑leaning Patrick Buckley emerge from an eight‑person primary. Four years later, Genrich again ran with Democratic support while Republican candidates rallied behind Chad Weininger.
Strategic perspective
Political strategist Mark Graul was asked whether any political office can truly be free of partisanship. He replied that voters should focus on the practical duties of the mayor, which are largely insulated from the partisan debates that dominate state and federal capitals.
“They’re much more focused on delivering services, ensuring that the garbage is being picked up, the roads are being plowed, things of that nature that people really expect,” Graul explained.
Campaign finance background
A review of Wisconsin’s campaign‑finance database shows that Hinkfuss and Proffitt have each contributed to Democratic candidates and local Democratic parties within the past year, while Schmitt recently donated to the Brown County Republican organization. Graul noted that none of the declared candidates have previously run for office under a party banner.
“They’ve never run for office as a Democrat or Republican. You have somebody like Mayor Genrich who was obviously elected as a Democrat to the state legislature, so it’s much more obvious where his partisanship is,” Graul said.
Upcoming election milestones
With the filing deadline of January 5, the primary election is scheduled for February 16. The primary will determine which two candidates advance to the November general election.
Former city‑council candidate John Plageman has indicated an interest in running for mayor, though he has not yet filed the necessary paperwork.
What voters can expect
All candidates agree that the mayor’s primary responsibilities—public‑service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, and community safety—will dominate their agendas. Voters are encouraged to evaluate each contender based on their plans for these core municipal functions rather than perceived party affiliations.
Original reporting: FOX 11 WLUK Green Bay (local) — read the source article.
