Election Day Is Upon Us

Oak Creek voters will make their picks for School Board, county executive and state Supreme Court in today's primary election.

The top two vote-getters in each race advance to the general election April 5. 

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. To look up your voter information, visit the state's Voter Public Access site; for questions, call the clerk's office at (414) 768-6500.

The clerk's office has also put together a handy guide to voting in Oak Creek. 

In the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, three candidates are challenging incumbent Justice David T. Prosser Jr., who has served on the state's high court for 12 years.

The challengers are: JoAnne F. Kloppenburg, who has been a litigator and prosecutor at Wisconsin’s Department of Justice since 1989; Joel Winnig, an attorney for more than 30 years; and Maria Stephens, the Appellate Division director for the State Public Defender's office.

For more on the Supreme Court candidates, visit the League of Women Voters website. 

For a county executive election preview, . 

Below is a School Board election originally posted Friday:

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Mary Becker

Becker, 46, works in Kenosha as an elementary-school teacher, and has taught for more than 20 years.

A resident of Oak Creek for 17 years, she has two children - a 17-year-old son at Oak Creek High School and a 22-year-old daughter. 

"I think I have a lot to offer, being a teacher, parent and taxpayer," she said. 

She said she's running to take on a greater role within the community. Her biggest goal is to improve the communication between the school district and residents, saying many in the community don't realize all the good things happening in the schools.

She would also look to keep taxes steady. If cuts have to be made, the district should cut across all levels, including the administrative offices, she said.

Sheryl Cerniglia

Cerniglia is the incumbent in the race, first elected to the board in 2002. She's been a resident of the district since 1978 and has been heavily involved in the schools for years.

Cerniglia said she prides herself on listening to all sides of the issues and being residents' voice on the School Board.

She feels good about the state of the district - both academically and financially. If re-elected, she said she would continue focusing on perhaps the two hottest topics - facilities and the budget. She would also like to survey the entire district to solicit ideas and get the pulse of residents, teachers and students.

Cerniglia has two children, age 28 and 30, and works as a nurse at Children's Hospital. 

Mark Verhalen

Verhalen, 55, is no stranger to Oak Creek politics. He served on the Oak Creek Common Council from 2008-09 and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2009. He currently sits on a committee examining the needs of school district facilities.

Verhalen owns a small business, Verhalen Excavating, and all four of his children went through the Oak Creek-Franklin School District.

He said he considers the district well-run but wants to make sure it stays financially sound going forward.

That includes dealing with increasingly-cramped facilities. Verhalen said the district must take advantage of the opportunity and make good decisions for the future.