Verhalen, Cerniglia Advance in School Board Primary

Updated at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday

School Board Challenger Mark Verhalen was the top vote-getter by a wide margin in the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board primary and will face incumbent Sheryl Cerniglia in the April 5 general election.

Verhalen tallied 49 percent of the vote (1,885 votes) Tuesday. Cerniglia had 28 percent (1,070), and challenger Mary Becker was eliminated after finishing with 22 percent (862).

The vote totals are unofficial and will remain that way until Wednesday, when the Board of Canvassers meets.

Voter turnout in Oak Creek was 19 percent.

Cerniglia said she was surprised by the distance between her and Verhalen. She believed coming into the election she would be the top vote-getter.

"I was surprised I came in second. I really was," said Cerniglia, who was first elected to the board in 2002. 

Cerniglia said she didn't put out a lot of signs before the primary but will be doing that before the general election. 

She also plans to meet more voters and tout her experience, which she says will be crucial to the success of the school district with many pressing issues in the next few years.

"I definitely have my work cut out for me," she said of campaigning in the next several weeks.

Verhalen said it's always hard going up against an incumbent, especially someone like Cerniglia who has served for many years and is active in the schools.

But Verhalen said he was "very pleased" with the results and that his message seemed to be resonating.

He won't be resting on his laurels in the weeks leading up to April 5, however.

"We're ready to take it to the next level," he said. 

Becker, who teaches in Kenosha, was in her first run for public office.

The candidates will have a new issue to discuss before the April general election. Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill appears on its way to passing and would greatly impact teachers' unions across the state. 

The state of Oak Creek-Franklin School District facilities, which have become increasingly cramped as enrollment continues to climb, will likely continue to be a hot topic as well. 

County executive

Meanwhile, Jeff Stone and Chris Abele advanced in the Milwaukee County executive's race.

Stone cleaned up in Oak Creek, taking a whopping 61 percent of the vote (2,277). The next closest was Abele with 21 percent (783).