The spring election will take place this coming Tuesday, April 7, and four candidates are looking to fill two open seats on the Three Lakes Town Board. Voting will be open April 7 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Municipal Building located at 6965 W. School St. All voters are required to provide proof of ID.

Meet the candidates

Ella Baltus (incumbent): Baltus is currently serving on the town board and owns and operates Eagle Enterprises and Gasco Propane with her husband.
She has served two terms on the Three Lakes Town Board which she said is the best preparation for making town-wide decisions.

“Throughout my tenure on the board, I have made a conscious effort to use my vote to reflect the priorities and values of the residents who elected me,” Baltus said.

She added that her service on the board has reinforced the importance of listening, weighing all perspectives, and making decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the entire community.

She holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Economics from the UW-Madison and one in Business Administration from the UW-Whitewater.

Baltus is looking to keep costs steady while not sacrificing necessary amenities that are currently in place.

“Rising costs, inflation, and increasing service demands make it more important than ever to manage taxpayer dollars carefully. Residents deserve transparency and confidence that levy increases are truly a last resort,” she said. “In my opinion, the town is currently spending at a pace that is not sustainable long-term.”

She acknowledged that there are difficult decisions on the horizon which may require attention, but ultimately her goal is to make thoughtful, informed decisions that keep Three Lakes an affordable place to live for the average household.

Other topics on Baltus’ radar include how to support and grow downtown Three Lakes, as well as working toward an informed path on handling wake boat use on local lakes.

Baltus’ candidate statement: “I encourage everyone to get out and vote, regardless of who your preferred candidate may be. Local elections are the most important because they have a direct impact on our spending, taxes, and quality of life in our community. As a current town board member with years of service, I believe in responsible spending, thoughtful decision-making, and long-term planning that keeps our town affordable and vibrant. My goal is to represent the voices of our residents, protect what makes Three Lakes special, and ensure that decisions made benefit future generations. I am committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and supporting a strong, viable community.”

Ed Cottingham (incumbent): Ed Cottingham has lived in Three Lakes for 23 years, after retiring from a 35-year career in the manufacturing field.

He has been involved with town government for the last 19 years in a number of capacities, including five years as a Three Lakes Town Board supervisor, two years as a Plan Commission member, and a year on each of the Zoning Advisory and Budget and Finance committees. In addition, he spent three years as chairman for the Plan Commission and is currently a town board supervisor and chair of the Road Ordinance Committee.

Cottingham has volunteered for several years with the Three Lakes Historical Society, and has also been on the Three Lakes Waterfront Association Board of Directors for more than a decade.

Using his professional background, Cottingham said he has an understanding of governmental budgeting and purchasing procedures, along with balancing “needs” versus “wants.”

His primary reason for again running for office is to “utilize tax payers’ money wisely while protecting the Three Lakes environment.”

Cotting highlighted the town budget as his top issue, saying, “I will work with the board to pay attention to spending and avoid increasing the town’s debt.” He also cited a need for increasing the board’s awareness of the issue of protecting area lakes as an important topic, saying he would provide the most current information from environmental agencies regarding those issues.
Finally, he sees the ability to encourage growth without impacting the small-town environment as an important aspect going forward by continually reviewing zoning regulations and working with Oneida County when necessary.
Cottingham’s candidate statement: “I will continue to do as I am currently doing. I will approach issues by listening, going out to observe areas in question, speaking with concerned parties, checking for any history involved, reviewing town and county ordinances, working with other groups, and bringing the information to the town board for resolution. With my experience as listed above, I feel I will be effective in the position of town board supervisor.”

Kevin Meyer: Kevin Meyer has been a resident of Three Lakes nearly his entire life. He graduated from Three Lakes High School and then UW-Stevens Point, before holding a 30-year career at JP Morgan Chase.

Meyer is heavily engaged in the community and serves on the boards of several organizations, including Three Lakes Visitors Bureau, Northern Lights Snowmobile Club and the Three Lakes Fish and Wildlife Improvement Association. In addition, he is a working member on the Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) offered by the UW-Extension, focused on the business development needs in Three Lakes.

He said using his background and experience in business development, change management, financial management, and problem solving, combined with his passion for this community, will provide critical skills the community will benefit from to move Three Lakes forward.

Meyer aims to bring a fresh perspective to the board in order to address the needs and desires of the community. He highlighted the town’s future growth, stressing the need to develop a thriving business community and enhance economic vibrancy.

“This includes job creation, revenue growth, and housing needs,” he said. “We also need to address infrastructure development and balancing the cost to the community with transparency.”

He said supporting the current tax incremental district (TID) proposal is a great start.

“If elected and the TID is approved, I would ensure appropriate administration of the program to build tourism and housing-based infrastructure in the community. I would work with existing organizations to encourage small business growth in Three Lakes. It’s critical that we keep our current residents spending local and that we bring new tourism dollars into the local business community.”

Meyer’s candidate statement: “Love and passion for Three Lakes and Northwoods life is a given; otherwise none of us would be living here. I am focused on helping guide Three Lakes through this critical time the community is facing — developing a thriving business community and economic vibrancy. This includes job creation, revenue growth, and housing needs in the community. We also need to address infrastructure development and balancing the cost to the community with transparency. My background and experience in business development, change management, financial management, and problem solving will provide critical skills the community will benefit from to move Three Lakes forward.”

Leah Rehberg: Leah Rehberg grew up vacationing in Three Lakes before making it her permanent home in 2013. Her daughter attended and graduated from Three Lakes High School.

Rehberg has a professional background working with nonprofits and small businesses, and now owns her own — Deer Mountain Media — since 2019.

Building on her years working with clients and hearing their specific needs has prepared Rehberg for a role on the town board. Beyond marketing skills, she has developed skills in nonprofit administration, fundraising and grant writing.
Rehberg believes many of the town’s issues — including a perceived need for more information/improved levels of communication, a wish for more town events to draw visitors, and a desire to refresh and revitalize the downtown — can be resolved by creating a strong online presence and increasing interactions between residents and town officials.

“When the people who live and work here feel seen, heard, and informed, there will be more buy-in and participation in whatever the issue may be,” Rehberg said.

Rehberg’s candidate statement: “I love this town like you love this town. As a member of the town board of supervisors, I would work alongside them, utilizing our combined strengths and abilities to build the best version of Three Lakes possible. What I have to offer the residents of Three Lakes is a fresh perspective, a listening ear, and the ability to strengthen communication channels. Everyone who lives, works, or serves here shares the same dedication to this community — its businesses, organizations, churches, school, and families. My desire is to serve this community in a way that leaves us stronger for generations to come.”