Two candidates emerge in race for La Crosse mayor

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WLCX) – A four-person primary narrowed the field down to two people for the mayor’s office in La Crosse.

The two winners of the primary are community organizer and volunteer Shaundel Washington-Spivey and City Council president Chris Kahlow.

Kahlow finished just 45 votes ahead of Vicki Markussen, who lost to Mitch Reynolds in the 2021 election by 205 votes. Reynolds declined to run for re-election.

Ellie McLoone, who works in La Crosse-area real estate, finished fourth in the primary.

Candidate	Votes	Vote %
Shaundel Washington-Spivey	1,842	29.95%
Chris Kahlow	1,663	27.04%
Vicki Markussen	1,618	26.30%
Ellie McLoone	1,014	16.49%

The mayor’s race is taking place as the city is working to create a city administrator position to take on some of the duties from the mayor’s office. That position was supported by all four candidates.

Washington-Spivey and Kahlow both said they supported the Pathways Home program to help deal with homelessness in La Crosse, and both put housing and homelessness at the top of their platform.

Washington-Spivey, who works with different community and non-profit groups in La Crosse, said he was running to help the city bring in families, support them, and help create a better environment for them. He also said he wanted to work to bring different community groups together. He was the first candidate to declare a run for mayor in this year’s race.

Kahlow, who is the president of the La Crosse City Council, has been on the council since 2019 in the 6th District. Kahlow touts her experience working on city budgets, as well as working with small businesses in La Crosse, in her campaign. She said that the city is at a crossroads and that the next mayor can’t learn on the job.

One primary was also held for a City Council seat in District 7. Incumbent Mac Kiel picked up 36% of the vote, but challenger Gary Padesky racked up 49% in the primary. Those two will appear on the Spring Election ballot, with five of the eight seats on the City Council contested this spring.

Vote totals are unofficial until La Crosse County conducts its canvass.

On April 1st, the Spring Election will be held. In addition to La Crosse Mayor and City Council elections, the La Crosse School Board will have six candidates vying for three seats. There are also contested elections for Onalaska alderperson and Branch 1 Judge of the La Crosse County Circuit Court.

The deadline for registered write-in candidates to file paperwork for the Spring Election on April 1st is noon on March 28, the Friday before the Spring Election.

To see how elections work, find election results across the state, or paperwork for candidates in statewide or circuit court races, you can visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission website.

To see your voting ward and municipality, as well as voter registration status, polling location, and more election information, you can visit MyVote Wisconsin.