3 Candidates Lead In Race For Wauwatosa School District

WAUWATOSA, WI — Three candidates took the lead Tuesday night in the race for Wauwatosa's School Board. Seven people were running for four seats on the board, many of them newcomers, while just one member sought to defend her seat.

Liz Heimerl-Rolland, Lynne Woehrle and incumbent Jessica Willis were projected to win the races by 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to unofficial results. Their opponents had emerged as a coalition called "3TosaDads" ahead of the election, but none of them were projected to win by election night. A day before the election, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on donors to the Tosa Dads linked to conservative groups and causes.

Several issues were at the forefront of the candidates' minds ahead of Tuesday, including losing teachers, academic disparities, a safe school environment and more.

Here are the results from Tuesday's election for Wauwatosa School Board:

Unofficial results last updated 10:30 p.m. 32 of 32 precincts reporting.

• Seat 5
  • Liz Heimerl-Rolland: 12,073
  • Christopher Zirbes: 6,904
• Seat 6
  • Daniel Gugala: 7,293
  • Lynne Woehrle: 11,609
• Seat 7
  • Jessica Willis: 12,171
  • Mike Zollicoffer Jr: 6,725

Ahead of the election, a coalition of three candidates emerged with similar values: Zirbes, Zollicoffer and Gugala. The three sent a letter to Patch in February after a school fight expressing some of their desires, which included focusing on school safety, establishing long-term stability of a school resource officer program, and new discipline to ensure safety.

Willis, the only incumbent running for re-election, told Patch the most pressing issue for her office is a teacher shortage and disproportionate academic achievement. She touted her perspective as a newcomer to Wauwatosa as a benefit and cited recent history in the public education system.

Meanwhile, Woerhle sought to set herself apart from Gugala. For her, the most pressing issues included a serious disruption in classrooms caused not only by the pandemic but because of a more polarized society.

"We need to focus on supports and resources that get us to thriving classrooms full of students eager to learn," wrote Woerhle. "This means that we need safe schools where belonging and community define the climate and culture of the building."

Gugala, who said the most pressing issue is student and staff safety, said he would look to work with the community to create a network of support and consider alternative placements for students.

Meanwhile, the race for seat 5 had Zirbes against Heimerl-Rolland.

Zirbes told Patch the most pressing issue in the district is a loss of teachers. He told Patch he's spoken to teachers at all grade levels, and many are facing issues.

"The ones at the upper levels have too many kids in a classroom," Zirbes told Patch. "They don’t have the room aids that they need to teach students. Teachers are spending more time doing 'classroom management' vs teaching our kids. They want to be included on curriculum and given the tools to help them do their jobs."

Competitor Heimerl-Rolland was running with a goal of putting students first, her campaign website said.

"Outside interest groups are playing politics - disrupting communities and progress," said Heimerl-Rolland's website. "I am running to put our kids first in policy. Our students deserve the best school culture and community. I am running to put our kids first in opportunity."

More about each candidate:

• Phillip Morris for seat 4.
• Liz Heimerl-Rolland for seat 5.
• Christopher Zirbes for seat 5.
• Daniel Gugala for seat 6.
• Lynne Woehrle for seat 6.
• Jessica Willis for seat 7.
• Mike Zollicoffer Jr. for seat 7.