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Manitowoc County Board elects Supervisor M. Phipps as chair; Behnke and Schiesl chosen as vice-chairs
Summary
At its April 21, 2026, meeting in Manitowoc, the County Board elected Supervisor M. Phipps chair after a contested ballot count; Supervisors Behnke and Schiesl were later elected first and second vice-chairs by unanimous voice votes. County Clerk Jessica Backus administered the oath of office earlier in the meeting.
County Clerk Jessica Backus called the Manitowoc County Board of Supervisors to order at 5:00 p.m. April 21 at the Heritage Center in the City of Manitowoc and read the Certification of Election for newly elected supervisors, noting the two-year term beginning April 21, 2026, and expiring April 17, 2028; she then administered the oath of office.
During nominations for board chair, Supervisor Schiesl nominated Supervisor M. Phipps and Supervisor Bonde nominated Supervisor Neils. After ballots were cast and results read aloud by the clerk, the clerk announced that Supervisor Phipps received 15 votes and Supervisor Neils received 7 votes; Supervisor Phipps was declared elected chair for a two-year term.
Chairman Phipps then opened nominations for First Vice-Chair. Supervisor Maresh nominated Supervisor Behnke; Supervisor Sortwell moved to close nominations and elect by unanimous vote, seconded by Supervisor Hammel. The board voted and Clerk Backus announced that Supervisor Behnke was elected First Vice-Chair for a two-year term by unanimous vote.
Nominations for Second Vice-Chair followed. Supervisor Hammel nominated Supervisor Schiesl; Supervisor Sortwell moved to close nominations and elect by unanimous vote, seconded by Supervisor Bonde. Clerk Backus announced Supervisor Schiesl was elected Second Vice-Chair for a two-year term by unanimous vote.
The meeting record lists 22 members present at roll call earlier in the evening. The transcript records the chair and vice-chair election tallies and the clerk's announcements as described above; it does not explain any discrepancy between the roll-call attendance count and the total votes reported in the chair ballot announcement.
The board then proceeded to other business later in the meeting, including adoption of county board rules and adjournment.
