Two more candidates announce bids for Superior mayor

Two more candidates have announced their plans to run for Superior mayor.

South End Days organizer and city Plan Commissioner Kalee Hermanson and City Councilor Mike Herrick each announced their candidacy on Thursday.

A lifelong Superior resident, Hermanson said she's willing to ask the tough questions and make the tough decisions needed to lead this city.

"It's time to put what's best for this city first," she said. "Not maintaining the status quo."

Hermanson works as an insurance agent for Holden Insurance Agency in Superior. She also ran for mayor in 2014.

"I've served in numerous leadership roles," she said. "I have the background to partner with the community to drive it forward."

Her top priorities as mayor would include setting realistic goals, putting the city budget on track, saving historic buildings while building new housing stock, bringing jobs to Superior and focusing on public service departments. The Superior police and fire departments are at the epicenter of the community, yet they're facing staffing shortages.

"We must do what we can to focus on them and make sure they're there for us," Hermanson said.

A fourth-generation Superiorite, Herrick said he offers voters a candidate with a working knowledge of city issues. He's represented the 8th District on the City Council for the past eight years.

"There will always be challenges to overcome," Herrick said. "We must always be looking ahead. With that being said, we as a community must work together."

Herrick works at Super One Foods in Superior. As mayor, Herrick said he would seek job growth opportunities, both large and small. Although Superior has lost its Target and K-Mart stores, it's also seen gains. Voters overwhelmingly approved the next step in the Better City Superior process.

"In the past few months, we've have had new family businesses open their doors here on Tower Avenue," Herrick said, as well as new construction in the city's North End and Winter Street Industrial Park.

Herrick said his top priorities include improving housing stock, retaining local youth after graduation, continuing the fight against the opiate abuse problem and working with the county on mental health issues that can lead to opiate use.

Herrick and Hermanson join four other candidates who have announced their intent to run for mayor: County Board Supervisor Jim Paine, City Councilor Brent Fennessey, Jeffery Monaghan and Macaulay Torrey.

Mayor Bruce Hagen last month resigned from office - as he had previously announced he would - but was then named interim mayor pending an election next spring to complete the rest of his term, which expires in 2019.

The 2017 spring primary in Wisconsin takes place Feb. 21. The general election is April 4.