Kaczmarek appointed as town clerk

A retired teacher and beef farmer has been selected to serve as town clerk of Oconto Falls. Mike Kaczmarek, 70, was appointed to replace Janice Boucher who resigned, effective Dec. 31, saying she was too busy to continue in the position she was elected to in April. Boucher was the only candidate in 2013; she replaced Gwen Holtz, who retired after 36 years as town clerk. The Town Board interviewed two applicants for the position before choosing Kaczmarek with a 2-1 vote at a special meeting Dec. 2 and confirming the vote Dec. 9 at its regular monthly meeting. Chairman Dave Alsteen voted against the appointment both times; supervisors Vic Peterson and Phillip Konitzer voted in favor. Kaczmarek’s term began Jan. 1. He was hired to fulfill Boucher’s term, which ends in April 2015. “I’m just catching on. It’ll take quite a while,” Kaczmarek said. He is transitioning into his new role by working with both Holtz and Boucher. The first election he will oversee is the Feb. 18 primary race for town residents living in the Gillett School District. Five candidates are competing for four seats on the School Board. “It’s a good way to get my feet wet in the election business,” Kaczmarek said. Although he has no experience in town government, Kaczmarek said he’s learning the ropes quickly—sometimes with the help of former students, including County Clerk Kim Pytleski. Kaczmarek worked for the Oconto Falls School District as a teacher and guidance counselor for 38 years, retiring in 2000, then ran an alternative school in the district for three years. The former coach also managed the city of Oconto Falls summer recreation program. A town resident since 1969, Kaczmarek has raised Texas longhorn cattle for the past 23 years on a farm on Busy Nook Road. Kaczmarek said he considered running for clerk in April but decided against it when he learned Boucher was a candidate, and he knew she was well-suited for the office. Alsteen said Boucher did a great job for the time she served. Kaczmarek will have more free time to devote to the job, he added.