APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – The field to succeed retiring Appleton Mayor Tim Hanna is now up to six potential candidates, as Jake Woodford enters the mix. Woodford turned in his circulation papers and officially announced his intention to run Monday morning.
“I think the choices that we make over the next four years here in Appleton will shape the future of our city. We do have momentum, and we do have opportunities to improve,” Woodford says.
The fourth-generation Appletonian and current senior leader at Lawrence University has high hopes for his hometown.
“The city has a strong team and a good foundation to build from,” Woodford tells WTAQ News, “I don’t think moving forward means we have to turn our backs on what makes Appleton special in the first place. I think we can build from our strengths as a community to meet the challenges that we face today and that we’ll face in the future.”
Previously managing the university’s relationship with city government, Woodford is no stranger to how things operate. He also believes his experience handling university matters has prepared him for the job.
“I’ve worked with many of the major departments in the City of Appleton, from Public Works to Parks and Recreation and Facilities, Police and Fire, and others. I do have a particular vantage point on how things work,” Woodford says, “[Lawrence University] is a $70 million per year enterprise that functions like a small city itself, serving a sizeable community here in the heart of Appleton. I’ve met budgets, planned infrastructure, I’ve negotiated with city government. real estate developers, educational institutions, and state regulators.”
He’s also spent time as a commissioner on the Appleton Redevelopment Authority.
Woodford emphasized his passion for the community and believes his qualifications and ties to the community speak for themselves.
The growing candidate pool includes Dana Johnson, James Clemons, Rahb Kettleson, Chad Doran, and Ethan Stahl have all filed declaration papers.
Candidates can begin filing circulation papers now. Those are due in early January.
If three or more candidates get on the ballot, there will be a primary on February 18th ahead of the April 7th general election.
