Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich reelected to another 4-year term

GREEN BAY - Mayor Eric Genrich was reelected Tuesday night to another four-year term, surviving a challenge from Chad Weininger.

Genrich received 13,507 votes (52.85%) to 11,999 (46.95%) for Weininger, according to unofficial results from Brown County.

Genrich said the campaign focused on "bread and butter issues" such as infrastructure, but did so with a "new way of looking at politics in Green Bay." He cited creation of the Equal Rights Commission, more than tripling the city's municipal equality index and the sustainability commission's work to combat climate change.

"I believe that Green Bay is destined to be a great community," Genrich said. "We're going to be doing that together. Not just all the issues we focused on in the past. Not just the same faces that have participated in our democracy in the past. It's bringing everyone along. It's really about opening up doors for everyone in this community to thrive."

Genrich supporters erupted in applause when the unofficial results were announced Tuesday night at Gather on Broadway.

More: Green Bay-area election results

Among those supporters was Steph Guzman, an Equal Rights Commission member. She said she voted for Genrich because he empowered Latino residents like herself.

“I’m very excited for the future,” Guzman said. “We’re at the table.”

Genrich met Latino business owners and made an effort to include the Latino community, Guzman said.

Casa ALBA Melanie staff translated voter education information from the Coalition of Voting Organizations of Brown County (COVO), and a community priorities survey into Spanish to better inform residents about ballot issues and to identify important issues to local Latino residents.

Iliana Herrera, who works at Casa ALBA, said frequent issues residents identified in the surveys included immigration, health care rights, a need for bilingual mental health services, and the region’s inclusion efforts.

Genrich was first elected mayor in April 2019 after longtime Mayor Jim Schmitt, who had served since 2003, chose not to seek reelection. Genrich beat Patrick Buckley, a Brown County Board member, capturing 57% of the votes cast.

As mayor seeking a second term, Genrich has campaigned on the idea of a "Green Bay for all," promoting the belief that all are welcome in the city, including members of traditionally under-represented groups. Genrich experienced some pushback when he allowed the gay pride flag to be flown outside City Hall.

During the campaign, he came under fire from some City Council members when it was disclosed that he had authorized audio recordings to go with video recordings in areas on the first two floors of City Hall.

Genrich said he did this for the safety of employees and visitors after several confrontations in those areas. Critics oppose the audio recordings and some say he should have informed the council of it and should have posted signs to inform the public.

Genrich outspent and raised more funds that Weininger. The two clashed over staffing at the Green Bay Police Department, taxes and road repairs. On Tuesday, Genrich called the campaign "grueling," but said he now wanted to turn his attention to continuing the city's "positive trajectory" on issues like affordable housing, community development and sustainability.

Moving forward, Genrich will have some work to do, as a majority of City Council members joined Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach and Brown County Board supervisors this week to show support for Weininger.

Weininger supporters gathered Tuesday night at the Automobile Gallery, 400 S. Adams St.

Weininger's message to the crowd of well-wishers after the result was known: "We fought the good fight, we stayed on message," he said. "This is a community we all care for … we need to work together to make the city the best for everyone."

Weininger focused his campaign stressing responsible spending, saying that inflation, on the heels of the city's first property revaluation in nearly two decades, had left people struggling to meet basic expenses. He also touted an approach to street repairs he said would be more efficient than the approach used under Genrich.

He had said earlier that no matter the result of the election, he promised his family that the next two days after the election are theirs.

Weininger is Brown County's administration director, in the administration of Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, since 2014.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay mayor race election results: Spring 2023 Wisconsin election