Benning survives challenge fueled by data center

Port Washington Ald. Dan Benning on Tuesday survived a challenge from newcomer Dakota Brace to retain his seat on the Common Council representing the 4th and 8th Districts.

Benning received 260 votes, or 52.9% of the ballots cast by the 1,363 registered voters in his district, while Brace garnered 228 votes, or 46%, according to unofficial results from the Ozaukee County Clerk’s Office.

Brace, who would not talk publicly about her position on issues, is a member of Great Lakes Neighbors United, a group opposed to the Vantage Data Centers Lighthouse Campus being built on the city’s north side.

Benning, who has been on the Common Council since 2017 and is currently serving his third term as council president, said he is comfortable with data centers and supports the Vantage plan.

He said officials have listened to residents and took their concerns into account when setting conditions for the data center to meet, bringing in experts “to put together really restrictive zoning.”

Having set stringent rules for the company as it develops the data center, the council now needs to ensure Vantage follows them, Benning said.

Also elected Tuesday was Michael Beaster, a founding member of Great Lakes Neighbors United who ran unopposed and received 296 votes to represent the city’s 6th District. Incumbent Pat Tearney did not seek re-election.

Incumbent Paul Neumyer, who represents the city’s 2nd District, was unopposed and received 382 votes Tuesday.

Turnout for Tuesday’s election was 48.4% in Ozaukee County, where voters followed the state and supported Democratic-backed Chris Taylor in her bid to replace Justice Rebecca Bradley, who did not seek re-election, on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Taylor, who received a projected 60% of the vote statewide, received 16,508 votes in Ozaukee County, or 52% of the ballots cast, while challenger Maria Lazar, who was backed by Republicans, received 15,154 votes, or 47.8%.