Trustee withdraws from village president race

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

Grafton Village Trustee Lisa Uribe Harbeck was excited to throw her hat in the ring for village president when Jim Brunnquell decided not to seek re-election after nearly 20 years in the position.

But a race with fellow trustee Dan Delorit, also seeking the job, has ended before it really got started.

Uribe Harbeck said Tuesday she is dropping out of the race due to “unanticipated family obligations.”

The ballots for the April 4 general election are already set, but Uribe Harbeck is supporting Delorit. She called Delorit to tell him of her decision and congratulate him.

“We don’t have bad feelings for each other,” Uribe Harbeck said, adding she offered Delorit help “in whatever capacity” he needs.

It was better to exit the race this way, she said, “rather than going for it and possibly getting elected and having to step down. That’s not fair.

“It was a really hard decision for me to pull back from running for president. I feel like I don’t want to let the citizens down. But also have to honor family obligations.”

Uribe Harbeck joined the board in 2010, driven by a passionate effort to save the Bridge Street dam, and it worked.

She has one year left on her term as a trustee and said she hasn’t decided about running again in 2024. Terms are for two years.

Uribe Harbeck said she is excited that two newcomers will be joining the board since David Antoine and Thomas Krueger are not running for re-election. A third new member will be appointed to fill Delorit’s spot when he becomes village president.

“It’s a good opportunity to make some changes, maybe keep some things the same,” Uribe Harbeck said, adding village government is a constant education process.

“I’m still learning after 13 years,” she said.