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Angela Hansen-Winker recall, Wrightstown Community School District, Wisconsin (2024-2025)
| 2025 Wrightstown Community School District recall |
|---|
 |
| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Recall election date |
| April 22, 2025 |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Wisconsin Wisconsin recall laws School board recalls Recall reports |
A recall election against Angela Hansen-Winker, member of the Wrightstown Community School District Board of Education in Wisconsin, was held on April 22, 2025. Nicole Verbeten ran against Hansen-Winker. Verbeten defeated Hansen-Winker in the election.[1][2]
The recall effort started in December 2024 while the school district was investigating Superintendent Andy Space for allegations related to "contractual matters, school purchases, open meeting law issues, legal counsel issues, board/staff relations, and insubordination." That month, Space announced his resignation from the district effective January 17, 2025.[3][4]
Hansen-Winker's term on the seven-member board was scheduled to expire in 2026.[5] She was serving as school board president at the time the recall effort started.[6]
Recall vote
General election
General election for Wrightstown Community School District, At-large
Nicole Verbeten defeated incumbent Angela Hansen-Winker in the general election for Wrightstown Community School District, At-large on April 22, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nicole Verbeten (Nonpartisan) | 69.1 | 1,019 | |
| Angela Hansen-Winker (Nonpartisan) | 30.9 | 456 | ||
| Total votes: 1,475 | |||
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Recall supporters
The recall effort was started by the group Residents 4 Wrightstown Community School District. Members of the group said that school board members did not prioritize the best interests of students, employees, and parents of the district. They also said there was a lack of transparency in Space's investigation.[3] School board member Rayn Warner filed the recall petition.[7]
“I don’t think there is any transparency. From my understanding, not even all of the board members knew that there was an investigation being done, and that’s not transparent at all,” Tina Gitzlaff, a district parent and member of Residents 4 Wrightstown Community School District, said. “At the very least, all seven board members should have been aware of this investigation that was pursued.”[3]
Gitzlaff said she believed Space's resignation was forced and that the allegations against him were false or misconstrued.[3]
Jonathan Curtis, another supporter of the recall, said Space's investigation and resignation was not the only reason for the effort. “It’s not something that’s retaliation to Andy Space resigning there have been little pieces along the way that have led up to this starting back Angela was an awesome school board member and when she became president this year things kinda of took a turn,” Curtis said.[6]
Curtis said he was concerned with the cost of the district's legal fees. “We’ve had emails go to Angela, Angela has passed them and said ‘hey these are a lot of legal questions and just gone straight to the lawyer,’ well the lawyer has responded back and said, ‘hey by the way, the district is accruing fees for me to respond to this email.’ I would expect, hey Angela, if you don’t have the answers, you have a board, you have other members available, bring it to the board. Regroup. Decide what you need to do, don’t just go straight to the legal counsel and incur charges to the district,” Curtis said.[6]
Recall opponents
Through her attorney, Hansen-Winker released a statement that said, "The accusations outlined in the recall petition are demonstrably false or personal political grievances from those who hate that the voters chose change, oversight, and accountability to put our schools first, costing them their control."[7]
She also posted the following statement in response to the recall effort on social media:[8]
| “ |
I am deeply grateful for the support from so many who share my commitment to integrity, accountability, and progress. Your kind words and encouragement mean more than I can express. I also empathize with those who may feel discouraged, confused, or disappointed during this time. Unfortunately, the recent recall effort seeking to undermine my integrity and derail our progress reflects a refusal by some to engage in constructive dialogue or respect the decisions made by the majority in pursuit of our community’s shared goals. At times, we have to make unpopular and tough decisions and it is not easy for anyone involved. I remain steadfast in my commitment to serve with strength, purpose, and unwavering transparency. I will continue to serve with the dedication, resilience, and integrity that have defined my work and character for years. The recall does not deter me. The false information and false allegations spread through the recall petition, website, and FB social media is defamatory on my character and is a calculated attempt to cover up harassment and retaliation by individuals opposed to my efforts to uphold the law and support the lawful actions, compliance, ethics, and policies. This recall is a political attack for doing my job as an elected official and as advised to do. Those that made the false allegations are being addressed and investigated through appropriate channels. We will also be addressing each false allegation in the near future. People were approached and misinformed to sign the recall petition in bars, while people were intoxicated late at night. If you were misinformed and would like to take your name off of the recall petition, please submit in writing your name and reason why to the recall petitioner and board clerk asap. The community needs to come together during this challenging time. Actions like these divide us and threaten to harm not just our progress, but families and communities. Let us focus on the positive. Please share with Wrightstown residents or any person of interest. God bless. Respectfully, Angela HW[9] |
” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Wisconsin
No specific grounds are required for recall in Wisconsin. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the relevant jurisdiction. Signatures must be collected within 60 days.[10]
Recall supporters filed paperwork to start the recall process on December 18, 2024. They had 60 days to collect 1,206 signatures.[3][7] Recall supporters submitted the petitions on February 12, 2025, and the board clerk certified it on March 11, 2025. Hansen-Winker challenged that certification in court. While waiting for the court decision, the recall election was scheduled for April 22, 2025.[11][12][13]
2025 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia has tracked 20 school board recall efforts against 41 board members in 2025. Recall elections against three board members were approved by voters on April 22, 2025, and June 10, 2025, removing all three from office. Recall elections are also being held on November 4, 2025.
The chart below details the status of 2025 recall efforts by individual school board member.
2024 recall efforts
- See also: School board recalls
Ballotpedia tracked 40 school board recall efforts against 83 board members in 2024. Recall elections in 2024 removed 14 members from office, including three who resigned before the election, and retained seven members in office. The school board recall success rate was 13.4%.
The chart below details the status of 2024 recall efforts by individual school board member.
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Wrightstown Community School District, Wisconsin
- Wrightstown Community School District, Wisconsin, elections
- Recall campaigns in Wisconsin
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- School board recalls
- States that allow school board recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Town of Holland, "WRIGHTSTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NOTICE OF RECALL ELECTION AND SAMPLE BALLOT APRIL 22, 2025," accessed April 14, 2025
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Who won the Wrightstown School Board recall election? Results, what to know," April 23, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Wearegreenbay.com, "‘Big loss for district’: Confusion lingers over Wrightstown following abrupt resignation of school superintendent," December 30, 2024
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wrightstown School Board announces early retirement of Superintendent Andy Space," December 30, 2024
- ↑ Wrightstown Community School District, "Board of Education," accessed January 3, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 WBAY, "UPDATE: A petition to recall Wrightstown School Board President has 60 days to gather signatures," December 29, 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 WBAY.com, "Wrightstown School Board President issues statement on recall petition," January 20, 2025
- ↑ Facebook, "Angela Hansen-Winker for School Board, Wrightstown post on January 1, 2025," accessed January 3, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Wisconsin Statutes, "9.10 Recall." accessed October 17, 2023
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Petition filed this week could force recall election of Wrightstown School Board president Angela Hansen-Winker," February 13, 2025
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wrightstown will hold recall election against school board president unless judge steps in," March 27, 2025
- ↑ Green Bay Press Gazette, "Wrightstown School Board president faces recall election. Who are the candidates?" April 14, 2025
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