Hackbarth v. Erickson

Edwin Erickson appeals a decision of the circuit court declaring William Hackbarth the winner of the city of Bayfield’s mayoral election. Erickson challenges those ballots cast for Hackbarth that also included Hackbarth’s name as a write-in for a vacant aldermanic post. The trial court took voters’ testimony to determine their intent and declared Hackbarth the winner. We conclude that the electors’ intent can be adequately ascertained without resort to extrinsic evidence and affirm the judgment in favor of Hackbarth.

Erickson, the incumbent mayor, was challenged by Hackbarth, at the time an…