La Crosse County board districts won’t change before April; new health director hired

Wisconsin will probably have new Congressional and legislative districts drawn up before the 2022 election, but La Crosse County won’t have time to redraw its maps before the next county board races in April. 

County Board chair Monica Kruse says the existing 29 districts are expected to stay the same for the spring election.  New maps might be ready for the 2024 county board races.  

Kruse says the final census numbers for the county might not be available until September, and they usually need six months to redraw the board districts.  And board candidates get to take out nomination papers in December.    

Because of its large population, La Crosse County could have up to 47 supervisors on the county board, under state law.  The board cut its size to 29 members more than a decade ago.     

In other county business, La Crosse County has appointed a new health director, from within. 

Audra Martine has been promoted from her post as deputy director of human services, to succeed Jen Rombalski as head of the county health department. 

Martine has worked for the county for 17 years.  Rombalski recently took a state job, after leading the La Crosse County efforts to fight COVID-19 for nearly a year.