By Press Times Staff

NORTHEAST WISCONSIN – There will likely be a Republican primary for the 89th Assembly District seat vacated by John Nygren.

Marinette small business owner Mike Kunesh announced he is running for the seat along with Debbie Jacques, entrepreneur and business owner.

Jacques, was born and raised in Escanaba, Michigan.

She has been a resident of Brown County for more than 35 years, and a small business owner for more than 20 years.

Jacques currently owns Under the Lights of Lambeau and owned and operated a day care center for 15 years.

Most recently, she was employed by Trump Victory, and now serves as chair for the Women for Trump in Brown County.

She is mother of five children, and has three grandchildren.

Jacques said she currently does not live in the 89th Assembly District, but plans on moving to Suamico, regardless of the outcome of the election.

Kunesh and his wife, Amy, have four children.

He has been a licensed real estate agent since 1991, and has owned Place Perfect Realty in Marinette and Green Bay since 1999.

Kunesh is active in the community, having served on the boards of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the National Association of Realtors board, the Wisconsin Association of Realtors, Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission, the Tri-County Area United Way, inVenture North, the Town of Peshtigo Plan Commission and the Marinette Menominee Chamber of Commerce.

On Dec. 18, Gov. Tony Evers called for a special election to fill the vacant seat to coincide with the spring election April 6.

If the two Republican candidates file nomination papers, a primary will be held Feb. 16.

Nomination papers for candidates must be filed by 5 p.m. Jan. 8.

Nygren, 56, was first elected to the Assembly in 2006 and served as the chair of the Committee of Finance and co-chair of the Joint Committee of Finance.

His tenure as Assembly co-chair is tied for the longest tenure in the committee’s 109-year history.

Nygren is now the executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans.

The Democratic candidate Nygren defeated Nov. 3, Marinette County Supervisor Karl Jaeger, has announced he will run in the Assembly special election.