Portage County, WI elected officials: county supervisors, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Portage County: 7 seats on 7 elected bodies. 2 seats were on the November 3, 2026 ballot; they update once the county certifies its results.

County officers

OfficeWho holds it nowNext term
County ClerkMaria Davis Democratic source
Clerk of Circuit CourtLisa M. Roth Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
District AttorneyCass Cousins Democratic source
County ExecutiveJohn Pavelski source
Register of DeedsCynthia A. Wisinski Democratic source
SheriffMichael Lukas Democratic sourceOn the Nov 3, 2026 ballot: count not certified yet
County TreasurerPamela R. Przybelski Democratic source

How many local governments Portage County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 39 local governments in Portage County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government10
Cities, towns, villages and townships (10 municipal, 17 township)270
School districts (school boards)40
Special districts (elected boards)70

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments, though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Portage County

70,832people
38median ageU.S.: 38.9
$76,070 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
10.1%below the U.S.: 12.5%
34%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$243,100median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.2%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
3.1%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.6%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
4.8%U.S.: 8.4%
39.1%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
18.8%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 4.2% · White 89% · Black 0.8% · Asian 2.9% · Other or more than one race 3.1% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Portage County

2.8%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 2.6%. Wisconsin: 2.9%.
1,093people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
38,159people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
39,252in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Portage County 0.0%1.4%2.9%4.3%5.8% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)2.8%1,09338,15939,252
August 20263.1%1,17136,75137,922
July 20263.2%1,21137,00138,212
June 20263.4%1,28936,79838,087
May 20262.8%1,08236,96338,045
April 20263.3%1,26836,97238,240
March 20264.0%1,53336,65938,192
February 20264.3%1,64636,54038,186
January 20263.9%1,45536,11037,565
December 20253.2%1,20937,13238,341
November 20252.8%1,08137,11238,193
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20252.6%99536,92537,920
August 20252.9%1,06935,74636,815
July 20253.1%1,14536,09737,242
June 20253.2%1,20536,27437,479
May 20253.0%1,12836,29637,424
April 20253.1%1,17536,90638,081
March 20253.6%1,35736,66638,023
February 20253.8%1,42336,48137,904
January 20253.4%1,27736,41337,690
December 20242.9%1,09836,63437,732
November 20242.6%96536,68437,649
October 20242.3%89637,30338,199
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)3.1%1,18836,55037,738
20243.0%1,12036,43537,555
20232.8%1,04136,56737,608
20222.8%1,06436,54637,610
20213.5%1,32236,36537,687
20205.5%2,08235,71037,792
20193.1%1,19637,48038,676
20183.0%1,16438,00539,169
20173.0%1,20238,51439,716
20163.7%1,46238,19339,655

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Wisconsin's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.2% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Portage County

142.3 per 100,0002025. Wisconsin: 240.3.
603.6 per 100,0002025. Wisconsin: 1,016.7.
0murders2025, 103 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
2025103142.3437603.6
2024102142.1396551.7
2023115161.7542762.0
2022113160.3579821.6
202182114.3609849.1
202093131.4614867.3
2019114160.6575810.2
201889126.17351,041.5
2017101143.27951,127.0
201685120.87281,034.4
By police agency (3)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Portage County Sheriff's Office2025548731,355
Stevens Point Police Department20253222126,673
Plover Police Department20251712914,375

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Wisconsin · the U.S.

Police staffing

1.62 per 1,000 residents2025, 3 agencies serving 72,403 people.
117sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
61civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (3), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Portage County Sheriff's Office495331,355
Stevens Point Police Department47526,673
Plover Police Department21314,375
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
20251171.62613
20241151.60643
20231121.57613
20221141.62643
20211111.55613
20201111.57623
20191151.62633
20181121.59633
20171101.56633
20161111.58603

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Portage County County Clerk?
Maria Davis (Democratic) is the County Clerk of Portage County, Wisconsin.
Who is the Portage County Clerk of Circuit Court?
Lisa M. Roth (Democratic) is the Clerk of Circuit Court of Portage County, Wisconsin. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Portage County District Attorney?
Cass Cousins (Democratic) is the District Attorney of Portage County, Wisconsin.
Who is the Portage County County Executive?
John Pavelski is the County Executive of Portage County, Wisconsin.
Who is the Portage County Register of Deeds?
Cynthia A. Wisinski (Democratic) is the Register of Deeds of Portage County, Wisconsin.
Who is the Portage County Sheriff?
Michael Lukas (Democratic) is the Sheriff of Portage County, Wisconsin. The seat was on the November 3, 2026 ballot; the count isn't certified yet.
Who is the Portage County County Treasurer?
Pamela R. Przybelski (Democratic) is the County Treasurer of Portage County, Wisconsin.
What is the population of Portage County?
About 70,832 people, with a median age of 38; the median household income is $76,070 and 10.1% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Portage County?
2.8% in September 2026 (preliminary): 1,093 people unemployed in a labor force of 39,252, against 2.6% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Portage County?
39 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 10 municipal, 17 township, 4 school district and 7 special district governments.

Officeholders as of August 4, 2025, from the Wisconsin Blue Book 2025–2026 (Legislative Reference Bureau), as county clerks reported their officers in April 2025; officials elected or appointed since then may differ, and only each county board's chair is listed; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

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