NEENAH — The City of Neenah is set to swear in Brian Defferding, 49, as its newest city council member on Tuesday, April 21. Defferding is affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Wisconsin but ran in the officially nonpartisan race.

During his campaign, Defferding emphasized direct voter outreach, including door-to-door engagement and discussions with residents about local concerns. He described his approach as meeting constituents where they are and responding from a Libertarian perspective. He won the election by a margin of 24 votes over his opponent, a longtime incumbent.

Defferding previously served on the county board after being elected in 2018, where he focused on limiting government regulation and monitoring public spending. His decision to run for city council followed recent increases in property taxes and municipal fees, which he opposed. He also criticized past city decisions involving spending and borrowing, noting his opponent had supported those measures.

Among the issues raised during the campaign was the city’s investment in preparing Arrowhead Park for potential development. The site, historically affected by industrial pollution, has required environmental testing and legal work over several years. Defferding questioned the level of public funding allocated to those efforts.

The campaign also included exchanges between the candidates over past disagreements and policy views, with Defferding positioning himself as an advocate for reducing expenditures and addressing taxpayer concerns.

The Libertarian Party has commemorated the occasion via social media post.

Congratulations to newly elected… – Libertarian Party | Facebook