Dozens of petitioners delivered about 4,700 signatures to the Portage County Clerk's Office Tuesday morning. They're asking for a referendum to be put on the November ballot. The referendum would give citizens the option of creating a county executive seat.
The county is considering hiring an administrator, but petitioner Daniel Mielke says they want a county executive who would be elected by the people.
"And the fact that he's answerable to the people, so when he deals with budgets, he has to realize the people put him in office, and they can take him out."
If the referendum passes, an executive would be elected in the spring. Voters in Waushara County are petitioning for a similar referendum right now.
