By Bob Peryea
Correspondent
The Whitewater Common Council is now accepting applications to temporarily fill its Councilmember-at-large seat.
On Tuesday night, the council voted to adopt a policy and set a timeline to fill the council seat, which became vacant after the recent passing of councilmember Marilyn Kienbaum.
Applications for appointment to the council need to turned in by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11. to City Clerk Michele Smith, P.O. Box 178, Whitewater, WI 53190.
Councilmembers will review the applications and make an appointment at their next regular meeting on Dec. 18.
The person appointed will hold the position until April at which point the seat will be up for election. The appointee will be allowed to run for the position.
Councilmember Lynn Binnie and city attorney Wallace McDonell outlined the terms and conditions for filling the vacancy. The complete policy, along with applications, can be viewed on the City of Whitewater website, www.whitewater-wi.gov.
Applicants must be over 18 years and an eligible voter. They must also reside in the City of Whitewater.
The council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Salary for the position is $300 per month. It will require commitment not only to council meetings, but also several Committee positions that Kienbaum held.
The appointee will first sit on the council officially on Jan. 15.
The council canceled its Jan. 1 meeting.
For more information, call Smith at (262) 473-0102.
Gearing up for spring elections
The local election season kicked off this weekend as incumbents and potential challengers were able to officially declare candidacy or circulate nomination papers for the April election.
Locally the election encompasses the city, surrounding townships and the local school board.
Dec. 1 was the first day of the process. In most cases potential candidates have until Jan. 2 to file their paperwork. The spring election is scheduled for April 2. If more than two candidates emerge for a single position a primary election would be held Feb. 19.
Potential candidates should contact the clerk in their community or school district for additional information on the process.
Here is a listing of the local offices that will appear on the spring ballot:
City of Whitewater
With the passing of councilmember Marilyn Kienbaum, there will be at least one new face on the City Council.
In addition to Kienbaum’s Councilmember-at-large seat, the 1st District seat held by Jim Olsen, the 3rd District seat held by Jim Winship and the 5th District seat held by Patrick Singer will also appear on the ballot.
Olsen and Winship have filed campaign registration statements for their seats, while Singer has filed a registration statement for the councilmember-at-large seat.
Each seat carries a two-year term.
School Board
Two seats are up for election on the Whitewater Unified School District Board. The seats carry three-year terms.
The current incumbents holding those seats are Chuck Nass and Brian Brunner.
Town of LaGrange
Two-year terms expiring in the LaGrange this spring include Town Board Supervisor 2 Donald Sukala, Town Board Supervisor 3 Mark Bromley and Town Board Supervisor 4 Jeff Schramm.
