By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The seat relinquished this week by veteran Common Council member James Winship will not be cold for long.
Winship, who announced in early December he was stepping down from his District 3 aldermanic post Dec. 31, is leaving for Cartagena, Columbia later this month to attend fieldwork through a scholarship he was granted. Winship serves on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater faculty.
On Dec. 16, Winship’s six elected colleagues agreed to keep his seat warm this winter as the imminent spring general election looms in April. District 3 is among Whitewater’s aldermanic spots up for election in 2015.
In the interim three months, council members will appoint a person to assume Winship’s vacancy.
According to a timeline and plan laid out, Whitewater residents living within the 3rd District — an area that includes the Historic Starin Park neighborhood — have until Friday, Jan. 9 to file paperwork.
The appointee will be named after council members deliberate at their next regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 20. He or she will continue serving on the council, representing the 3rd District, through early April.
The council had three options to ponder after Winship gave his resignation: leave the seat vacant through the next election, hold a special election to determine Winship’s successor or appoint someone to the post.
During deliberations, Council President Patrick Singer pointed out vacancies have occurred in recent years for a variety of reasons. In recent history, the council has chosen to fill each vacancy through an appointment process.
“Thankfully, there has been some precedent,” Singer said.
City Manager Cameron Clapper lauded Winship for his service during Clapper’s staff report at the Dec. 16 meeting.
In addition to his role on the council, Clapper pointed to Winship’s pivotal roles on the Library Board and Community Development Authority, as well as his involvement with the Bethel House homeless shelter.
“We’ve been fortunate to have you with us,” Clapper said to Winship. “We’re going to miss you.”
