Replacement needed in New London
By Robert Cloud
Ald. Billie Olson is vacating her seat on the New London Common Council because she is moving out of the city.
“I am saddened, as I have learned so much in a short period of time on Council,” Olson said in her resignation letter to the mayor and council. “My passion for public service has blossomed and I hope in the future, I am able to once again join you all and serve this amazing city.”
Effective Oct. 15, the District 2 council seat will be vacant.
City Clerk Nicole Lemke discussed how the council will need to fill the seat at the Oct. 6 meeting of the Finance and Personnel Committee.
Lemke said a resolution in 2007 outlined the process for replacing a person who resigns before an election.
The Common Council will appoint a replacement who will represent the district until the spring election.
In the April 2022 municipal election, District 2 will vote for two alderpersons.
One of the council members will have a two-year term and one of them will have a one-year term.
Residents of District 2 who are interested in serving on council should submit their name in a letter of interest to the city clerk.
They will be asked to speak at a council meeting and answer four questions.
Committee members reviewed those questions at the Oct. 6 Finance meeting.
Two of the questions remained unchanged: Tell us about yourself and why you’re interested in serving on the Common Council. What vision do you have for New London?
Committee members made minor changes to the third and fourth questions;
The city provides a number of services to its residents. Do you have any concerns about these services: their quality, quantity, cost efficiency or delivery?
What makes you uniquely qualified for the position?
All candidates for the District 2 seat will appear at the council meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9.
They will take turns answering the questions based on the order their names are withdrawn from a hat.
In order to be transparent, when city council members vote for a replacement they will write the name of the person they selected and their own names on paper slips.
The city clerk will collect the slips, tally and report the results.
If no candidate receives a majority of votes, defined as more than half the non-vacant council seats, the members will revote.
If there are more than two candidates, the one who receives the least votes will be dropped from consideration after each ballot.
Voting will continue until one nominee receives the majority of votes.
The ballot slips will be retained and become part of the public record.
The winner will be sworn into office and seated during the same meeting.
Anyone interested in submitting their names for consideration as the District 2 alderperson should send a resume to City Clerk Nicole Lemke, 215 N. Shawano St., New London, WI 54961.