Marshfield Common Council votes to appoint District 5 alderperson to replace Ed Wagner

MARSHFIELD – The Common Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to appoint a District 5 resident into the seat left vacant by the resignation of long-time council member Ed Wagner to fulfill the remainder of his two-year term.

Qualifying District 5 residents will be able to submit a letter of interest to the clerk’s office by Oct. 14. Candidates will be invited to attend the Common Council meeting planned for Oct. 21. The council is expected to take action on appointing a resident to the seat at its Nov. 12 meeting.

Wagner, who was elected to nine terms on the Common Council since 2006, announced his resignation effective Sept. 11 via an email to Mayor Lois TeStrake, which she read during the council’s Sept. 10 meeting. Wagner was reelected in April of this year.

“It is a pleasure to serve on the Common Council but medical issues have now interfered with my ability to carry on at the pace required to meet and conquer the complex problems that the city now faces,” Wagner wrote in his letter. “Best wishes and luck to all colleagues on the council.”

Natasha Tompkins, 3rd District alderperson, motioned for the council to appoint a district resident for the remainder of the term, which was seconded by Brian Varsho, council president and 4th District alderperson.

Mike O’Reilly, 9^th District alderperson, expressed concerns about not allowing 5^th District residents the option to choose their representative in the next regular election in spring 2025 and was the lone dissenting vote.

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Marshfield News-Herald: Marshfield Common Council to appoint next District 5 alderperson