WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAU) — Wausau mayor Jim Tipple will not be seeking re-election.
Tipple says it was time to step down. “You know I retired when I was 55, and I’ve added 12 more years on. And I think it’s time to move over and let someone else take the helm and continue to move this city forward.” He says the next mayor will have a lot of things to build on, including the creation of the 400 Block and the expansion of the downtown business district.
He also says that the next mayor will have plenty of amenities in the area to help attract new residents. “You’ve got a ski hill, you’ve got a river running through your downtown, you’ve got curling, you’ve got a soccer complex. You’ve got everything for young and old people to enjoy. And we need to keep those facilities up and running and continue to reinvent ourselves for the future.” Tipple says the city will need to continue to attract young professionals and new families to the area to keep growing and thriving.
Tipple thanked those that served the city over his twelve years on office, and says he hopes that the next mayor will continue the work on the future of the Wausau Center Mall, and the Riverfront Project on the East Side. “I’m hoping for the next mayor, that they’ll take a look at what worked and what didn’t work and what’s making us successful, and how do we plug in to ensure we’ll have a successful future.” He says he will remain connected to the city and says he enjoys the people and enjoys the job.
Tipple also addressed the changes that are coming to the way that the city will need to find and retain staff. He told the conference that Wausau lost over 2,700 years of combined experience through retirements over the past twelve years and that it will be hard to continue to make up for that loss. He says that today’s workforce doesn’t stay with one organization their entire life, and that the administration will need to be able to attract young people to live and work for Wausau.
Anyone who will be running for the office now has a month to put their signatures in for their run for mayor. So far, alderman David Oberbeck and former policeman David Prokop have filed nominations papers. The new mayor will be elected in April.