Marshfield City Hall. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
MARSHFIELD, WI (WSAU-WDLB) — Marshfield will be without a mayor for a year after alders voted to not hold a special election to fill the post on Tuesday.
The Common Council voted 10-0 last night in favor of leaving the office vacant until the city’s next regular general election on April 5th of next year. That leaves Council President Nick Poeschel as the city’s acting mayor, which involves signing official documents and presiding over Council meetings.
The Council’s decision comes 36 days after an 8-2 vote on March 22nd to remove Bob McManus from the Mayor’s position over misconduct allegations, and some 340 days before the next municipal election.
Aldermen chose to wait, over two other recommendations from City Administrator Steve Barg to appoint someone or hold a special election. Assuming a primary election would be needed, City Clerk Deb Hall said the earliest that could happen would be June 15th, followed by a general election on July 13th. That plan would have cost the city close to $20,000.
Alderman Ed Wagner voted in favor of waiting, something he was not in favor of two weeks ago. “At first I wanted a special election quickly to bring the city together. I now think a fast election might divide the city further.”
In addition to the costs of printing ballots and running polling stations, the city would have also been responsible for IT infrastructure costs to run the election. That includes a $250 monthly charge to run the modem used to deliver results to Wood County for tabulation.
The modem could be turned off, but there would also be high costs associated with turning it back on again in June and July for the primary and special elections.
The council also directed Barg to look into switching the city to another form of government involving a Mayor and City Manager. A city Manager has powers a Mayor and City Administrator do not.
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