He Quit, Then Won Appointment to Fill Council Vacancy He Created

Kurt TeWinkel was reappointed to his position as District 4 alderperson on the Hudson Common Council Monday—about a month after his resignation. 

"I want to finish out the term that I was elected to serve," he said. "I feel an obligation to do that to the voters of District 4." 

Then why did he quit? It was all in the interest of good government and avoiding a conflict of interest, he explained: 

"There was a position in the City of Hudson that I wanted to apply for, and I was informed that it was a conflict of interest to do so. And this resignation was directly from that. And that position didn't work out. And here I am. ... I did not want to try to be covert about anything and resign if the time came (to take a city job)." 

The five sitting alderpersons heard presentations Monday from three applicants to fill out TeWinkel's term. Some of the questions asked of the other two applicants—how they would have voted on past issues before the council—didn't apply to TeWinkel since he was on the council when those issues came up. 

The council then voted 4-1 to appoint TeWinkel to his former office. TeWinkel was sworn in and rejoined his fellow alderpersons on the Hudson Common Council. 

TeWinkel was elected in April 2012 and said he said he plans to run again in April when the current term that is now his again expires. 

Besides TeWinkel himself, the other applicants for the appointment to fill out the District 4 term of office were Pam Brokaw and Tom Webber. See the applications they submitted at the city website. Watch their interviews before the council above or at YouTube.com (Brokaw begins at 2:00 mark, Webber at the 10:00 mark, and TeWinkel at the 17:00 mark).

Related at Hudson Patch: 

• Council Bids Farewell to Lee Wyland
• Election 2012: City of Hudson Candidate Profiles
• Hudson Common Council Holds Annual Reorganization Meeting
• Hudson Common Council Votes to Deny Dog Track Rezoning