Wauwatosa Alderperson Selection Process

Press release from the City of Wauwatosa:

October 27, 2020

We received the resignation of Heather Kuhl who was an alderperson for District 5. The vacant term expires in Spring 2022. The Common Council will appoint a new alderperson from District 5 according to their adopted process to fill alderperson vacancies.

Interested candidates must reside in District 5 and can apply by submitting a letter of interest and resume to the City Clerk's team by November 10. You may drop these materials in person during business hours or submit them via email to the City Clerk.

How to Apply

Residents of District 5 have until November 10, 2020 to submit an application. In order to apply, submit a letter of interest for the position and a resume to the City Clerk via email or in person at the Clerk's Office during business hours, which are Monday - Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

How do I know if I live in District 5?

You can find out what district you're in by typing in your address into the myWauwatosa portal on the homepage of Wauwatosa.net. If your results include Alderperson Joel Tilleson and "Vacant Seat," then you live in District 5.

Schedule

• The deadline for residents of District 5 to submit an application for alderperson is November 10, 2020.
• Interviews will be held on Monday, November 16 at 6:00 pm.
• The Common Council can take action on the appointment on December 1, 2020.
• This District 5 seat will be on the ballot on the April 2021 election. This election will be for the remainder of the term (April 2021 to April 2022).

Here are the steps the city undertakes when there is an Alderperson vacancy:

1. Form an Alderperson Selection Committee
2. Provide notice to residents
3. Hold public interviews that are shared online
4. Alderperson Selection Committee makes a recommended appointment to City Council
5. Common Council takes action on the appointment
6. This District 5 seat will be on the ballot for the April 2021 election to fill the remainder of the vacant term (expiring April 2022).

Forming the Alderperson Selection Committee

This is the process for how we form an Alderperson Selection Committee of five current Common Council members. This process is dictated by city ordinance.

• Alderperson Joel Tilleson, the other district 5 representative, will serve on the selection committee.
• Our policy states that when an Alder vacancy is from an odd numbered district, the committee will have Alders from odd numbered districts; therefore, Alders from districts 1, 3, and 7 will serve on the Selection Committee.
  • The selection process took place in the City Clerk’s office on October 21, 2020 at 11:03 a.m. The names of Alderpersons from Districts 1, 3, and 7 were written on slips of paper and randomly drawn to determine each representative for the Committee. The following names were chosen: Alderperson James Moldenhauer, Alderperson Tim Hanson, and Alderperson Jason Kofroth.
• The Mayor will select a fifth Committee member from district 2, 4, 6, or 8. The Mayor selected Alderperson and Council President Kathy Causier.
• The Mayor appoints the Committee Chair. The Mayor selected Alderperson Joel Tilleson.

This press release was produced by the City of Wauwatosa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.