To The Editor:

To all the voters of Wisconsin Rapids, look carefully at the two mayoral candidates. Mayor Vruwink, aldermen Ferkey, Kellogg and Hepp have been working to circumvent the will of the voters.

Last October the then City Clerk handed in his letter of intent to leave in December. The Mayor had 3 months in which to call a special election or appoint someone temporarily so this person could work with the City Clerk.

Vruwink did nothing and not until January, just 1 month before the first of 4 elections this year, did he decide he would appoint a city clerk.  Either he did not realize this position is still an elected one or he knew it but felt he could do it his way regardless.  Unfortunately the majority of aldermen went along with him.  Just goes to show you that they aren’t paying attention to the voters either.  Later several of them reversed their thinking and would not let the mayor appoint a city clerk.

Now, when the Council could be calling for a special election,  they are instead letting the mayor appoint someone until 2018.  It doesn’t make sense when an election could be held. Except for the fact that maybe because the mayor’s appointee does not yet live in the city, this person can not run for the office.  Where has the City Attorney been on this matter?

Alderman Rayome had to drag the answer out of her that “yes” a special election could be held but she has not willingly been forth coming with all the options. Consider carefully, can Wisconsin Rapids afford two more years of a mayor that doesn’t listen to the citizens and is out of the office and city too much of the time. At a time we need to be growing our city we seem to be at a stand still with elected officials that are not paying attention.

Think about this as you cast your vote on Tuesday.  You have a choice.

Mary Jo Hane