The city of Manitowoc is now looking for someone to represent the 1st Aldermanic District.
This comes after now-former Alderman Brett Vanderkin resigned from the council before yesterday’s Committee of the Whole meeting, where council members would have talked about an address change he made showing him living in the city of Plymouth.
Council President Bill Schlei tells Seehafer News that changing your address and moving away from where you represent automatically disqualifies you from being on the council.
But he says Vanderkin made the right move.
“He was true to his oath,” he stated. “When we become members of the council, we take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and this was a constitutional statute that had been, unfortunately, broken.”
But Schlei says that doesn’t mean Vanderkin can’t return to council.
“I believe he is already in the process of reestablishing his residency as I believe it’s like 10 days total to reestablish,” he explained. “Once he does, he could reapply and could be back on the council within 30 days.”
Until then, the city is accepting applications for the open seat in the first district.
Residents who live there can send in an application to the city by June 13th at 4 pm to explain what qualifies them to be on the council.
Vanderkin’s address change stems from a court case filed last year.
