By a 52 to 48 percent margin, Wausau voters have said no to changing their government from a full-time elected mayor to an appointed city administrator. But according to the current City Council president, the issue is still undecided.
Wausau’s city government has been plagued by a recent series of mishaps and scandals, which led to yesterday’s nonbinding referendum. Council President Romey Wagner was disappointed with the outcome, and the close vote.
“Well now it’s important that we get the council together to discuss the decision we have to make,” Wagner said. “I would have hoped it would have been strongly one way or the other. It would have helped us make our decision.”
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But opponents of the change said Wagner and the council should abide by the referendum results. Businessman Mark Craig is a former mayoral candidate.
“I hope the Council abides by what the advisory referendum said, which is that the majority that did vote, turned it down, and let the voters make a decision next spring as to who our leader will be,” said Craig.
Under the proposal, the mayor would become a part-time position.
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