Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Wednesday, July 23, 2008
District 2 council seat to stay open
The District 2 seat on the La Crosse Common Council will remain vacant until April’s regular election, council president Bill Harnden said Tuesday afternoon.
Harnden was on the fence about filling the post Monday after hearing word of Jon Olson’s resignation.
Olson cited personal reasons for his decision to step down from the far North Side district he represented for almost 6½ years.
District 2 is at the northeast corner of the city, near the border with Onalaska, Wis.
Harnden said he consulted two other North Side council members before deciding not to seek an appointment.
The seat couldn’t be filled until October at the earliest, while candidates in the April election can circulate nomination papers by Dec. 1, he said.
Harnden also said North Side council members Andrea Richmond in District 1 and George Italiano in District 3 have agreed to take any calls for the district. He hadn’t yet spoken with District 4 council member Jai Johnson.
Richmond said she’s happy to assist District 2 constituents, but “disappointed the position will not be filled, being that budget season is coming up and we need to have representation for that district.”
Olson was the second council member to resign this year. Former council president Joe Ledvina bowed out in April and only recently was replaced by Lorraine Rose Decker.
Samantha Marcus can be reached at (608) 791-8220 or smarcus@lacrossetribune.com.
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