WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser is circulating papers to run for re-election.
The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune reports that the incumbent is the only one so far to take out the required paperwork, which must be returned to the City Clerk’s office by early January to certify a place on the ballot.
Blaser is nearing the end of his first term as Mayor, which was dominated by employment headaches and the challenges of dealing with a global pandemic.
In addition to navigating the pandemic Blaser has also been dealing with the closure of the Verso mill and the loss of hundreds of jobs that came with it. He’s also looked at overhauling the city’s road funding formula to move away from special assessments for property-owners.
Prior to becoming Mayor Blaser served as the Alderperson for District 8 for four years. His service with the city goes back even further, as he was City Clerk from 2007 to 2015.
The UW-Platteville graduate defeated former Mayor Zach Vruwink in 2020.
Vruwink moved on to a special consulting role with the City of Rhinelander following that election, helping guide the city in the aftermath of Daniel Guild’s departure as City Administrator. He later took over the Administrator role full-time.
