The 2024-'26 Wausau City Council takes the oath of office. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A familiar face has been elected City Council President for the 2024-’26 term in Wausau.
District Seven Alder Lisa Rasmussen got the majority of the votes in a three-person race. She says after a divisive election, it’s time to get down to the business of running the city. “It’s a matter of finding some consensus, some common ground. That’s the only way you can move forward.”
She says none of those priorities are possible without teamwork between the Alders, Mayor, and Department leaders. “Nothing can hurt a Council and Administration faster than working at odds with one another. In local government, if people are working so hard despite one another that they can’t move forward we will not have any real success. We try to set that tone early and stay positive.”
Rasmussen was named on six ballots, the minimum required to win the election. Alders Gary Gisselman and Lou Larson were also nominated and split the remaining five votes- though the City Clerk did not release exact totals for them. Alder Becky McElhaney was also nominated but declined.
After the votes were counted, Rasmussen immediately offered to organize a City Council Retreat for the Alders to set priorities and bond in an informal setting. Though she said friendship among the alders isn’t required, cooperation is.
“We don’t have to agree all the time but we have to be professional and we have to work together. If we can do that and learn how to compromise I think we will come out the other side in a really good place,” added Rasmussen.
During his comments, Mayor Doug Diny emphasized marketing Wausau as a place to work and play- especially to those who visit local recreation hotspots but can also work remotely from home. Rasmussen says the Council can do their part by maintaining that professionalism and keeping the infighting to a minimum.
“Chaotic government does not attract new residents. We have to function, and we have to function well. [Avoid] headlines like conflict between the 11 of us, or [the council] and the Mayor, or [the council] and the staff. We need to be pushing in the same direction.”
The Council also elected Alder Sarah Watson to serve on the city’s Plan Commission and McElhaney to the Water Works Commission. The body tabled a motion to name the Wausau Daily Herald as the city’s official newspaper for legal notices. Some on the Council wanted a further investigation into what local publications would meet the requirements for public notices such as online-only publications.
Mayor Diny also gave the Council their committee assignments for the new term:
Carol Lukens- Parks and Rec, Public Health and Safety
Mike Martens- Infrastructure, Human Resources, Finance
Terry Kilian- Economic Development, Human Resources, Finance
Tom Neal- Parks and Rec, Infrastructure
Gary Gisselman- Human Resources, Economic Development, Finance
Becky McElhaney- Human Resources, Public Health and Safety, Finance
Lisa Rasmussen- Public Health and Safety, Finance, Parks and Rec
Sarah Watson- Parks and Rec, Public Health and Safety, Infrastructure
Vicki Tierney- Human Resources, Economic Development, Finance
Lou Larson- Parks and Rec, Public Health and Safety, Infrastructure
Chad Henke- Infrastructure, Economic Development
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