Shawano mayor to step down at end of year

Shawano Mayor Ed Whealon confirmed Tuesday he will resign his office by the end of the year, leaving a vacancy that will have to be addressed by the Shawano Common Council.

Whealon was re-elected to his second two-year term as mayor in April after facing no challengers. He defeated incumbent Jeanne Cronce for the post in 2018.

The pending mayoral vacancy was included as an agenda item on the council’s meeting agenda for Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Asked how pending the vacancy would be, Whealon said, “The end of the year.”

Whealon declined to discuss the upcoming resignation, saying he wanted to first share that with council members at Wednesday’s meeting.

Whealon purchased a second home in the Town of Wescott earlier this year, but still has a residence in the city.

Asked about that purchase several months ago, he said he still resides in the city, and pays his taxes and votes here.

City Administrator Eddie Sheppard said Whealon first mentioned his plans to finance committee members at an Oct. 8 meeting, along with his intention to put his Shawano residence on the market.

Sheppard said the council will have three options to discuss, including leaving the mayor’s office vacant until the April 2022 election; appointing a council member to fill the vacancy until a special election can be held in April 2021; or appointing a council member to fill out the rest of the term.

Whealon said it would be up to the council to decide what to do, but said he hoped there would be a special election.

tryan@newmedia-wi.com