By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
SUAMICO – With slightly more than half of her three-year term remaining, Village President Laura Nelson announced her resignation, effective at the end of the Monday, July 19, Suamico village board meeting.
Nelson, who was re-elected without opposition in April 2020, said she submitted her resignation because of “significant and time-consuming changes” in her position as an assistant district attorney in Shawano County and the demands of her family.
“We are now resuming jury trials, and all the COVID-related adjournments have started…,” she said. “With that, sometimes I have two jury trials a week, and so, with that, I’m just not able to devote the time necessary to this position (as village president), so I have tendered my resignation.”
Trustee Sky Van Rossum, who ran against Nelson for village president in 2017 when she won her first three-year term in office, thanked Nelson for her time serving in the position.
“I hope in some capacity you continue in the community at some point, something, somehow,” Van Rossum said.
Trustee Dan Roddan said he appreciated his time on the board while Nelson was president.
“It’s been fun,” he said.
Nelson said board members “may disagree, but we always leave as… colleagues and friends.”
President vacancy
Village Administrator Alex Kaker said the office of village president, which is vacant following Nelson’s resignation, will be on the board’s Aug. 2 agenda when options will be considered on how to fill the position.
Kaker said the board could decide to leave the position vacant, appoint someone as president or hold a special election.
He said holding a special election next spring would place someone the voters select in office for the remaining year of the term, before the position is up for election for three years in April 2023.