West Bend, WI – District 1 alderman John Butschlick received the support of his colleagues Monday night and after an attempt to snub his appointment as the next council president he received unanimous approval.
Typically, the appointment goes to the most senior member of the council. Butschlick has represented District 1 since he was first elected in April 2014.
Uncharacteristic for selection of council president, mayor Chris Jenkins offered a recommendation.
“I did have a conversation with him (John) and he does do a great job with public works and he is going to be stepping up to the plate on the Plan Commission. I would recommend we not overburden him as much which means Ald. Madl is my recommendation,” said Jenkins.
Dist. 2 alderman Mark Allen made the motion to select Madl and then no one seconded the motion until Madl finally did it and voted for himself.
District 5 alderman Jed Dolnick then said, “Mayor I really don’t think it is appropriate for you to be making recommendations. This is purely an act of the council. I don’t remember a mayor doing this in the past and that said if Alderman Butschlick would say he could take this on it is for him to say he can’t. He has indicated he is willing to take this on so I’m nominating him based on his seniority, which has been our criteria in the past.”
District 4 alderman Randy Koehler quickly seconded the motion.
District 8 alderwoman Meghann Kennedy said she reached out to Butschlick when the topic of council president came up. “I would look to John for advice knowing his seniority and time spent on council,” she said.
In the past Butschlick has been described as honest, a good listener, a religious man with integrity, conviction and a true leader. Butschlick was recognized in 2019 for his service in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and he recently volunteered his time putting up the old Amity Rolf’s Nativity.
Alderman Madl claimed when he was “talked to about this” he got the “impression that you were not interested” in council president.
Butschlick then spoke the truth.
“Just so you know the mayor just asked me if I would be interested on the Plan Commission and I said I would. He did not ask me if I was interested in council president because he said I was chair of the board of public works and he thought that would be putting more onto me. But I never was asked if I would accept it,” said Butschlick. “I will accept the nomination because my colleagues do have faith in me and if I would say no, I’d feel that would be a slap in their face with having the support I have.”
There was then a unanimous voice vote for Butschlick as the next council president.
