Manitowoc alderman resigns from council to avoid residency dispute
MANITOWOC – Manitowoc Common Council member Brett Vanderkin has resigned his seat after questions of his residency arose from recent criminal case documents.
The Committee of the Whole met Monday prior to the council's regular meeting and had only one item on the agenda: "Residency disqualification of District 1 alderperson Vanderkin."
The agenda was accompanied by a copy of a court case alleging a misdemeanor charge against Vanderkin that showed his mailing address being in Plymouth.
Council members are required to live within the boundaries of the district they represent and members typically resign when they move outside of the district.
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In Vanderkin's case, council President Bill Schlei said he resigned verbally just before the Committee of the Whole met Monday, which meant the committee did not have take any action besides determining how they would fill the vacancy.
Vanderkin was not in attendance at the committee's meeting nor the council's meeting that took place the same night.
The court case, which was filed May 9 in Manitowoc County Circuit Court, includes a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct with a domestic abuse modifier.
The agenda also included a letter from Vanderkin's attorney, Emma Guthrie, who is representing him in the criminal case, saying the change of address to Plymouth was made in error. The letter was added to the committee's agenda Monday, just a few hours before the meeting.
The criminal case file was also updated May 20 to reflect Vanderkin's original address on Summit Street in Manitowoc.
Vanderkin was first elected to the council in April 2020 to fill the remainder of the term after former member Mike Howe resigned. He was reelected for his first full term in 2021, beating out challenger Theresa Schmitt, and again in 2023, over challenger Raymond Geigel.
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The city is now looking for applicants to fill Vanderkin's seat on the council for the remainder of the term, which ends in April 2025.
People interested in putting their name forward should submit a letter of interest and a resume to the City Clerk's office by 4 p.m. June 13. The new representative will be appointed at the Common Council meeting June 14.
Alisa M. Schafer is a reporter for the Herald Times Reporter in Manitowoc. She can be reached by email at aschafer@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc alderman resigns seat to avoid residency dispute
