By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — Marshfield Common Council member Rich Reinart, representative for district six, has resigned effective immediately, City Administrator Steve Barg confirmed Tuesday morning. Reinart was elected to the council in April of 2015.

Reinart resigned from the council because his wife accepted a new position near Prairie du Sac, and the family will be relocating. Reinart grew up in Neillsville.

Barg noted that there is a process in city code to replace a council member, though the council could decide to leave the spot empty and wait for the April 2017 election to fill the district six seat. That process involves the city advertising the vacancy, and subsequently applicants would appear before the common council to give an “oral presentation” and answer any questions the council may have. The council would then vote to select a replacement.

Should the council choose to fill the vacancy immediately, Barg estimated the whole process would take four to six weeks. Barg said the council would likely decide whether or not to immediately fill the position at its July 26 meeting.

Reinart noted that being on the council was a learning experience for him.

“There is a lot more that goes into running a city than I think most people know,” Reinart said. “There’s a lot of moving pieces that go into it.”

Reinart noted that he “absolutely” enjoyed his time on the council and would consider participating in city government in his new location in the future. He added that he had mixed emotions in leaving Marshfield.

“I’m going to miss the work ethic of the people, I think, in central Wisconsin,” Reinart said. “There’s just a really solid work ethic in central Wisconsin.”

Reinart said because of the circumstances he had to resign “abruptly” and noted that he enjoyed working with his constituents.

“The aspect of helping people or being kind of the representative of a district is, I mean for me, was great,” Reinart said. “I’m going to miss that.”

Reinart was extremely active in his campaign for council, going door-to-door to speak with voters in his district.

Barg praised Reinart’s contributions to the city.

“I really appreciate what Rich Reinart brought to the table and his service on the council,” Barg said. “He is a very positive individual who gave good, constructive thoughts at every meeting he attended. His agenda was mainly just to see Marshfield continue to grow and become a better community, and I think his actions and behaviors bore that out.”