Trustee Terms Lengths: Petition For Referendum Expected Soon

MOUNT PLEASANT, WI — A petition that could bring a referendum for increasing Mount Pleasant Village Trustee term lengths is expected to be filed soon.

The Mount Pleasant Village Board adopted a charter ordinance in January that would increase trustee term lengths from 2 to 3 years. Terms of the ordinance left 60 days from its adoption for citizens to file a petition against it. If a petition is successfully submitted, the measure could go up for a wider referendum for citizens to vote on the matter.

Terms of the adopted charter ordinance mean new trustee term lengths would only go into effect for the trustees who are voted in next.

Kelly Gallaher from the activist group A Better Mount Pleasant says she's planning on submitting signatures her group has collected to bring it to a referendum on Monday.

"We are confident the petition will be successful and residents will have the opportunity to vote whether village officials should have longer terms in office," Gallaher told Patch in an email Thursday.

During the Jan. 24 meeting, when the charter ordinance was unanimously adopted by the board, Village President Dave DeGroot said it had "nothing to do with padding our terms."

During the meeting, Trustee Anna Marie Clausen said the term increase would be beneficial for the efficiency and functioning of the board.

Trustee Nancy Washburn said, "I think it allows us to better immerse ourselves in the village itself with the growth in our community."

Wisconsin Public Radio reported Tuesday audio shows the plans to increase term lengths were being discussed for about nine months before they were voted on. During a special committee meeting in April of 2021, Village Attorney Chris Smith said the two-year terms leave trustees to campaigning as soon as their terms start, which is "not cool," according to the WPR report.

"For anyone to think that we're acting fast on this, that's absurd. We have been discussing this for over a year now," Village President DeGroot said in the Village Board meeting in January, when the charter ordinance was passed.

Gallaher had told WisPolitics.com ahead of January's vote that the measure to increase term lengths would be a "power grab."

SEE ALSO:

3-Year Terms For Mt. Pleasant Board Members: Charter Adopted