Outspoken Wauwatosa Alderperson Resigns

WAUWATOSA, WI— A Wauwatosa Alderperson has resigned indicating she didn't come the "decision easily" but needs to "prioritize the health and safety of my family." Heather Kuhl who represented District 5, resigned on October 14 after submitting a letter to the city.

"I understand that women are held to a higher standard than men and that me stepping down doesn’t just affect me, it affects every woman that might want to fill this seat after me; we all know that women aren’t afforded the luxury of existing as individuals," the letter said.

Kuhl was an outspoken elected official. She was one of the first city officials in Wauwatosa to call for the removal of Officer Joseph Mensah from the police department. Kuhl sent a letter addressed to the Wauwatosa Police and Fire Commission in July. In 2018, she faced public scrutiny after admitting that she wore an anti-Donald Trump T-Shirt to her polling place on election day - the site where she volunteered as an election inspector. She publicly apologized for the incident.

"I have been, and always will be unapologetically authentic. I am deeply passionate, and I do not hide from my flaws, "the letter said.

"The Dan O'Donnell Show," News/Talk 1130 WISN, reported on Monday, Kuhl was behind a secret twitter account where she made vulgar comments against the Republican party and President Donald Trump. The Twitter account has since been deleted.

O'Donnell reported and provided screenshots of a person wearing a knit squid-like mask that covers the person's face. The person who was reportedly Kuhl, tweeted out regarding the Mensah decision.

"Every conservative (expletive) stain that is using OUR city as a (expletive) Drumpf talking point can shove it up their (expletive) sideways. This is PERSONAL for us. We love our family owned businesses...but we also love Black people and understand that windows are easier to repair than bodies."

Read the full News/Talk 1130 WISN report.

Patch reached out to Kuhl but she didn't respond as of Friday morning.

Below is the full text of her resignation letter:

"This letter serves as my official resignation to my position as Alderperson of Wauwatosa’s 5th District. I did not come to this decision easily. I understand that women are held to a higher standard than men and that me stepping down doesn’t just affect me, it affects every woman that might want to fill this seat after me; we all know that women aren’t afforded the luxury of existing as individuals. I have been, and always will be unapologetically authentic. I am deeply passionate, and I do not hide from my flaws. That was who I ran as, who I served as, and who I will continue to be. When I sat in this seat and I served my constituents, I was always honest, respectful, and professional and I have zero regrets.

To my constituents: It has been an honor to serve this district and I hope that I have served it well; Every single decision I have made on council has been articulated professionally and respectfully and made in good faith. My goal has always been to listen to my constituents and act on their behalf. I am extremely proud of what I have achieved in the last 2 years; I brought composting to Tosa, limited single-use plastics, proposed the mask mandate and I even got a stop sign and cross walk for one of our busiest neighborhood streets.

I know this is a disappointment to some (but certainly not all) of you, but I hope you understand that I have to prioritize the health and safety of my family. Although I will no longer be on Council, I will continue to serve our community. I will continue to speak truth to power, I will continue to fight for equity, and I will continue to fight for the lives and safety of the people who make this community the amazing place that we all love."

The city will share more details on the nomination process, application, and deadlines soon. When an alderperson resigns, an aldermanic nomination committee of five current council members will be formed. The City of Wauwatosa will announce the alderperson vacancy and ask Wauwatosa residents who live in District 5 to apply. There is a two-week window for applicants to

No later than two weeks after the close of the application deadline, the aldermanic nomination committee will meet and conduct interviews of the applicants. Interviews of the aldermanic applicants will be videotaped and available to the public. The committee will select an applicant to recommend to the full Common Council.

To allow for public comment and appropriate consideration by alderpersons who are not members of the nomination committee, the Common Council will not vote to fill any aldermanic vacancy unless at least seven days have elapsed since the nomination committee has selected an application to recommend to the council.

The Common Council will select one of the applicants for the vacancy by a majority vote. It is not bound to follow the nomination committee's recommendation.