WAUWATOSA — Wauwatosa Common Council member Heather Kuhl of District 5 tendered her resignation letter Wednesday, writing in it that she needs to prioritize "the health and safety of my family."
Kuhl did not specify what directly led her to make the decision. She issued a resignation letter to the Council and the public Wednesday afternoon, stressing that "women are held to a higher standard than men" and that her resignation doesn't just affect her, but "every woman that might want to fill this seat after me."
"I have been, and always will be unapologetically authentic. I am deeply passionate, and I do not hide from my flaws," Kuhl wrote.
To her constituents, Kuhl said she was proud of her achievements over the last two years on the Council. Those achievements, she said, include bringing composting to Wauwatosa, limiting single-use plastics, proposing a mask mandate, and installing a stop sign at one of the city's busiest intersections.
"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," according to Kuhl.
The former alderperson adds that she will continue to serve the Wauwatosa community in other ways.
According to City of Wauwatosa guidelines, when an alderperson resigns, an aldermanic nomination committee of five current council members will be formed. The city adds that they will soon post details on how residents can apply for the now-vacant position, and from that date residents have two weeks to submit an application.
Following the application process, the aldermanic nomination committee will interview the applicants. Interviews of the applicants will be videotaped and available to the public, according to the city. The committee will eventually select an applicant to recommend to the full Common Council, which will select the successor by majority vote.
Read Kuhl's resignation letter below:
