City councilor Marrison resigns; council to find replacement

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Councilor Wanda Marrison resigned from her post as Fourth Ward representative Wednesday. Marrison cited family circumstances as her reason.

“Unfortunately, family circumstances at this time require my full attention, and I have important issues to take care of, which leaves me no time to fulfill my duties that have been entrusted to me by the Fourth Ward voters of Ludington,” Marrison wrote in a letter to the voters of the Fourth Ward, Mayor Ryan Cox and the city council.

“I am very sorry to have caused any inconvenience, but please know this was not an easy decision. If necessary, I can be available for phone and email inquiries from my home on a limited bases.

“Thank you so much for your understanding in this matter. I have loved working for the City of Ludington and the people of the Fourth Ward. When circumstances change I would look forward to working with you again in the future should the opportunity present itself.”

The city council must fill the position within 30 days of Marrison’s resignation, which was effective Wednesday. The appointment must be affirmed by the majority of the council with the mayor voting in case of a tie. The appointed councilor will serve until the next regular election, at which time an election will be held to fill the remaining period of the term of office.

A resident of the Fourth Ward who is appointed within 30 days of Marrison’s resignation would serve until the next regular city election in November 2016.  If that person wins the election, he/she would serve until the November 2018 city election to fill out the remainder of Marrison’s term.  If he/she won that election, he/she would serve a 4-year term from that point.

City Manager John Shay said the city will be seeking letters of interest from qualified and registered Fourth Ward electors  who are not in default to the city.  The city council will then schedule a special meeting to interview the candidates.  The city council would then vote to select one of the candidates at its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 22.