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Council may see familiar face return
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MONROE - Former city alderman Kent Kallembach could be put back in his old Common Council seat Aug. 17.

Mayor Bill Ross announced Friday that he will recommend Kallembach to fill the Ward 9 seat left vacant after the resignation of Alderman Mike Rivers July 28.

"After the Ward 9 alderman (Rivers) resigned, I was approached by a few people who asked me to consider the position," Kallembach said. "I decided to pursue the opportunity. I look forward to serving the City of Monroe and my ward."

If the council approves his recommendation, it will be the second time Kallembach has filled a vacant seat in Ward 9. He was appointed to the seat previously in December 2007, finishing out the term of Mike Capesius who resigned to moved out of the state.

Kallembach was then elected to the seat in April 2008, but chose not to run in 2010.

Prior to the announcement Friday, Ross and Charles Koch, president of the council, interviewed Kallembach, Richard Thoman, and Chris Beer, who had volunteered to serve as Ward 9 alderman until the next city election in April 2011.

They choose Kallembach for the recommendation because of his prior experience as an alderman and his familiarity with the city budgeting process, Ross said.

Kallembach served as chairman of the Finance & Taxation Committee in 2008 and 2009.

"We are fortunate to have him because of his experience (as a certified public accountant)," Ross said. "He was instrumental in putting the budget together last year."

Ross said the interviews with the candidates went well.

"We could have picked any one of them," Ross said. "It's refreshing to see three people come forward who seemed really interested in the position, in view of the difficult position council members have these days. That speaks volumes."

The candidates were asked about their experience and background, and why they wanted to become an alderman, Ross said.

Kallembach explained during his interview that he did not seek re-election in April, because his responsibilities in the city budgeting process took too much time from his job at the Lindemann accounting firm in Monroe, Ross said.

Ross said he will not reshuffle committee members with the addition of Kallembach.

If the council votes him in, Kallembach would assume the duties of chairman of the Claims Committee and the Monroe Municipal Park Fund Committee. He would serve as a member on five other committees, including Salary & Personnel, and on the Board of Public Works.

He would not serve on the Finance & Taxation Committee, but would have a vote on the council to approve the budget in November.

A special election will be held for Ward 9 in April 2011 to refill the seat for one year, the remainder of the term.

Rivers was elected to the council April 6, 2010. He ran against Thoman for the Ward 9 seat.