MONROE — The city welcomed a new mayor, Tom Miller, and said goodbye to Donna Douglas, who has served two terms in the top job.
The mayor and Monroe Common Council members were sworn in at the April 13 meeting, and presided over their first full council agenda. But not before Douglas said her official goodbyes to a city in which she was born and spent her entire life.
The job, said Douglas, “was the greatest honor of my life.”
She conceded that while most of the mayor’s job under Monroe’s current form of government is largely ceremonial — attending business openings, civic events and other duties — there has been substantive debate on several hot-button issues in the city, none less than the push last year to eliminate fluoride from the city’s drinking water in response to new research and public interest in whether the teeth-strengthening chemical is a long term health hazard.
She took plenty of heat for her views on the subject. A narrow vote to rid the City of Monroe of fluoride in drinking water, and then a follow up amendment vote to set the level at zero both failed. The amended motion, an ordinance with zero level concentration of fluoride, was approved by the council with a 4-3 vote. But then Douglas vetoed the whole removal idea after a March 3, 2025 council meeting. As a result, fluoride — as much as 1,700 gallons per year at .7 ppm or less — remains in the water in Monroe, to the delight of dentists.
Many were surprised when the otherwise calm and ceremonial mayor took her stand.
“While we might not always agree,” Douglas said Monday, seemingly alluding to some of the dustups of recent years, “our shared commitment to the best interests of Monroe has been the common thread.”
She also thanked council members, saying “they do all of the work, I get all of the credit…it’s kept me off the street but not out of trouble at times.”
Miller won the April 7 election with 1,577 votes, defeating Kevin Lollock and Corinne Wartenweiler, who also serves on the Common Council. The new Common Council lineup includes: Wartenweiler, Heidi Treuthardt, Richard Thoman, Darlene Voelkli, Craig Franke, Dylan McGuire, Matt Scheaffer, and Christopher Vestin. Lynn Kleven, Carson Eddy, and Maxwell Brooks were also on the Council ballot.
For his part, Miller jumped into the mayor’s seat without missing a beat. But he did have a few words about the job ahead.
“I’m very glad to become Mayor,” said Miller. “The last few years we’ve had great progress in this town.”
He cited the push to attract new businesses and housing, but also the efforts of numerous government bodies — the city, economic development, Main Street Monroe and other groups — to come together over shared goals, such as construction and opening of the “pocket park” and public restroom facilities on the downtown square last year.
Miller’s vacant council seat will be filled by a new member, to be appointed by the council. Those interested in the job of At-Large Alderperson can obtain nominating papers at City Hall and must still collect 50 signatures of Monroe residents to be considered.
“The Common Council will review submissions and vote to appoint an individual to fill the vacancy in June,” said a post on the city’s social media page. “The appointed Alderperson will serve the remainder of the current term, which runs through mid-April, 2027.”
The appointee can also choose to run for election to the council in the Spring, 2027 municipal balloting. Digital information packets related to serving on the council also can be found on the city’s web site.
