Stanley has a new alderman for Ward 2, and his name is Jason Meyer. The newly elected representative as of April 6 comes to his new post with over 20 years of Stanley residence (since 1996) and was also born at Victory Hospital, he said. Growing up near Gilman, Meyer went into the Army for three years before coming back to the area and meeting his wife Charlotte. Meyer’s wife Charlotte Meyer is the daughter of longtime City of Stanley residents Don and Judy Barth, with the Meyer’s having lived at their current address in the city since 2001. So why did the father of two sons and mechanical engineer at McDonough Manufacturing of Eau Claire decide to run for a position as a Ward 2 city alderman?

“The primary reason is concern about the police department and fire department being properly funded,” Meyer shared Saturday, adding that, “the final decision was about two weeks before the election.” As the deadline to register with his name on the ballot had already passed by then, Meyer ran for his seat as a write-in candidate, winning with four votes against four other scattered write-ins. In addition to proper funding of the police and fire departments, Meyer said that his decision to run was made after taking with family and friends.

“I thought about it and my wife thought it would be a good idea,” he said. Then talking to his neighbors and friends, Meyer said that, “they all said they’d vote for me,” effectively sealing his decision to run. Along with neighbor support, Meyer said the decision also had to do with concerns about debt—specifically, the amount of debt that the City of Stanley is currently carrying.

“Me and my wife have concerns about how much debt the city has,” Meyer said, adding, “I would like the city where I live to continue being a nice place to live.” Meyer’s first Council meeting was Monday April 19, where he along with incumbents Jacob Huff, Laurie Foster, and Rick Hodowanic were all administered the oath of office and took their seats. Now that Meyer is a Ward 2 alderman, the City of Stanley is officially without any Council vacancies, as Meyer took over from Kent Barby, who resigned from his Ward 2 position earlier this year.

Now that the Council is full, however, doesn’t mean that voting is done. Received by Council members at the April 19 meeting and due to be opened as sealed ballots at the May 3rd meeting were decision cards seeking a new Common Council president. Ward 3 alderman Jacob Huff was elected by the Council as interim president until the April election following Barby’s resignation, as Barby was the former Council President. The post is important as a city president is not only tasked with presiding over Council meetings in a Mayor’s absence, but also making legal decisions for the city in case of a Mayor’s incapacity.

“I think we should just in case,” Stanley Mayor Al Haas said at the time of filling the city president position prior to the April election cycle. Will Alderman Huff get to keep his president’s post on May 3, or else cede power to a new officeholder? Stay tuned, and stay alert! The city presidency, has yet to be chosen—pursuant to Chapter 62 of the State statutes.

Ward 2 Alderman Jason Meyer