City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich will not seek re-election next year, she announced Thursday in an email to constituents.
โI will fulfill my next 18 months of service with sustained energy and focus,โ she wrote.
โThen, after 12 years in office, Iโll proudly step aside and support the incoming Council Member as she/he enters this fulfilling and privileged role serving the public.โ
Completing 12 years will place Uhlich among the top 10 of longest-serving council members.
Uhlich represents Ward 3, which covers much of the cityโs north side.
Uhlich said she finds politics to be rewarding work and isnโt retiring from the field altogether. If the right opportunity presented itself, she might run for office again, she told the Star.
Uhlich said sheโs especially proud of her work on regional water sustainability and stewardship and hopes to spend the remainder of her term supporting the efforts of the new city manager and police chief to reorganize city resources and put the city in a better financial position.
Uhlich came under criticism in 2014 for buying a home and living outside the ward she represents.
The city charter, which is like the cityโs constitution, requires council candidates to live within the city limits for three years and says specifically they must live in their ward for one year before qualifying for the ballot.
Uhlich would have had to move back into the ward this year to run for re-election in that ward.
Uhlich said that issue did not factor into her decision about whether to run again. She has maintained a residence in Ward 3 and lives there part time, she said.
The ongoing city discussion about whether City Council members should be elected by their ward only or citywide is important โand we owe it to the community to get that resolved and clarified,โ she said.
