Voters in Merrill’s 8th District will need to choose a new alderperson in the April election, as three-term incumbent Anne Caylor has announced she will be resigning due to a job-related move.
Caylor, who has served six years on the council, is moving to Appleton, where she has taken a job with the Appleton School District after 19 years with Merrill Area Public Schools.
Caylor’s name will still appear on the April ballot as the only candidate for the seat. The job offer came shortly after the deadline for filing nomination papers. Once a candidate qualifies for ballot status, their name can’t be removed from the ballot, per state statutes.
“I had already turned in my papers and they called me two days later,” Caylor said. “The timing wasn’t the best.”
Caylor said she fully intended to run when she turned in her nomination papers, but must now decline re-election. She thanks the constituents of the 8th District for their support.
“It’s a tough job and it seems thankless at times, but the words of appreciation really made it worthwhile,” she said.
Caylor said she’ll be resigning from the council in March. While she has already started her new job in Appleton, she is still coming back to Merrill for council meetings.
Caylor is proud to have been among the more outspoken alderpersons on the Merrill Common Council.
“I think I’ve done a good job of speaking up,” she said. “I’m not afraid to ask question and look out for the taxpayers.”
She encourages residents of the district to run as write-in candidates.
“I hope that whoever takes my place is a strong enough person to not be afraid to speak up, do a lot of their own investigating and find out what’s behind things,” she said.
A Merrill native, Caylor moved back to her hometown after college and has always been involved in the community in some way. Caylor is now looking forward to a more anonymous life – for the time being, anyway – in a new community.
“I’m kind of looking forward to that,” she said. “It’s an adventure with a capital ‘A’ for me.”
The candidate with the most write-in votes for the 8th District seat will win the election. Although no names can be added to the ballot, those interested in running can register as a write-in candidate at the City Clerk’s office. It is not necessary to register, however.