The City of Wauwatosa received notification from Alderperson Lowe that he is resigning from his position in District 6, effective April 30, 2026. This is because he will be moving within the city limits, but outside of District 6.
We are providing this timeline to ensure community members are informed about the representation of District 6 and the city’s local ordinances regarding the upcoming vacancy.
The Timeline of Events
- Alderperson Lowe was elected to represent District 6 while residing within that district.
- The city was made aware on April 8 that Alderperson Lowe will be moving to a new location within Wauwatosa, but outside of District 6 boundaries. Alderperson Lowe informed the city that he intends to complete the move to his new home at the end of April 2026.
- While the city ordinance allows an alder who moves within the city to continue serving as a “de facto” representative, Alderperson Lowe has chosen to submit his resignation effective April 30, 2026.
The Legal Process for Vacancies
The Common Council does not play a role in the creation of a vacancy. This is a determination made by law through the combination of Wisconsin state statute and local ordinance. Once a vacancy is established by law, the Council’s role is to follow the prescribed process to fill that seat.
What This Means for District 6
- District 6 will be represented by Alderperson Lowe through April 30.
- Wauwatosa is currently transitioning from 16 to 12 alderpersons, effective April 28, 2026. Because existing ordinances regarding vacancies still refer to previous Council size, the Council will first discuss an update to these ordinances to align with the new 12-member structure.
- Following the Council’s discussion on the ordinance update, the City will announce the exact process and timeline for filling the District 6 vacancy.
