WAUSAU — Wisconsin Public Radio’s Route 51 will re-broadcast a previous program that looked at new political leadership in north central Wisconsin with a discussion featuring the mayors of Merrill, Rhinelander and Wisconsin Rapids.
The segment will air at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 5.
On April 3, Derek Woellner, 25, was elected mayor of Merrill by a margin of 79 votes, defeating a two-term incumbent with what he called a unity platform to bring people with differing viewpoints together, according to a WPR news release. Also, write-in candidate Chris Frederickson was elected mayor of Rhinelander, despite having never served in public office. Rounding out the panel is Zach Vruwink, who was first elected mayor of Wisconsin Rapids in 2012 at the age of 24. He has since been re-elected in 2014 and 2016, running on a platform of citizen engagement and participation in government.
Host Glen Moberg discusses the qualities of leadership with the three regional mayors, and the willingness of today’s electorate to embrace candidates without traditional political experience.
Route 51 can be heard from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursdays on The Ideas Network stations 101.3 & 91.9 Wausau, AM 930 Auburndale/Stevens Point, 99.1 Stevens Point, 100.9 Marshfield, 90.3 Park Falls, 89.1 Adams/Wisconsin Rapids, HD 90.9-3 and 89.9 Rhinelander/Eagle River.
Photo courtesy WPR. Pictured are the featured mayors with Route 51 host Glen Moberg in the WPR central studios.
